Title: Founder
Company: G & J Crisp Clicks
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Gina M. Esswein, founder of G & J Crisp Clicks, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in digital marketing and financial services.
For nearly 25 years, Ms. Esswein has traveled an esteemed professional path in the world of finance, although her start in the field wasn’t part of her initial plan. When she first entered college, she hoped to study art history and literature, but her parents weren’t very supportive, and her job prospects seemed limited. By age 20, Ms. Esswein was looking for a job just to make ends meet. In 2001, she ended up stumbling into an opportunity in the financial services industry that soon blossomed into a full career.
That early opportunity was in administrative support for Edward Jones, where Ms. Esswein progressed through a number of roles across the next 13 years. Beginning in 2003, she was promoted to the trade operations, equity and fixed income sector, followed by working as a new financial adviser trainer and a field supervision director. Ms. Esswein’s final years at Edward Jones, from 2012 to 2015, saw her focusing on complaint investigations. Though she hadn’t planned to work in financial services, her extensive time with this company built up a comprehensive understanding of the industry.
Over the next 10 years after leaving Edward Jones, Ms. Esswein began reconnecting with her creative side as she worked in the marketing division of three major financial firms. In 2015, she was hired as the assistant vice president of marketing governance by Scottrade. When that company merged with TD Ameritrade in 2017, Ms. Esswein was promoted to senior manager of marketing governance. Finally, TD Ameritrade was acquired by Charles Schwab in 2022, after which time she served as the senior manager of marketing risk operations.
Increasingly eager to more fully embrace creative work, Ms. Esswein founded her own company, G & J Crisp Clicks, in 2025. Through this company, she collaborates with clients — mostly small businesses, with a focus on the St. Louis area but availability nationwide — to strengthen their digital presence on social media. Ms. Esswein also oversees administrative work, bookkeeping, compliance, onboarding and strategy for the G & J Crisp Clicks. She notes that the “J” in the company name refers to her brother Jeff, with whom she had often discussed starting a business, but who tragically passed away from cancer four years ago.
Ms. Esswein’s performance in the field was born of her academic journey. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and management from Lindenwood University in 2009. Ms. Esswein has further backed up her credentials with certifications in strategic thinking and getting things done from LinkedIn. She has obtained a wide range of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority licenses, including as a general securities representative, a general securities sales supervisor, and a general securities principal, and in securities industry essentials.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Esswein is a devoted mother to four children: Ezekiel, Samuel, Julie and Joanna. She finds joy in reading and attending events related to the arts, especially plays, festivals and art galleries. As she moves into the future, Ms. Esswein is excited to continue building on her strong start for G & J Crisp Clicks. With a less strict schedule than her work in finance, she also hopes to spend more time engaging in volunteer work, pursuing passions and helping her children with their progress through school.
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