Darrah Winkler Email & Phone Number

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

 Create and manage an annual strategic awards program and events calendar for the Tampa Bay Business Journal  Direct, manage, and plan all events for the Tampa Bay Business Journal including, but not limited to: signature events, business expo/trade shows, conferences, panel discussions, and VIP cocktail receptions Coordinate and manage all aspects of Tampa Bay Business Journal events, including but not limited to: venues, vendors, video production, lighting, audio-visual services and entertainment  Manage event department budgets for expenses, trade and revenue goals Negotiate pricing and development of event expenses and in kind partnerships with vendors Oversee and manage all of the Tampa Bay Business Journal award programs, nominations, and judging Maintain the award program listings, nomination displays, event displays and event listings on the Tampa Bay Business Journal website Manage the development of relationships and act as a point of contact with event partners, event sponsors, award program nominees and award program finalists Supports advertising department elements of sponsorships and sponsorship logistics Manages the preparations of contracts and purchase orders  Manage the production of marketing collateral and materials for all award programs, nominations and events Responsible for the marketing of Tampa Bay Business Journal award programs, nominations and events through: print, digital, social media, radio,TV, email and cross promotions with area events and organizations Oversee and supervise all departments in execution of divided jobs as it relates to Tampa Bay Business Journal award programs and events (Sales, Editorial, Audience Development) Analyze event performance and prepare metrics presentations and post-event related reports Work with the Tampa Bay Business Journal President/ Publisher and Editor to keep an up-to-date contact list of business professionals and additional media contacts

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

 Re-built and maintained relationships with local media representatives Represented and promoted the agency at industry functions and community events and meetings Developed and executed strategies to actively manage the agency’s business development efforts Met with key prospects and senior personnel in prospective client organizations

Largo, Fl

 Developed and executed marketing plans and programs to increase brand awareness and comparable sales for 20 restaurants throughout Central Florida  Facilitated and managed local and national advertising efforts including television, internet, social media, text, print, billboards and radio Designed, coordinated, and oversaw all necessary facets of production and distribution of menus, commercials, web page, point of purchase tools, promotional materials, and all other marketing collateral Planned, organized, staffed, and managed all corporate special events  Prepared and maintained annual and monthly marketing budgets Managed supplier and vendor programs and contracts Executed corporate communication activities and public relations efforts Oversaw all philanthropic efforts Strategically developed and grew various marketing databases Assisted with new business development activities  Actively maintained company literature and website to ensure accuracy Created bi-monthly company newsletter Created various employee policies and procedures Managed interior décor package updates Made staffing decisions for all corporate marketing events Delivered presentations, reports and strategies to the business unit and executives where appropriate Supported development of regional marketing budgetsMajor Accomplishments Designed all 2012 Ker’s WingHouse menus Edited, produced, staffed, and managed multiple 2012 Ker’s WingHouse television commercials Wrote, casted, and produced Ker’s WingHouse radio commercials Designed all 2012 Ker’s WingHouse billboards Re-designed Ker’s WingHouse website  Pioneered Ker’s WingHouse “Ker’s Club” Increased marketing database 10,000 customers Created WingHouse Girl image and uniform standards policy and procedures Successfully managed a budget of over one million dollars

 Created and executed marketing plans and advertising campaigns to increase of guest counts and top line sales in over 18 restaurants throughout North and South Carolina Analyzed internal and external market data for business development, special reports and presentations 66 months Executed grass roots marketing, “cold-calling”, selling, and soliciting of Hooters to businesses, individuals, groups and other public entities Negotiated, prepared, and maintained the execution of proposals, sponsorships, media buys, and other contracts to ensure ROI Coordinated and managed activities, materials, and literature related to public and media relations  Facilitated and managed the business development of the Hooters catering program Developed, planned, marketed, and managed activities relating to community, in-store, and special events, promotions, meetings, tradeshows, conventions Collaborated with national marketing team to create and distribute printed and media communications for various external use such as marketing brochures, direct mail, marketing collateral, public relations, and advertising Created, generated leads, and maintained multiple social media-mail/text message and new media marketing databases and campaigns Built relationships with-in communities, as well as with vendors, businesses, individuals and philanthropic organizationsMajor Accomplishments Increased quarterly sales an average of +1.7% Exceeded sales goals 32%  Increased philanthropic fundraising $20,000YTD Coordinated and managed over 300 events including community events, tradeshows, conventions, special events, and nationally televised events Negotiated proposals, sponsorships, and contracts including: NBA, MiLB, NASCAR, SpeedTV, and MTV’s Real World

 Responsible for networking, establishing, and maintaining long-term professional relationships with client, companies and businesses Sell and solicit advertising space to clients for a variety of print and media publicationsMajor Accomplishments Exceeded territory goal 25% with $204,528.40YTD Increased special edition housing guide 28%

- Coordinated, implemented, executed, and maintained tracking on various marketing strategies to businesses, public entities, and individuals to build guest counts and top line sales for a new hair salon franchise in Central Florida- Facilitated and managed efforts and activities related to grass roots marketing, public relations, community involvement and event planning- Recruited, developed, and supervised promotional staff

 Coordinated, organized, and executed various marketing strategies to businesses, public entities, and individuals to build guest counts and top line sales for a new hair salon franchise in Central Florida Facilitated and managed efforts and activities related to grass roots marketing, public relations, community involvement and event planning Recruited, developed, and supervised promotional staff

B.A, Interpersonal Communications

Activities and Societies: Delta Delta Delta, SGA Senate, UCF O-Team

B.A, Psychology

Activities and Societies: Delta Delta Delta, SGA Senate, O-Team