Glad to meet you.
A bit about me
Creating has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. What began in childhood as an obsession with an Etch-a-Sketch eventually drove me to the pursuit of a graphic arts and visual design degree in college. Early in my professional career, graphic design helped me identify two passions; the desire to create messages that motivate action, and the desire to contribute to other people's success. Both have driven me to build a career in fields where my skill set may bring value and create change.
Professional Experience
Background & Expertise
Director, Sales Enablement
August 2021 - Present
Act as a bridge between teams to identify process and knowledge gaps. Use data and user experience to facilitate decision-making. Consult on sales strategy and product distribution. Partner with marketing to develop internal and external brand messaging. Support sales representatives and account managers in pursuit of skill advancement. Analyze data to improve and refine user and customer experience.
Senior Director of Sales
December 2019 - August 2021
Collaborated with executive leadership in developing corporate sales and distribution strategy. Ensured team alignment with corporate goals. Participated in talent recruitment. Coordinated training and coaching efforts in consultative and relationship sales techniques. Provided system feedback for the benefit of refining the sales process; implemented change for the improvement of the sales cycle.
Category Marketing Manager
February 2019 - December 2019
Leveraged graphic design and visual communication skills to complete design projects for internal and external customers. Designed and distributed email and print media templates utilized in company-wide communication. Collaborated with marketing and leadership to develop the corporate brand. Created and managed content on the company website. Planned and coordinated internal and external customer communications. Conducted research, collected data, and organized it for presentation.
Advertising Director
December 2013 - February 2019
Strategy development to maximize revenue in a transitioning industry. Strategically managed a 1.3 million dollar advertising sales division. Executed integrated advertising campaigns across multiple media channels. Interviewed, trained, and managed a team of sales and administrative professionals while serving as a mentor to junior team members. Proofed and approved publications before printing. Developed and maintained printing and sales budgets.
Creative Services Manager
May 2011 - December 2013
Worked directly with clients to gather and define requirements, establish project scope and manage milestones. Managed project schedules to guarantee client and in-house creative and design needs were met on time and within budget. Managed team progress toward project completion while monitoring performance. Created look and feel of the organization’s online presence in social media forums. Prioritized graphic workload for maximum productivity. Assisted in developing and maintaining user-friendly websites. Trained and mentored new designers.
Advertising Sales Representative
April 2010 - May 2011
Recommended advertising packages based on client needs and desired outcomes. Served as liaison between customers and designers to create community messaging. Exercised sound judgment to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction. Acted in the capacity of consultant to maximize advertising results and drive traffic to a client’s business.
Graphic Designer
July 2006 - April 2010 and May 2001 - July 2004
Designed sales and marketing collateral. Designed print materials; advertisements, brochures, flyers, logos, newsletters, event posters, business cards, and annual reports. Developed templates for e-newsletters, presentations, and standard reports. Designed interactive digital sales and marketing collateral. Prepared layouts in compliance with established templates and design standards. Assisted in creating websites.
Education
My Studies
Grand Rapids Community College
April 2022
Successfully completed an Employee Benefits Account Management Apprenticeship, pre-licensing coursework, and exam to gain a resident producer license for Michigan Life, Health and Accident insurance.
Sales Enablement PRO
December 2021
Successful completion of sales enablement coursework resulting in a sales enablement professional certification.
Ferris State University
December 2001
Successfully earned a degree in Visual Communication and Design from the college of business. Areas of focus were inclusive of fine art exploration, computer-aided design, typography, logo design, branding exploration, visual communication, graphic design for print media and photoshop for designers.
“You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot — it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.”
Maya Angelou
