As a member of the leadership team, conceives and carries out strategic direction for the overall brand positioning, messaging and marketing platforms. Responsible for the development of the Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau/Des Moines Area Sports Commission marketing plan and its execution. Responsible for maximizing ROI, including strategic revenue generation to enable the organization to reinvest dollars in marketing Greater Des Moines as a leading destination. Leads all aspects of media relations, PR efforts, advertising, integrated marketing, social media, convention sales/sports events support, digital, partnerships and content strategy and advocacy programs.

Advance the image and reputation of Strategic America and agency clients by effectively communicating to targeted publics via local, state, regional and national media relations efforts. Provide media training and issues management efforts to benefit clients. Develop and manage integrated marketing programs, internal communications initiatives and content strategy for multiple clients including Catch Des Moines, LightEdge Solutions, Foster Group, Aureon and Kum & Go. Lead agency efforts on client M&A and rebranding communications, both internal and external. Oversee and assist with the creation of client website content, communications plans, message maps and marketing collateral. Key Achievements:**Strategically positioned SA and clients as thought leaders and increased awareness in strategic initiatives with earned media placements and op-eds in publications such as Ad Age, Des Moines Register, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and the Business Record. **Directed successful go-to-market launches for clients such as Aureon, Catch Des Moines and The Accel Group, spearheading the external media campaigns as well as internal communications and employee engagement efforts.**Created messaging and branding collateral for Aureon brand launch, including new website copy, along with serving as Editor-in-Chief for Back Office magazine, their bi-monthly magazine targeted at small to medium-sized business decision makers.**Using original research, devised strategic and targeted messaging campaign for Catch Des Moines brand refresh that helped lead to 50% increase in social followers, 87% increase in Facebook engagement and a sustained spike in website impressions and click rates.

Senior Public Relations Manager, overseeing North America public relations efforts for global market research company. Develop, implement and lead the public relations and events strategy supporting Mintel’s US PR presence. Nurture existing and establish new relationships with prominent media contacts with a view of growing awareness of the Mintel brand. Develop, recommend and implement strategic corporate and product PR plans for the US and Canada in accordance with the overall marketing strategy. Compose and oversee dissemination of press releases, content marketing pieces and key PR initiatives that effectively position Mintel's business segments and services. Coach internal consultants/analysts on effective media interaction and facilitate interviews between media contacts and company analysts.Key Achievements:** Spearheaded successful and aggressive content marketing initiative, including the launch of client e-newsletter, company blog and increased social media presence. ** Increased company visibility and position within industry by attaining 90% increase in placement in national outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, USA Today, Ad Age and CNBC, highlighting both Mintel data and positioning analysts as industry thought leaders.** Led Canadian PR push for launch of consumer report series in Canada, helping establish Mintel brand in new territory.

Collaborate in development and management of regional publicity and promotional campaigns for films, including Academy Award-winning productions: Argo, The Descendants, Little Miss Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire and Black Swan. Strategize with client's marketing, research, creative, talent, and publicity team to architect promotion plan. Serve as point person on prestigious Fox Searchlight account, working with agency directors and company executives to capture performance targets. Execute regional press junkets. Foster positive relations with media, press, promotional partners, vendors, and sponsors.Key Achievements: ** Secured thousands of publicity hits for clients, including ESPN, The Today Show, and The Huffington Post, as well as the covers of Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Time Out Chicago, RedEye, and Michigan Avenue Magazine.** Orchestrated full-phase red carpet premiers and media events for numerous films, such as The Break Up, Just Wright, and Inglourious Basterds; handled budget negotiations, permits, talent, ticketing, tastemaker invites, and media coverage.** Served as Lead Account Executive for new business client Motor Trend Magazine; secured on-site coverage for week-long Greater Milwaukee Auto Show and directly contributed to increase in attendance for two consecutive years--40% in 2011 and 11% in 2012.** Negotiated cross-platform promotional campaign between Tribune Media Group and Fox Searchlight for the film The Descendents, delivering 1.13M online impressions with click-through rate of more than double industry average and $263K in promotional value for client.** Generated promotional media value of $502K+ across multiple platforms for The Dark Knight Rises, including contesting on national WGN-TN superstations with record participation and 53K unique entries.** Awarded a prestigious Golden Trumpet award by the Publicity Club of Chicago, recognizing exemplary work on the film The Campaign.

Key Achievements: ** Served as agency point person and primary client liaison for Fox Searchlight Pictures; directed 60+ account executives across more than 20 field offices.** Successfully organized and executed more than 100 press and media tours for celebrity clientele, such as Will Ferrell, Quentin Tarantino, Drew Barrymore, Danny Boyle, Ben Affleck, Common, Forrest Whitaker, Wes Anderson, and John C. Reilly.

Key Achievements: ** Negotiated on-air advertising with radio and television stations, including promotional print and online outlets to publicize consumer events, giveaways, and press tours.** Built comprehensive database with hundreds of press and promotional contacts for agency with project serving as company-wide template.

Key Achievements: ** Conceived and initiated strategic regional marketing campaigns for various clients, e.g., Warner Bros., Fox Searchlight, The Weinstein Company, Universal Pictures, HBO, and AMC Theatres.** Wrote promotional material, media copy, and press releases resulting in publicity opportunities for motion picture studios, consumer brands, and television / home entertainment clientele.

Provided broad-based promotional functions (copywriting, editing, marketing, public relations) for startup enterprise serving well-known clients within sports industry.Consulted with major clients, such as Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis BMW, providing marketing and copywriting talent for website and advertising collateral. Managed graphic designer, protecting integrity of client's vision and message. Collaborated with clients to increase website traffic and revenue generation. Contributed to pitch meetings resulting in multiple new accounts. Key Achievements:**Spearheaded content copywriting for ConsecoFieldhouse.com (now Bankers Life Fieldhouse); increased Web traffic more than 50% through creative promotions.**Crafted detailed case studies on potential marketing initiatives, evaluating short- and long-term impact of incorporating different promotional strategies.