Daniel Ray Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• As part of division reorganization, promoted and assigned to manage product management team responsible for food safety training and certification portfolio generating $70M+ in annual revenue.
• Providing business strategy and market intelligence for ongoing technology transformation initiative.
• Partnering with division leaders to reform business processes for new organizational structure.
• Managing team to adjust overall portfolio for revenue growth and increased margins.

Greater Chicago Area

• Developed and executed the strategic plan for a new career development training and certification product line. Worked with technical and content development teams to build a customer-focused solution with a strong.
• Managed initiative to pilot a new subscription services business model intended to create recurring revenue stream.
• Drove the successful launch of long-gestating product line designed to diversify organizational revenue profile.
• Framed business requirements, partnered with technical vendors, and helped establish Agile development processes for technical transformation initiative linked to product launch.
• Partnered with Marketing, Sales and Finance to execute the go-to-market strategy for the new product line.

Schaumburg, IL

Providing product management and marketing expertise as an associate of consulting company specializing in the education management market. Working with clients on market research analyses, product portfolio & roadmap support, and product margin & revenue analyses. Supporting go-to-market strategy, marketing communications and initial branding guidance in.

Itasca, IL

• Drove overall product marketing and communications strategy for HMH’s K-12 technology solutions, including platforms and interoperability. Articulated technical platform requirements while optimizing customer experience.
• Guided go-to-market strategy for launch of next-generation, in-development online learning system supporting new core basal programs with $45M revenue impact.
• Directed marketing strategy and campaign for intervention software as a service (SaaS) renewals and subscriptions with $20M annual revenue stream.

Greater Chicago Area

• Framed user requirements for online programs and platforms for international K-12 education markets. Managed agile development and value proposition of software components for next-generation products.
• Hired and directed global development team to build online modules focusing on math and science teacher professional development as part of multi-year $8.2M contract with overseas client.
• Directed $3M partnership with overseas digital production vendor, creating 660 hours of Arabic content.
• Managed internal team, freelancers and 3rd-party partners to complete 375 modules in 2 years.

Chicago, IL

• Managed development of blended professional development products, targeting K-12 teachers in emerging global markets.
• Recruited and supervised internationally based freelance staff for development of blended and online professional development products, building three K-12-teacher-focused courses, consisting of 12 modules.
• Evaluated and hired 3rd-party development vendors for production of digital eLearning assets.

• Created and directed product management team in start-up environment following major business unit restructuring.
• Directed professional development business line strategy and roadmap for $25M annual business.
• Drove portfolio strategy and priorities by directing market gap analysis, evaluating assets, and building business cases.
• Developed profit-and-loss tools for assessing product lines and driving development plan.
• Devised strategy for $15M portfolio, directing research to align existing assets with market needs.
• Launched three products in new market segment by directing low-cost, external development resources.

• Managed legacy alternative and supplemental instructional product lines for K-12 science curriculum group.
• Led partner selection process for supplemental kit business with $40M annual revenue potential.
• Preserved legacy customer relationships by designing low-cost, online solution for replacing out-of-print components.
• Executed strategy for custom publishing services, providing low-cost market differentiation in state adoption markets.

• Managed teacher-consumer services product portfolio and relationships with external partners.
• Analyzed pricing strategies with Finance, developing more accurate cost models.
• Increased revenue potential and developed model to support product line market shift.
• Developed launch strategy in expanded segment, leading discussions to adapt assets and refine value propositions.

• Managed product line strategy and market positioning for new product line launch. Led cross-functional initiative to align sales, marketing and development.
• Increased market reach by utilizing research and competitive analysis, driving product line extension
• Managed 3-city, $50K focus group project to inform go-to-market strategy and clarify user needs

• Promoted to brand manager; directed marketing activities for launch of K-12 institution-level product lines during complex, post-merger integration period.
• Developed strategic marketing plan for launch of 4 new product lines, targeting $15M revenue
• Enhanced product line revenue potential by developing internal sales channel positioning
• Managed creative and messaging development for trade show exhibits, launching new product lines

• Created and produced all marketing communications materials needed to support multiple lines of distance-learning master’s degree programs and graduate-level professional development courses.
• Developed positioning strategy and direct marketing campaign for $12M-revenue product line
• Generated $2.4M in potential sales by designing marketing campaign for new product launch
• Improved lead generation 200% by creating and developing innovative direct mail messaging

Managed marketing strategy for launch of $8.5 million entertainment restaurant targeting families and corporate events. Directed public relations consulting firm and acted as on-air representative during launch campaign.

Responsible for managing client relationships and guiding client creative decisions on marketing and advertising projects. Conceptualized and executed design for projects including product catalogs and magazine advertisements. Developed and implemented workflow procedures in start-up environment to minimize costs and create scheduling efficiencies.

Mba, Cross-Continent Program

Ba, Journalism And Mass Communication; English

Activities and Societies: Times Delphic student newspaper; Student Activities Board