Responsible for planning, production and strategy for VentureCat, Northwestern's annual student startup competition, which awards more than $300k in non-dilutive capital. Managed stakeholder priorities from The Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, The Kellogg School of Management, the Donald Pritzker Entrepreneurship Law Center and The Garage. Engaged with 75+ industry experts, executives and founders as volunteer mentors, advisors and judges to produce each year’s prep program and competition.

​​Worked closely with the account VP in a “chief of staff” capacity to establish short and long term priorities for a rapidly growing client relationship with Apple Inc. Ensured we had the proper global team in place to execute and grow programs and offer new services, while designing new teams and ways of working to deliver more effectively for multiple clients.Oversaw business strategy, cross-functional team integration and multiple agency partners for the development of a new interactive B2B and B2C content platform for the Beats Worldwide Channel Development & Go-to-Market team. The platform transformed the product launch process, resulting in a consistent, efficient system to educate a wide range of audiences including channel retail executives, media, retail sales associates and consumers.Created a brand identity and positioning strategy for a global brand advocacy and training program supporting Beats, Apple Music and Apple Pay in more than 15 countries globally, with 200+ product trainers and educators in the field.

Managed day-to-day operations of WellBeings, a wellness brand startup and joint venture between Cresco Labs and Scott Wilson, founder of Minimal, a globally acclaimed design firm.

I joined the agency in June 2014 as an Account Director and led programs for clients including Nike, Gatorade, Dick's Sporting Goods and the NCAA.•Led the account team for the 2015 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four fan festival. Developed a new concept to anchor the three-day event that created a space and programming designed to appeal to the adult female audience, a key demographic within the women's basketball fan base. Worked with NCAA sponsor and partner teams to educate on new opportunities within the festival and oversaw major execution points.•Held strategy and account management roles on a new business division project for Dick's Sporting Goods. Developed proposals including naming, vision statements, audience targeting and product offerings. •Oversaw team of creative directors, designers and producers to concept, plan and execute Gatorade's 2015 NBA All-Star week event in New York City celebrating the famous Be Like Mike commercial re-launch and Gatorade's 50th anniversary year.•Wrote, edited and presented event and branding campaign concept decks to clients including Nike, Gatorade, Dick's Sporting Goods and NCAA.

As one of Uncommon's first employees, I contributed in several business areas to the growth of the company and brand over a four-year period. Uncommon offered an innovative B2B and direct-to-consumer mass customization platform in the tech accessories space, and the brand had global placement in Apple stores featuring iPhone cases with hyperlocal designs. My responsibilities spanned technology product management, business development, design team guidance, marketing, public relations and operations project management. •Project management of key fulfillment partnerships with Shutterfly, Kodak Gallery, RedBubble and Threadless. Coordinated the technical and operational integrations with each of these companies for successful, on-time launches. Worked with partner technical contacts, contract developers, content managers, customer service reps and fulfillment center staff as the main point of contact to keep projects on track and efficient.•Expanded company’s fashion and lifestyle portfolio by leading iPhone case product development, relationship building and sales for several clients including Henri Bendel, Kidrobot, Isetan, Gilt Groupe and Rue La La.•Managed outside development and design firms to launch GetUncommon.com's 2.0 website. Compiled front-end and back-end requirements, including integration with a new ERP system, and project managed the entire process from information architecture planning to launch. 2.0 website resulted in greater flexibility for internal control and content management and increased e-commerce functionality. •Led PR efforts to secure several media placements in outlets such as The New York Times, Mashable and iLounge, and directed outside PR agency outreach for holiday and new product launch campaigns.•Managed a design team staff of six and implemented several processes and controls to improve project communication and workflows.

I worked in a freelance capacity with both major agencies and local brands to design and execute marketing and communications plans.Euro RSCG Worldwide PR•Led print and broadcast media outreach in 10 states for agency client Sears Holdings Corporation to promote the “Cash for Appliances” Rebate Program and Sears’ ENERGY STAR appliances•Secured more than 70 placements in 10 states during five-week project, positioning Sears as top retailer for ENERGY STAR appliancesFamilyFarmed.org 2010 EXPO, Premier Midwest sustainable local food conference•Increased Twitter and Facebook following by 160% in seven weeks•Provided live Twitter updates for three-day conference with 4,000+ attendees and established a hashtag to aggregate all EXPO references; 60+ participated in discussion•Coordinated advance promotional video to drive public and media interest with placement on sites such as Crain’s Chicago Business and Change.org; managed on-site event videographer and photographer

Developed initial business concept for Chicago’s first eco-fashion boutique, created marketing plan, and determined product assortment and merchandising concepts for the business. •Led continuous public relations campaigns to secure more than 75 diverse placements in international, national and local outlets that led to sales and traffic; more than 25% of first-time customers noted seeing Pivot in the media as reason for visiting •Planned and executed monthly events to drive traffic and sales, create media opportunities and educate customers about sustainable lifestyles•Developed strong relationships with designers, showrooms, and vendors, allowing for special discounts, marketing opportunities, and events that helped grow the business; managed purchase orders for more than $275,000 in product •Managed staff of up to 2 employees and interns, set schedules and daily task lists, led training on sales and product information, created employee handbook•Created content for monthly newsletter distributed to 1,500+ subscribers •Set up social media channels to interact and share information with customers, designers, influencers and media

•Led content development for lifestyle magazine with circulation of 50,000•Directed magazine through a redesign process resulting in more sophisticated, modern brand•Managed editorial copy flow for production of spring/summer 2007 issue•Coordinated up to 10 freelancers, reviewing story pitches, assigning stories and processing copy on deadline•Wrote 2007 media kit for advertising staff use•Supervised two editorial interns on fact-checking, writing and research duties•Supported Publisher in administrative duties, including Quickbooks entry and office shipping

•Wrote press materials for Nike Run Hit Remix and local shoe preview events•Established and maintained strong relationships with media outlets as primary PR contact for specific stories in Running, Soccer and Women’s categories•Interacted with outside PR agency teams regularly to execute media outreach and event plans; participated in strategy meetings with Nike’s national in-house and agency media teams•Identified key Chicago media for Nike + iPod product launch; set media appointments for product interactions and briefings