Modern Ice Equipment & Supply (Modern Ice) has long played a trusted role in the packaged ice industry, offering full-service integration, engineering, and support to clients across the country. Known for its deep operational knowledge and commitment to long-term partnerships, the company continues to grow, and with that growth came an opportunity to deepen the role of marketing across the business. When Modern Ice sought to evolve marketing from a functional support role into a driver of strategic impact, they turned to CMO-OnLoan.
A New Chapter of Leadership and Learning
Amy Connor and CMO-OnLoan have worked with Modern Ice since 2017. In the first engagement, Amy worked with Gary Jerow to build a marketing foundation for the company. During the next engagement, she supported the team during a period of transition. Then, when Vice President Jake Jerow stepped into a broader role, he reached out to re-engage CMO-OnLoan, not just for projects, but as an ongoing advisor. “Amy became a trusted partner in running the marketing department,” Jake shared. “She understands our business, our clients, and brings real value to our conversations.”
The relationship was built around consistency and purpose. Regular working sessions were structured around clear agendas, leadership development goals, and strategic planning. “Jake didn’t come from a marketing background,” Amy said. “He’s smart and thoughtful, and just wanted a partner to talk through ideas and make confident decisions.” Over time, they expanded their focus to include team guidance and mentorship, and connecting newer marketers with experienced professionals outside the company to accelerate learning.
Laying the Groundwork for Strategic Growth
With CMO-OnLoan’s support, Modern Ice built a more intentional foundation for its marketing team, not just in strategy, but in capability. “Mid-market businesses don’t usually have structured learning and development programs like corporations do,” Amy said. “Helping them build an infrastructure that they could use long-term was a big step forward.” Together, they also worked through strategic marketing plans, tying them directly to business goals and client experience improvements.
That business focus extended into analytics. With Amy’s guidance, the team refined how they tracked marketing’s impact, shifting from general reporting to decision-driving data. From increased project requests to improved web conversions, the team began to see tangible outcomes. “The biggest win has been how we’ve structured the strategic value of marketing,” Jake said. “We’ve created a revenue stream through marketing efforts.”
A Partnership That Keeps Building
For both Amy and the Modern Ice team, the relationship continues to be rewarding. Amy reflected, “Because I’ve worked with them for so many years, I know the history, the team, the agencies, and that continuity means we can go deeper, faster. I’m honored they’ve trusted me to be part of their journey.”
Looking ahead, the focus is on expansion into new offerings, new clients, and new ways to bring value to the businesses they serve. With marketing now aligned to the business in both strategy and structure, Modern Ice is well-positioned to grow with purpose and confidence.
Learn more about Modern Ice at modernice.com.