CEO
tina@buzzmg.com
About Tina
People often wonder if it is possible to build a successful career doing what they love. Tina Wells, CEO of Buzz Marketing Group, is currently celebrating her 11th year of doing just that. Embracing her passion for fashion and her fascination with pop culture, Tina began writing reviews on companies and their products that target youth for the New Girl Times, a newspaper for young girls when she was just 16. Realizing the obvious disconnect between teens’ desires and companies’ misdirected outreach, Tina developed an innovative and creative strategy to merge the gap. She decided to submit her reviews and suggestions directly to the companies and was amazed by their overwhelmingly positive responses. They were hooked on the precocious insight Tina was able to deliver and thus, Buzz Marketing Group was born. Along with Buzz Marketing Group’s worldwide network of more than 9,000 teen consultants (“BuzzSpotters”), Tina has created innovative marketing strategies, focus groups, and youth marketing research campaigns for numerous beauty, entertainment, fashion, financial and lifestyle clients. These clients include, just to name a few: St. Martins Press, SonyBMG, And1, Sesame Workshop, and Time Inc. In the meantime, Tina earned a B.A. in Communication Arts and graduated with honors from Hood College in May 2002. She is currently in a post-baccalaureate program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business for marketing management.
Tina has also been spotlighted in numerous national print media publications. Her list of honors include: the Essence 40 Under 40 Award, Billboard’s 30 Under 30 Award, the Voices Black Women Business Leaders Top Ten List, and AOL’s Black Voices Black Female Entrepreneurs Award. Tina has also been appointed to the Kids for Kids Advisory Board, the National Board of Directors for the Friends of Orphans, The Business Women’s Network, and serves on a Christopher Reeves’ Foundation Advisory Board. Moreover, Tina has been recognized as an “Architect of Change” at the 19th Annual Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women and Family, and named as Youth Culture’s “It” Social Anthropologist.
Additionally, Tina regularly speaks to various professional audiences across the country. She was chosen as the keynote speaker at the Miller OE 800 Making it Real Business Series, NARM Research Forum, Retail Merchandiser Store-Specific Merchandising & Marketing Conference, Essence Magazine’s Women Shaping the World Leadership Forum, the internal Nickelodeon conference addressing tween and teen trends, and Smart Beauty II Conference. Also, Tina has been quoted and featured in such high profile newspapers and magazines as O Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Essence, Entrepeneur, CosmoGirl, Brandweek, Savoy, Justine Magazine, Ebony, Brass CU’s cover and Link Magazines. Tina resides in southern New Jersey with her vast collection of shoes. =)
5 Must-Haves of the Moment
1. Chanel ballet flats
2. Cashmere hat, gloves & scarf
3. Jenna Bush's new book, "Ana's Story"
4. New Backstreet Boys CD (yes I know, I still have a teenage crush!)
5. French Connection mini dresses
21 Questions
What is the best restaurant you have ever been to?
I don’t know if it’s the best one, but I love the Kamp Café at Hotel Kamp in Helsinki, Finland…Great fish, great soups, and delicious desserts.
Favorite vacation destination?
Mykonos, Greece. Such a beautiful place…I love dining right on the water and watching the sunset…also great for shopping!
Snack you cannot get enough of?
Cashews. I eat them all day!
What TV show can you never ever miss?
House. I just love that show. Hugh Laurie is just fantastic.
Favorite sport to play? Favorite sport to watch?
I love playing field hockey. I love watching basketball.
What fashion trend are you completely ready to let go of?
Those short little ankle boots. I own a few, but I’m just not into it at all.
If you could have dinner with any famous person who would it be and why?
I would have to say Men’s Health editor-in-chief David Zinczenko. I would quiz him about all of the secrets in his book “Abs Diet Power.”
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Married, raising my children, and hopefully living on a farm – or at least somewhere with tons and tons of trees.
If you can pick just one thing, what is your favorite part about working at buzz?
Our clients. I’m inspired by their innovation and passion for their ideas.
Who is the cutest dresser in the office?
Emilie! She ’s our own little Teen Vogue intern! So fashionable!
Which co-worker is most likely to be late?
Christina. I’m only saying that because she was late today! Haha.
Who is the most chatty office member?
Erica. Only because she has to meet and greet everyone who walks into the office.
What is the one thing that can ruin any good day?
Being late. I do not like to be late at all, and it totally ruins my day!
And the movie of the year goes to…
I’m not sure yet, but the Oprah Winfrey/Denzel Washington movie coming out on Christmas Day looks like it’s going to be amazing.
Knocked Up or Superbad?
Neither. Sorry, not a fan.
If given the choice, would you never want to hear about Paris Hilton again?
No. Never. Ever.
What was your number one jam of the year?
I can never pick just one. It changes on a daily basis.
What holiday do you look forward to all year?
Thanksgiving! My mom has 13 siblings (and my dad’s an only child!), so I literally have 60+ cousins. Thanksgiving is a massive celebration and tons of fun.
Would you rather win an MTV award or the Nobel Prize?
As if it were even a contest: The Nobel Prize.
What is the best part of your day?
Morning. Every new day is filled with new possibilities.
If you could be fluent in another language, which one would it be?
Je choisirais le français, bien sûr !
