During the past seven years of Kourtney Carlson’s tenure at Marketlink Inc., her team has grown revenue an average of 20 percent each year. Carlson is vice president of client services for the company, which specializes in telephone-based sales and customer care services for the cable television industry.

“Under her leadership, Marketlink’s sales have grown to $10 million annually,” said John Miksich, the company’s president and chief executive. “She has built the business by developing strong relationships with all the largest cable television operators in the country and by building an incredible customer service culture within the organization.”

Carlson, who grew up in Dyersville, received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Northern Iowa in 1993 and an M.B.A. from Drake University in 2000. After graduating from UNI, Carlson spent a few months at Nash Finch Co. before joining Ogden Publishing as an account coordinator. Two years later, she joined Marketlink. This fall, she will have been there nine years.

When Carlson joined Marketlink, she was a client services representative working with Comcast Corp., one of the largest cable companies in the United States.

“Marketlink was a new company,” she said. “It was the right opportunity, and a company with the right philosophy. I saw a chance to come in and make a difference.”

Carlson quickly rose through the ranks, being promoted to director in 1996 and vice president in 1997. Carlson got a chance to be part of the company’s day-to-day decisions, which had been one of her goals when joining Marketlink. She and her team are responsible for “all revenue that comes into the company,” she said, through finding new clients and repeat business, as well as managing current clients.

Carlson says she sells a fun product, offering programming for channels like HBO, Starz and Encore. She is also responsible for making sure Marketlink’s telemarketing efforts are in compliance with regulations, such as do-not-call lists.

“People are still purchasing by phone,” she said. “[Telemarketing] is a good tool. Response rates haven’t changed. We have to set a good example and have good campaigns. It’s important to be respectful and make sure we’re operating above and beyond compliance.”