Brett Avants Email & Phone Number

Jefferson City, Missouri, United States

Jefferson City, Missouri, United States

Responsible for customer account management post-sales. Lead the day-to-day responsibilities on multiple accounts and manage client expectations across several market verticals. Act as a liaison between customers, sales staff, production employees and managers. Work with three sales executives and nearly 100 customers on a daily basis, providing service and support for print projects from initiation, manufacturing and printing, specification management, through to final product. Work with sales, manufacturing, accounting, distribution, and customer service to ensure that the multiple print projects are completed in accordance with customer specifications. Maintain customer relationships and act as the point-person on-site for all customer issues. Use production platform and project management tools to manage, prioritize and deliver on multiple projects and deadlines, both internal and external.

Holts Summit, Missouri, United States

Lead pastor of a church plant (start-up) in Holts Summit, MO, near Jefferson City.

Greater St. Louis Area

Responsible for all internal and external communications, branding, marketing, agency incentive events, publishing and printing, charitable giving, and creative services for Kemper Life, the life and health division of Kemper Corporation. Responsibilities include managing all internal and external printing and creative vendors as well. • Led the effort to revise, rebrand, and redirect the marketing efforts and materials for Kemper Life, from focusing on growth rather than maintenance. Reduced printing budget by 55% while simultaneously improving the quality of the material, redirecting the focus, and improving the usage rates of collateral material. Part of the Agency team responsible for record growth in 2018 and 2019. • Drove the rejuvenation of the business unit's internal communications strategies, leading to a 30+% increase in employee awareness and satisfaction measured over several years. Led the implementation of periodic townhalls, employee events, and other activities which increased engagement. Drafted messaging for senior leaders for in-person and virtual townhalls, videos, monthly video messages, and various sales events. • Led the development and implementation of new processes for internal communications to our 28 field offices and our home office headquarters, consisting of more than 2,600 employees. • Redesigned and improved efficiencies for printed applications and forms. Transitioned from printed to digital, and creating communications and training tools to help agents embrace the new technology and be more productive. Rolled out digital marketing presentations and collateral material for agents’ iPads. Received the Digital Agency Recognition Award in April 2019. • Led the development with Agency to create new and innovative approaches for niche market segments using our current product portfolio with new collateral and messaging. Received the 2016 Kemper Innovation Award for innovative ideas and approaches for Kemper Life.

Develop, manage and execute the communications strategies for several top priority global programs, including all internal communications and external communications with outside Federal agencies such as the FAA, NAVAIR, AMCOM, and Defense Contracts Management Agency for a $3 billion aircraft/defense company. Developed comprehensive communications strategies including key messaging, audience analyses, and tactical means and tools. Worked with internal creative services to develop effective and engaging collateral material for internal and external use. Creatively developed and implemented web-based sites, SharePoint sites and other online tools for clear and consistent dissemination of key messages and measurement of communications initiatives. Wrote articles, letters, talking points and e-mail messaging for senior leadership team on a variety subjects regarding the programs. Briefed and prepared senior leadership for speaking events. Manage and consult with creative agencies to develop and implement communications messaging.

Manage the interface with local, national, international, and trade media for a $3.5 billion leader in the pharmaceutical industry. Also responsible for developing crisis communications planning worldwide, product placement and promotion within the media, and key message development for product promotion, alliances, and other external activities.

Lead a team that is responsible for all internal and external communications on a global basis for $1.5 billion company in the semiconductor materials industry. Produced all multi-year media campaigns, website content, sales tools, trade shows, and other communications items. Managed outside PR agencies and graphic design and support assets. Results include moving the company from relative obscurity to the second most well recognized name in the semiconductor materials industry. Directly acquired several new customers generating over $50 million annually. Generated contacts that produced several hundred million dollars of increased revenue at existing customers. Established several company officials as industry-wide subject matter experts through interviews, trade journal participation and relationships, and positioning. Identified a critical issue of poor perception of the company’s R&D skills and technology and developed the Silicon Workshop, a public workshop/conference event. Generated millions of dollars in new opportunities and hundreds of new contacts. Used to train new engineers and R&D employees, and gather customer and supplier intelligence.

Created and managed the Competitive Intelligence and Market Research Group. This group continues to provide company management with timely and relevant business information, strategic and tactical market analysis, and competitive research. Established a worldwide intelligence gathering system within the company, and created and managed a system of dissemination and feedback of actionable business information from a variety of sources to decision-makers at all levels. Trained sales, applications engineering, purchasing, and other groups on the need for business intelligence, the legal aspects of intelligence gathering, and how this information would be used. Wrote actionable intelligence reports for mid-to-senior level officials on an ad-hoc and scheduled basis, and briefed senior company officials on market trends, competitor activities, and recommended courses of action. Key results included prior warning of a merger between two competitors, improved ability to acquire new customers and new business, successful launch of several new products, and relationship building and information exchange with selected customers.

Evaluated and generated new business opportunities domestically and internationally. Led an effort within the company to license several patented technologies to other companies outside the industry, generating several million dollars in revenue and opening up a many other opportunities.

Successfully led up to 150 soldiers as an army officer, and led 30 soldiers in combat in Desert Storm, receiving a Bronze Star for action against the Iraqi Republican Guard. Held a Secret clearance. As a Reserve Army Officer, I acted as Intelligence Officer in the Joint Intelligence Center (JIC) of the Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) at Scott, AFB, Illinois. Performed collection, analysis, and supervisory duties as desk intelligence officer supporting a joint military command. Briefed and debriefed military officers and civilians in support of deployment operations and missions. Wrote numerous flash reports, short analyses, and position papers. Held Top Secret SCI clearance.

I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you...Served with the National Clandestine Service as an intelligence operations officer and with the Directorate of Intelligence as a military analyst. As an intelligence operations officer at CIA, I successfully developed and managed several highly classified intelligence gathering operations responsible for the intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination from high-level defectors, threat military equipment acquisition, terrorist contacts, and numerous other topics of interest. Worked primarily within CONUS, coordinated with OCONUS stations on numerous operations, and performed liaison with other government agencies such as the FBI, DIA, INS, and DEA. Held a Top Secret SCI clearance. Graduated Career Training Program and Collections Operations Course.

Masters Of Theology Thm, Theology/Theological Studies

Master Of Arts - Ma, Ministry/Leadership

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Engineering/Military History