As owner and CEO for Blaze, I collaborate and strategize to apply Blaze's 360º Brand Engagement—for our clients and for us.I work with our team to build and support strong brands, both externally and internally. I consult with entrepreneurs and executives to help them execute their vision—in both traditional ways and using non-traditional methods—to innovate, spur growth, and build brand loyalty.Using the Blaze Method, I help create brilliant work that sets brands on fire.

I led the creative division (which did not exist until I created it) and executed brand strategy for our clients and our own firm. I edited, art directed, promoted, managed production, and launched our CEO's latest book achieving Amazon category Top 100 status in its launch month! I oversaw onsite operations and developed relationships with our vendors and partners, marketed and sold programming, and I collaborated every day with the incredible people on our coaching team, ops team, and our own leadership. It was a great ride!

I was responsible for brand development, programs, events and initiatives to engage our parents, students and surrounding community. Responsible for interaction with local agencies via support, events and volunteerism, I worked to develop new and ongoing partnerships with local businesses and organizations to provide entertainment and educational opportunities for our students and staff while running our ESL program,overseeing 7 local, outstanding ESL teachers and overseeing recruitment efforts elsewhere in Asia and coordinating events and tours for visiting agents and prospective students.

I led this incredible team of 36 and together we published the largest independently-owned newspaper in Oklahoma, a neighborhood newsletter, a monthly magazine, five annual awards programs, four websites and an event company. My primary emphasis was on strategic planning, marketing and management coaching—providing tactical direction and support to departmental managers.I coordinated content between the various publications and directed their production by managing the processes and implementing or changing them as necessary. I handled all production scheduling, supervised the sales and finance divisions, marketing strategies and initiatives. I strategically managed our IT infrastructure and regularly coached the people making it happen every day! My positions over this almost 20-year career progression included:Publisher, OKCBiz Associate Publisher, Oklahoma Gazette and EastwordI coordinated editorial content with the editors and marketed the publications to readers and advertisers through collaboration with the creative team and marketing director. I solicited partnerships with area organizations and generated media schedules, crafting attention-getting ad campaigns to get results for our clients!President, High Plains EventsI planned, coordinated, directed and served as mistress of ceremonies for all of our events, including:* Dachshund Dash—raised money for the Central Oklahoma Humane Society as 96 wiener dogs raced to claim the title of Grand Champion. A family fun event, the Dash raised more than $25,000 and hosted 5000 spectators.* Oklahoma Gazette's annual evening Halloween Parade played to a crowd of up to 65,000 spectators (and spectres!). With food vendors, more than 100 parade entries and floats, and revelry beyond the imagination, this event was planned, organized and executed by 15 staffers and more than 200 volunteers!

The InfAbility Group was my first foray into entrepreneurship as a side hustle—providing consultation, recommendations and solutions to grow or help launch independent businesses. With more than 20 years' experience in sales, marketing, leadership and operations, we offered consultation and outsourcing in sales, marketing, coaching, training, administration/operations, and events planning. Using both conventional methods and unconventional means, we were striving to even the playing field for the entrepreneurial spirit as it battles the behemoths for market share. By increasing efficiency, solidifying brand image, and providing guidance or a working team, InfAbility's goal was to partner to build business.

I taught a graduate course in database design and management, direct mail and public relations during a summer cycle. My students were from all over the world and we had the best time! (I think they learned a little something, too.)

I was responsible for maintaining brand strength, coordinating advertising campaigns and schedules, creating sales initiatives, staging in-store displays, planning in-store events, using cooperative advertising funds efficiently and managing the advertising budget. It was my first "client-side" experience and I learned so much!

I assisted small, local businesses with achievement of their objectives through creative and effective advertising campaigns in my favorite newspaper!