Digital savvy professional at a top 3 business school (Chicago Booth). Well immersed within the startup ecosystem having served in University of Chicago’s elite entrepreneurship and innovation center for nearly 2 years, which has helped to launch giant companies such as Grubhub, Braintree, Simple Mills, and more.

Once referred to as a “unicorn marketer” for possessing both a big picture, creative approach to work, while also having a strong eye for nitty gritty details and an unironic passion for analytics - truly excited by monthly metric tracking and meeting/exceeding KPIs.

EXPERIENCE

Senior Assistant Director, Digital Marketing and Communications
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago
Chicago, IL | Nov. 2019 – Present

The Polsky Center drives the creation of new ventures and commercial partnerships at the University of Chicago and Chicago Booth School of Business.

  • Promoted from assistant director to senior assistant director

  • Grew social media following (on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube) by more than 48% in fiscal year 2021 by championing a strategy based on empirically proven successes and eliminating futile practices

  • Hit record-setting event registrations for a number of critical events, while also exceeding goals by more than 50% in most cases, by targeting specific audiences (VCs, investors, faculty/researchers, MBA students, alumni, Chicago South Side community members, etc.) through strategic marketing initiatives such as email campaigns, paid promotions, organic traction on social, and more

  • Ideated, designed, and launched virtual initiatives to stay connected to a vast audience during the global pandemic – including a video library of resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as a podcast series featuring prominent entrepreneurs and their inspiring startup stories

  • Produce and manage Center’s dynamic website on WordPress, which averages more than half a million visits per year

  • Formulated communications of launching the nation’s first startup accelerator specifically for companies focused on quantum technology, and fostered the external engagement with an earned media reach of 262.7 million people and placement in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and more

  • Spearheaded Giving Day 2021 for Center; crafted messaging in form of email, text, video, and social, which resulted in exceeding the fundraising goal by more than 590%

  • Manage a team of interns and marketing coordinators working remotely across the globe

Event Manager
Lori Parks Corporate Events
Remote from San Luis Potosi, Mexico | Dec. 2016 – Nov. 2019

Engaged in all strategic and operational facets of the company. Responsible for planning, from ideation to execution, award winning corporate events, from start to finish, as well as managing operations during events.

Highlights included:

  • Client relations on the following accounts: AlixPartners, Novelis, ABC Television

  • Budget event plans for up to $1M, and guest lists for more than 1,000 attendees

  • Awards include: Best Event Produced for a Corporation (x2), Best Multi-Day Incentive Event, Best Theme Décor

Account Executive
SeyferthPR
Grand Rapids, MI and Remote from San Luis Potosi, Mexico | Dec. 2014 – Dec. 2016

Account executive at one of the top public relations firms in Michigan. Role encompassed managing various accounts and counseling clients to best connect with their publics to grow business and promote goodwill. Highlights included:

  • Client relations on the following accounts: Aquinas College, McDonalds, Western Michigan University, WMU-Cooley Law School, Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Huntington Bank, Girls Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, Franciscan Life Process Center

  • Achieved a consistent earned media value in excess of $200,000 within a $1,500 monthly budget for a key client

  • Awarded PRoof Award - recognizing excellence in public relations

Account Executive
Kantorwassink
Grand Rapids, MI | Feb. 2014 – Dec. 2014

Account executive at a small advertising agency with a reputation for award winning campaigns. Role encompassed various cross-functional responsibilities, including account executive/project manager, researcher/analyst, media buyer, editor. Highlights included:

  • Client relations on the following accounts: Pure Via, Point West at Macatawa Park, Solace Magazine, Amway, Wolverine World Wide Inc., Steelcase Inc., and Ferris State University

  • Built and maintained clients’ social media on various platforms, reaching as many as 14,000 likes/followers with weekly planned updates

  • Created and maintained customized estimates and budget plans, ranging up to $350K

Event Manager
Lori Parks Corporate Events,
Greenville, SC (details above) | Feb. 2013 – Feb. 2014

Marketing Coordinator
Fluor Corporation
Greenville, SC | Nov. 2010 – Feb. 2013

Worked with top executives and diverse functional departments around the world to coordinate and manage deadline-driven proposals and marketing efforts for capital projects worth more than $2 billion. Highlights included:

  • Coordinated the writing of complex technical communications with geographically diverse cross-cultural and cross-language teams and production manager for more than $15 billion in proposal bids

  • Raised an excess of $1 million for local charities from heading the marketing of Fluor’s annual golf tournament for two years

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Applied Arts / Central Michigan University May 2010
Organizational Communications and Advertising

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer
Casa Hogar
San Luis Potosi, Mexico | Dec. 2017 – May 2019

Taught English and organized events and fundraisers for a children’s home in Central Mexico