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My Portfolio

Professional Experience

2023 - 2024

Research Director

Future Partners, San Francisco, CA (Remote)

 

 • Progressed from Research Coordinator to a leadership role, managing high-impact projects across cities, states, and global markets, including Destination Canada, and directly influencing multimillion-dollar growth strategies. • Directed groundbreaking economic impact studies, persona research, and workforce analyses, empowering state tourism boards and chambers of commerce to achieve sustainable development and measurable ROI improvements of 30%. • Delivered in-depth qualitative research through focus groups, interviews, and surveys, producing actionable insights that increased client funding by 25% and optimized marketing strategies across diverse sectors. • Designed and implemented UX optimization studies that elevated digital engagement by 35% and enhanced website conversion rates for global clients. • Created visually compelling dashboards and executive reports, synthesizing complex data into strategic recommendations that guided high-stakes funding decisions and boosted client confidence by 40%. • Spearheaded stakeholder workshops and presentations for executive leaders, securing a 20% increase in stakeholder buy-in and aligning strategic priorities across sectors. • Elevated marketing precision through persona development initiatives, driving a 40% improvement in campaign effectiveness and expanding target audience reach. • Directed qualitative and quantitative research teams, employing innovative methodologies that reduced project timelines by 25% while maintaining excellence in deliverables. • Positioned Future Partners as an industry leader by presenting advanced research insights at premier conferences, driving a 20% growth in new client acquisition. • Oversaw strategic collaborations across departments to deliver high-profile economic development studies, achieving a 22% improvement in client satisfaction and actionable outcomes. • Led groundbreaking cross-border collaborations with international stakeholders, including Destination Canada, to develop innovative strategies that increased global tourism engagement by 25% and positioned clients as leaders in the industry. • Spearheaded the integration of cutting-edge research

2021 - 2023

National Advertising Director 

Smoky Mountain Living, Asheville, NC (Hybrid)

 

 • Designed and implemented multimillion-dollar advertising strategies for Smoky Mountain Living, Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine, and Down the Road Music Magazine, driving transformative revenue growth and achieving a 98% client retention rate. • Forged exclusive partnerships with leading tourism entities, including regional CVBs, state tourism boards, and globally recognized brands like Harley-Davidson and Dollywood, increasing publication visibility by 40% across key markets. • Strategically aligned advertising and editorial storytelling to elevate client campaigns, integrating destination narratives with impactful ad placements that drove a 50% boost in engagement metrics. • Directed high-level advertising and content strategy for the Down the Road Music Magazine, partnering with marquee cultural events like Folk Fest NC, Dollywood, and the Kentucky Derby, resulting in a 30% increase in brand reach and audience engagement. • Championed digital transformation initiatives, leading all website and social media advertising efforts and achieving a 45% surge in digital engagement, solidifying the publications' leadership in the digital tourism space. • Cultivated relationships with top-tier tourism stakeholders across the Southeast, attending premier industry conferences and driving a 30% expansion in regional advertising revenue. • Orchestrated cross-functional collaboration between editorial, publishing, and advertising teams, ensuring seamless integration of client objectives with content strategies to deliver industry-leading campaign results. • Developed market research-driven advertising solutions tailored to each destination’s unique identity, increasing campaign ROI by 50%. • Elevated Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine to a leading industry platform, leveraging collaborations with major motorcycle brands and trail systems to grow its market share by 25%. • Spearheaded the creation of strategic ad/editorial hybrids, blending storytelling with marketing to drive deeper audience connections and secure long-term client investments. • Served as a trusted advisor to tourism boards, CVBs, and chambers of commerce, providing innovative solutions that enhanced brand positioning and strengthened regional tourism initiatives. • Directed advertising and promotional efforts for large-scale cultural events like the Annual Avett Brothers Concert, driving over 100,000 attendees and establishing a legacy of regional tourism excellence. • Leveraged emerging trends and deep market insights to build innovative advertising frameworks, enabling clients to achieve unparalleled visibility while positioning Smoky Mountain Living as a premier partner in destination marketing.

2020 - 2021

Director of Marketing 

2018-2020

2017-2018

Director of Marketing,

Asheboro Paint Center Asheboro, NC (Remote)

 

• Directed market research and digital strategy for the franchise, achieving an 82% increase in annual sales and a 68% growth in web traffic through advanced analytics and audience targeting. • Introduced AI-driven tools for segmentation and predictive modeling, improving marketing precision by 30% and enhancing campaign effectiveness across all channels. • Negotiated high-value partnerships with regional suppliers, driving a 20% increase in operational efficiency and reducing costs by 15%. • Launched customer loyalty programs that boosted repeat business by 40% and elevated customer lifetime value through personalized engagement strategies. • Spearheaded comprehensive brand refresh initiatives, positioning the franchise as a market leader and increasing regional market share by 50%. • Developed omnichannel digital campaigns that expanded reach by 60%, leveraging social media, email marketing, and SEO to maximize customer acquisition. • Designed innovative data visualization tools that empowered leadership to make informed decisions, driving long-term business growth and client satisfaction. • Championed the integration of data-driven storytelling techniques in marketing campaigns, resulting in a 40% increase in customer engagement and deeper brand loyalty. • Orchestrated regional marketing strategies that aligned with franchise goals, driving a 25% market share increase in underserved territories and solidifying the brand’s dominance. • Established advanced performance metrics and tracking systems, enabling leadership to make data-backed decisions that improved campaign ROI by 30%. • Designed and implemented cross-promotional partnerships with industry leaders, enhancing product visibility and driving a 20% year-over-year increase in high-value customer acquisitions.
 

