“Beyond her understanding of the secure ID issuance industry, Kathleen brings a unique dedication for going beyond product features to solving customer needs,” said Russell St. John, senior vice president of marketing at Datacard Group. “Her outlook is exactly what Datacard encourages and strives to communicate with all of our solutions.”

Phillips’ industry experience dates back to the beginning of desktop card issuance in the mid-1990s. At Fargo Electronics, she held successive technical support, sales and marketing roles. At Datacard Group, Phillips is applying her experience to “identify how customers use credentials issued with Datacard equipment in order to improve desktop printing efficiency and help customers as their needs change.”

According to Phillips, the current market condition could indicate a more promising future for Datacard Group’s desktop business. “We have a huge opportunity for growth in a rather fragmented desktop market,” she said. “Among the players in this business, Datacard is totally focused on secure card issuance.”

A strong relationship with channel partners will continue to be a focus for Datacard. Long-term industry involvement led Phillips to develop strategies aimed at raising awareness and driving channel loyalty. Phillips said she will act as “an extension of ID card channel partners’ marketing departments and help these partners customise their message in the market.”

Kathleen Phillips earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Creighton University and an Executive MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.