Brock Ray Email & Phone Number

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Traust is an enterprise application development and ERP consulting firm that helps clients embrace and implement technology to make business more efficient, productive, and profitable. As Director of Marketing & Creative at Traust, I focus on putting users and their needs at the center of our application development process, transforming the way our clients work on a global scale. I work with an amazing team of software architects, systems analysts, and developers to help design and build next-generation applications for our enterprise clients in manufacturing, distribution, logistics, life sciences, and higher education. On a day-to-day basis, my work includes leading projects and teams across all phases of the product design process from project definition, to user research, to strategy formulation, opportunity area identification, ideation, prototyping, testing, into final visual design, production, and delivery.We love solving difficult business problems through digital solutions. Let’s connect!

UX design and front-end development for a custom Oracle APEX software development initiative to create a full lifecycle clinical trial and supply chain logistics management application.

Requirements engineering and UX design for an Oracle APEX custom software development initiative to create a combined employee portal and student registration/academic progress application.

UX Design for an Oracle APEX custom software development initiative to create a quality control data collection and reporting application for a tool manufacturing company.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

As Director of Marketing and Brand, I worked to strategize key decisions related to brand recognition, project pursuits, and inbound marketing targets to support a regional commercial architecture and design firm that is growing in reach and impact. I was responsible for setting strategy for developing new business and managing the firm's marketing, branding, and advertising initiatives.Every day, I worked to promote the PlanForce story and capabilities through promotional efforts and project proposals. I created content and directed ongoing activity of the company brand image, communications, PR, and advertising through numerous channels, including website updates, newsletter/blog, social media, video, printed booklets, case studies, speaking engagements, and competition entries. Equipped with a designer’s eye, a storyteller’s soul, and a marketer’s targeted goal-setting, I worked to cultivate clear messaging that communicated the powerful stories of PlanForce Group's client-centered architecture and design projects. I also collaborated with clients to help develop integrated branding, graphic design, and digital marketing solutions — creating property marketing and space branding solutions to tell their stories and reflect their values.

Conceptualized, designed, and developed a custom Drupal client portal and commercial real estate space calculator application. Dubbed PlanForce.Space, the application provided landlords, property managers, and leasing agents with web-based access to space drawings, stacking plans, and leasing documents, all organized by property and suite. PlanForce.Space also gave clients a vacancy search feature, office space calculator, and one-stop job tickets for quickly interfacing with the PlanForce team.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

(September 2015 – June 2017)Managed the Product Marketing, Graphics, and Video teams to create a wide variety of creative marketing materials in support of lead generation, branding, and sales efforts. The Product Marketing department is responsible for developing the overall marketing strategy for OATI solutions, including product positioning and messaging, ensuring marketing programs are aligned to the overall product strategy and roadmap. Lead all B2B marketing campaigns and demand generation activities. Work with the sales team to ensure they have the relevant sales and marketing materials to facilitate the buying process. I own the measurement, analysis, and reporting of metrics for all brand and product marketing initiatives.Key Performance Metrics:— Outperformed 2016 lead generation goal by 250%— Achieved top organic Google rankings for all targeted search terms— Reduced bounce rate on corporate website by 25% year-over-year

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Led marketing research, strategy, planning, and execution for B2B electric industry software firm. Effectively synthesized complex technical information and produced high-quality marketing communications, mapping content strategies to the sales cycle for our B2B and government customers. I directed the creative and execution for external marketing communication initiatives, including sales materials, white papers, case studies, infographics, webinars, social media campaigns, videos, and more.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Drive corporate creative initiatives and work across disciplines to develop concepts for websites, mobile and social applications, rich media, and print campaigns. I analyze and translate software and technology concepts and requirements into functional, high-impact creative. I also provide thought leadership, inspiration, and direction to external agencies and partners to bring to fruition cutting-edge ideas and trends.

UX design for the Boomerang barter exchange and mobile shopping application.

Helped clients develop marketing programs tied to their unique value proposition and designed to achieve business results. Conducted market research, developed strategic communications plans, and wrote creative marketing messages. I also led interactive efforts, helping clients design online solutions that engaged users and motivated action.*** UX Projects ***EDRM: Design and development for the Apersee e-Discovery Decision Engine custom software application.Vector Windows: Design and development for customer ordering experience and portal for window manufacturing company.Super Go Faster: Design and development for the Wasubi substitute teacher scheduling custom software application.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

AIGA Minnesota is the first place to turn for inspiration, professional development, and excellence in design in Minnesota. As the Director of Programming, I oversaw the successful development and implementation of all chapter programming, including DesignCamp®, the largest regional design conference in the country. This volunteer position required the considerable application of negotiation and interpersonal skills to ensure that programs were produced on tight timelines and even tighter budgets.

Leveraged my background in marketing and design to connect talented marketing and creative professionals with the employers who needed their services. Collaborated with clients to help identify, find & place the right talent for their unique needs, while managing Celarity’s employees to ensure positive results and satisfied clients.

Drove business growth by planning and creating integrated graphic design solutions for client exhibits and corporate marketing materials. Organized and implemented training and professional development sessions for Skyline’s 150 graphic and exhibit designers nationwide.

Merrill specializes in technology-enabled marketing and compliance communications, connecting clients to their target audience through technology integration, document composition, printing, fulfillment, and digital delivery of documents. I provided complete turnkey document services for North Memorial Health Care, managing the creation, storage and delivery of all medical and administrative forms and paperwork. In this capacity, I directly supervised personnel to meet tight timelines and exacting standards.

Bachelor Of Arts, Individualized Studies

Classes in Visual Communications, Marketing, Business Management and Statistics

Associate Of Applied Science, Graphic Design And Visual Communications

Philosophy, Computer Science