David C. Spencer Hickman Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

As an associate and fractional executive, I assist with corporate and brand development for both the company and its clients in a consulting capacity. I am responsible for defining and leading digital efforts, especially regarding technical solutions and capabilities. I consult on transformation activities to create next-generation customer engagement, leveraging digital platforms such as omnichannel campaign management, content management, cloud-based platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.

Establish Vision, Mission, and Strategy for a cause-related ocean lifestyle brand that helps fund research, recovery, and restoration through the sale of eco-friendly products. A grassroots movement of surfers, sailors, divers, scientists, and activists on a hero’s journey to mitigate climate change and ocean acidification, recover ocean plastic, restore mangroves, and save coral.

Assisted in the development, testing, and Beta use of a mobile identification system; using metadata best practices for documentation, barcoding for tracking field samples, and QR codes to simplify launching destination sites. The assignment combined project management, environmental, and data science.

Hanover, Md, Us

As an innovation consultant, marketing and strategy generalist, I have fulfilled many Digital Transformation and Agile related roles for TEKsystems' clients for nearly a decade; from Digital Strategist and Innovation Manager, to UI/UX/CX Solutions Architect and Digital Product Owner.I study and influence the interactions of consumers and technology with an eye toward finding solutions- facilitating the paradigm shift from a pure focus on technology towards digital products and online services that both empower and enable the user. Innovation is, at its heart, “problem-solving.” Technology only succeeds when and if it meets fundamental human needs.TEKsystems is a leading provider of technology staffing, talent management, and services, deploying over 80,000 IT professionals at 6,000 client sites across North America, Europe and Asia annually.

Bloomington, Il, Us

Consultant in a SAFe Agile product owner role on a digital asset strategy product development assignment. Strategy and Product ownership underpins digital transformation with customer experience (CX) set to overtake price and product as the top brand differentiator, organizations must be truly customer-centric to survive. Responsible for managing the strategic vision and direction for the feature sets and backlog to achieve the desired outcomes of the high-level roadmap for the product offerings over time. Took ownership of two synergistic product development teams; one with a technical focus, the other UI/UX.

Bloomington, Illinois, Us

Digital Strategist, consulted leadership on digital transformation, and the increasingly foundational role knowledge management plays in bridging organizational strategy and employee practices. Researching and recommending automation and ambient technology to help position workers for more responsive, creative, and innovative ways of working, using data and content capabilities to powers them. Solution architecture that outlined the design and build of operational structures and practices for the capture and creation of knowledge, by ensuring the right knowledge, people and context are connected.Senior consultant for intranet digital asset strategy during the agile roll-out and implementation of the Microsoft 365 suite; provided research, strategy, and governance guidance for the use of Microsoft applications, (including, SharePoint Online, Teams, Planner, and the power platform.) Ensuring the organization is maximizing their investment and maintaining a successful digital asset and communication environment. Advising business partners on the Microsoft 365 toolset and application(s) that best meets their specific content and collaboration requirements.

New York City, Ny, Us

Experiential marketing or ‘engagement’ is a marketing strategy that directly engages consumers and invites and encourages them to participate in the evolution of a brand or a brand experience. Rather than looking at consumers as passive receivers of messages, engagement marketers believe that consumers should be actively involved in a relationship with the brand.Adrenaline! blends the science of excitement and memory triggers with the art of brand development to create successful experiential marketing programs that increase brand awareness, consumer engagement, and ultimately brand adoption. “The single quickest way to create a bond is to get people to experience new things. When people do things they’ve never done before, there’s an automatic internal shift; thoughts change, leading to behavioral change.”

New York City, Ny, Us

As Executive to Production, my role during the live events, was that of liaison between the production, its sponsors, and the media. This involved brand management not only of NBC, the Fireball Run brand and licenses, but brand integration and stewardship of advertising brands, including corresponding public relations and media representation.Adrenaline! was the marketing division of Adrenaline Partnership, producers of the Fireball Run Adventurally and Fireball Run Series. ‘Adventurally’ was created as a new experiential marketing medium- a rolling grass-roots marketing event that provides proprietary access to an affluent clientele, consumers, nationwide venues and millions in associated media coverage that guarantees brands make an impression and produce measurable results.Fireball Run Adventurally and Series, located at NBCUniversal Media Orlando backlot, used state of the art NBC production support facilities, production management and administrative services across media platforms, for in-house colleagues like us.

Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Us

Disney Institute is the professional development and external training arm of The Walt Disney Company. As Thought Leader for the think tank and ideation facilitation company, identified upcoming consumer trends, unmet needs, and opportunity areas for both Disney Institute and its clients. Managed cross-functional teams in the areas of digital style guide, brand development, brand management, and communications, including interactive online projects; working closely with designers, programmers and brand managers to create and execute marketing (from concept to implementation) using a variety of software.

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

Catalyst Holdings Co. was an integrated marketing, entertainment, and design group. Clients included; MTV, Disney, Breakfast Club of America, TVR, and Lamborghini.As a Management Consultant, I was brought in as President of Catalyst, to advise on change management issues and conducted a series of company-wide organizational paradigm shifts designed to meet the challenges associated with larger-scale industry change in less than six months. During this time I addressed brand architecture and business model-related issues including a Record-to-report (R2R) finance and accounting management process. I was also responsible for revising marketing strategies and solutions for clients. I researched, defined and established a series of business assessments and solutions for clients in diverse industries; including a dot-com auction site, a specialty lighting designer and manufacturer, a 'smart-home' construction and improvement specialty firm and a European auto-maker.

Idea Distillery aka The Still is an innovation think tank, working with companies concerned with “what’s next.” Creating meaningful products, services, and proprietary technologies. Due to non-disclosure agreements the client list is undisclosed- but includes a broad spectrum of industries from consumer electronics, telecommunications, healthcare, and media, to education, finance, retail, and fashion.As Thought Leader, I created enterprise a culture of business innovation and was resident expert in field of innovation, driving critical thinking from a customer point of view. Organized ideas and insights from various sources into platforms to be utilized for internal ideation using effective and creative brainstorming, ideation, and other problem-solving skills. As a team leader of multi-disciplined designers, technologists, strategists, and analysts at 'The Still', I directed research, market insights, and ideation processes, developing solutions spanning multiple technologies, platforms, and mediums.

Olympia, Wa, Us

Emphatic! was a brand development and advertising firm specializing in research-based solutions; "putting the emphasis on marketing." Clients included Penpower, a division of General Electric, Edy’s Ice Cream, Copeland’s Restaurant Group, as well as several Dot-com clients from airline travel to vacation club membership sites.I was instrumental in growing the firm from single-office local agency, to nationally recognized, dual-office regional firm, tripling annual billings and increasing profit margins by 200%. Specialized in disruptive marketing strategy; taking clients from neighboring agencies and capitalizing on all accounts in play. I managed three Art Directors as well as corresponding creative and interactive teams; assisting corporate clients in the creation, adoption, awareness and stewardship of their brands.

Sydney, New South Wales, Au

Powerpak Communications was a medical and pharmaceutical advertising agency specializing in the marketing and delivery of drug samples, accompanied by continued information (CE) and prescribing information (PI). Clients included Fortune 500 healthcare, biotech and pharmaceutical companies worldwide; such as Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, Schein, and Goldline IVAX.I was instrumental in transitioning the firm from direct mail fulfillment and promotions company to a national full-service agency. Immediately secured million dollar account and developed successful new product launch. Created new Creative Director position- responsible for the development and creative direction of two Art Director led teams as well as all campaigns and direct mail projects at the agency. Pioneered use of consumer advertising to promote prescription pharmaceutical products to the public. Assisted corporate clients in the distribution, adoption, and branding, of new pharmaceutical products and medical devices.Pharmacy Powerpak's continuing education division, was sold to Postgraduate Healthcare Education LLC.

New York, Ny, Us

McCann Erickson is a global advertising agency network, with offices in more than 130 countries. McCann is a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group of Companies, one of the four large holding companies in the advertising industry.As Illustrator, Designer, and later Art Director, I worked on a series of project assignments designed to sell agency concepts to corporate clients, and ultimately assist the clients in branding and consumer communication initiatives. Specialized in the development of creative concepts, marker comps and storyboard designs, including presentations to the client. I also developed highly creative self-promotional pieces for the agency. I was on the agency’s flagship account, Coca-Cola, and a team member of the fledgling internet division, before it split-off to become McCann Interactive.