Marketing Manager 

YES! Weekly News, Greensboro, NC (Hybrid)

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• Led marketing strategies for over 50 clients, delivering tailored multimedia campaigns that achieved a 68% increase in annual web traffic and a 90% client satisfaction rate. • Cultivated strategic partnerships with national brands such as Kendra Scott, Tito’s Vodka, and Goodyear, creating innovative campaigns that elevated brand visibility and engagement by 35%. • Designed cross-platform advertising frameworks integrating social media, video content, and influencer strategies, increasing audience engagement by 50%. • Organized high-profile promotional events in collaboration with local governments and community organizations, driving regional economic impact and expanding client visibility by 30%. • Engineered data-driven reporting systems that optimized campaign performance, resulting in a 35% improvement in ROI and a 20% boost in client retention. • Spearheaded comprehensive market research initiatives that informed strategic marketing decisions, driving a 40% increase in client conversions. • Partnered with analytics teams to develop performance insights that enhanced campaign precision, reduced costs by 20%, and increased efficiency across all accounts. • Drove revenue growth through innovative advertising strategies, achieving a 25% year-over-year increase in client accounts and strengthening regional market presence. • Devised and executed high-impact advertising frameworks that generated a 50% increase in client revenue while establishing YES! Weekly as the go-to platform for regional marketing excellence. • Built and nurtured strategic alliances with local government bodies and regional leaders, creating innovative campaigns that boosted regional tourism and economic development by 30%. • Spearheaded influencer marketing initiatives that elevated client brands to top-of-mind status across the region, resulting in a 60% surge in audience reach and engagement. • Directed comprehensive client rebranding strategies that increased brand equity by 40%, positioning businesses as industry leaders in their respective markets. • Pioneered a data-driven content marketing approach that optimized advertising strategies and reduced client acquisition costs by 20%, delivering unparalleled ROI. • Conducted detailed market segmentation analyses, enabling clients to target high-value demographics and achieve a 25% increase in campaign conversion rates. • Led cross-industry collaborations to produce award-winning promotional events, drawing record attendance and enhancing the reputation of YES! Weekly as a leading creative powerhouse. • Implemented cutting-edge CRM systems to streamline client relationship management, improving retention rates by 30% and increasing upselling opportunities for premium services.

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Marketing and Communications Director

Skyzone Corporation, Greensboro, NC (Hybrid)

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• Launched Sky Zone’s flagship marketing initiatives, achieving a 45% increase in revenue and a 30% boost in customer engagement through data-driven campaigns and strategic event partnerships. • Directed the development and successful launch of the Sky Zone app, streamlining customer interactions and increasing event bookings by 50%. • Cultivated partnerships with local businesses and influencers, expanding community reach by 25% and solidifying Sky Zone’s reputation as a premier destination for family entertainment. • Created tailored marketing strategies that aligned with operational goals, delivering a 35% growth in ticket sales and regional visibility. • Designed integrated advertising campaigns leveraging social media, content marketing, and experiential events, driving a 40% increase in audience engagement.  • Partnered with community organizations to host high-profile events, including partnerships with regional festivals, enhancing Sky Zone’s brand equity and community footprint. • Elevated customer satisfaction metrics by 20% through personalized marketing and enhanced UX initiatives, setting a benchmark for operational excellence. • Engineered a region-wide brand expansion strategy that increased foot traffic by 50% and positioned Sky Zone as the premier entertainment destination in the market. • Directed multi-channel marketing campaigns that leveraged predictive analytics and data insights, achieving a 40% boost in event participation and a 25% increase in repeat visitors. • Negotiated and secured high-profile partnerships with regional businesses and influencers, amplifying Sky Zone's brand visibility and driving a 30% increase in cross-promotional engagement. • Created a scalable framework for event marketing that streamlined execution timelines by 20% while delivering record-breaking attendance and revenue growth. • Spearheaded loyalty and membership programs that increased customer retention rates by 35%, driving long-term revenue growth and enhancing brand loyalty. • Collaborated with executive leadership to align marketing strategies with long-term business objectives, resulting in a 30% improvement in operational efficiency and profitability. • Designed and implemented community engagement initiatives that strengthened local partnerships, enhanced Sky Zone's community footprint, and contributed to a 25% increase in regional awareness. • Established innovative data-driven marketing processes that transformed advertising campaigns, achieving a 45% increase in social media engagement and audience reach.

Education

Colorado State University

2018 - 2020 

Master's Degree in Business Administration, focus in Tourism Economics

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University of North Carolina at Greensboro 

2013 - 2017 

Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Economics, minor in Business and Digital Marketing

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Skills & Expertise

  • Market Research & Data Analysis

  • Advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies

  • Economic impact analysis, persona research, and workforce studies

  • UX analysis and optimization to improve digital engagement

  • Predictive modeling and AI-driven analytics for market forecasting

  • Survey design, execution, and data interpretation

  • Brand research and audience sentiment analysis

  • Competitive intelligence and industry trend reporting

  • Data visualization and executive reporting

  • Strategic Marketing & Communications

  • Brand positioning and narrative development

  • Digital and traditional media campaign management

  • SEO, SEM, and content marketing strategy

  • Social media strategy, paid advertising, and audience engagement

  • Multi-channel marketing (print, digital, event, broadcast, social)

  • Thought leadership, public relations, and press strategy

  • Email marketing, editorial planning, and CRM-based outreach

  • Storytelling-driven marketing integrating advertising and content

  • Publishing, Editorial Strategy & Media Leadership

  • Editorial strategy and publishing oversight for Smoky Mountain News, Smoky Mountain Living Magazine, YES! Weekly, Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine, Down the Road Music of the Southeast, and The Triad Baseball Guide

  • Managing news coverage, online journalism, and content-driven marketing initiatives not only for the publications themselves but also for various businesses, brands, and clients

  • Overseeing the integration of advertising, editorial, and digital storytelling to maximize audience engagement

  • Developing strategic partnerships with media outlets, businesses, and tourism stakeholders

  • Producing and directing multimedia campaigns that merge journalism with commercial storytelling

  • Destination Marketing & Economic Development

  • Extensive collaboration with state tourism boards, city governments, economic development organizations, and chambers of commerce

  • Destination marketing strategy and tourism-focused economic research

  • Planning and executing trade show exhibitions, tourism summits, and industry conferences

  • Developing region-specific tourism campaigns targeting Southeast U.S. destinations, including Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania

  • Working with CVBs, destination management organizations (DMOs), and regional tourism councils to enhance visitor engagement

  • Marketing Campaigns & Brand Development

  • Designing and executing high-impact marketing campaigns for destinations, cities, and states as well as for local businesses, national corporations, and global brands

  • Overseeing cross-platform media strategies spanning digital, print, outdoor, and social media

  • Campaign management for tourism, lifestyle, entertainment, healthcare, and corporate brands

  • Leveraging data analytics, consumer insights, and audience targeting to optimize campaign performance

  • Client Relations & Media Coverage

  • Managing high-profile client relations in tourism, business development, and corporate branding

  • Media coverage of council meetings, grand openings, economic development initiatives, and local government affairs

  • Organizing and attending networking events, industry roundtables, and stakeholder meetings

  • Overseeing public relations campaigns and media outreach for major business and tourism events

  • Leading cross-industry partnerships to align marketing, editorial, and strategic messaging

  • Event Planning & Large-Scale Activations

  • Lead organizer of YES! Weekly's Margarita Wars, a high-profile event in North Carolina’s Triad region, drawing over 2,000 attendees

  • Collaborated with city leaders on zoning, permits, vendor registration, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships

  • Managed event marketing, logistics, sponsorship acquisition, and corporate partnerships to drive engagement and revenue

  • Developed and implemented large-scale events, trade shows, and industry summits that enhanced brand visibility and consumer engagement

  • Sales & Revenue Growth

  • Lead generation, conversion optimization, and strategic sales planning

  • Consultative sales approach tailored to regional, national, and global markets

  • Development of sales decks, proposals, and RFP responses

  • Cross-industry B2B and B2C sales, including destination marketing, media advertising, and economic development

  • Driving multimillion-dollar advertising revenue for print, digital, and social platforms

  • Project & Team Leadership

  • Managing research, marketing, and editorial teams across industries

  • Supervising direct reports and external vendors in a cross-functional setting

  • Stakeholder presentations and executive-level strategy alignment

  • Developing internal processes and frameworks for efficiency and scalability

  • Leading large-scale projects with government, corporate, and nonprofit stakeholders

  • Global & Domestic Market Experience

  • Experience spanning U.S., Canada, and international markets

  • High-level project oversight for cross-border collaborations

  • Cultural intelligence and market research in Latin America (Costa Rica study abroad experience)

  • Development of region-specific campaigns targeting Southeast U.S. (Kentucky to Florida, including Pennsylvania) and North Carolina’s Triad region

  • Certifications & Technical Expertise

  • Advanced SEO, Google Analytics, and digital advertising platforms

  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

  • CRM platforms: Salesforce, HubSpot, SharePoint, Dropbox

  • AI & automation tools: ChatGPT, Otter.ai, Forsta, Informizely

  • Business intelligence and data visualization tools

  • Awards & Recognition

  • 1st Place Social Media – NC Press Association

  • Recognized speaker and exhibitor at tourism, marketing, and business conferences

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