Kari Ruff Email & Phone Number

Worked within the Microsoft Global Demand Center (GDC) in Integrated Marketing Communications as the flagship event lead and drove cross workstream success for Ignite 2022. Focused on the successful execution of blogs, email campaigns, executive communications, organic social media, paid social media, web strategies and post-event reporting.

Supported four Microsoft Sr Product Marketing Managers across several Windows 365 workstreams: inbound, outbound, GTM and SMB/ROB:· Led the first Windows 365 Analyst Study with Enterprise Strategy Group· Hosted & managed the Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop Bi-weekly Webinar Series· Hosted the weekly Windows 365 Workstream V-Team call· Represented Windows 365 GTM efforts as a member of the Windows 100 Program V-Team and their WW sales support calls across the global subsidiaries for top tier accounts· Provided production assistance for the “Windows in the Cloud” series and the subsequent episodes, such as “Ask Me Anything” and “Bonus Content” subject matter· Supported ROB meeting coordination and tracking across various teams/BUs· Additional responsibilities included: customer evidence, technical & partner program support, BOM content management, IGEL Disrupt on Tour speaker management, Windows 365 event-in-the-box management, event support, survey creation/distribution and swag distribution

Utilizing cumulative expertise and experience to help clients achieve or exceed their business goals by:• Successfully executing short- and long-term projects at varying levels of organizational need to drive reach and revenue• Partnering with various companies on projects ranging from advising technology start-ups, enterprise software marketing, healthcare IT marketing, executive engagement to event planning and execution• Extensive experience building and producing executive engagement opportunities such as executive briefings, customer roundtables, business or technical reviews and customized account activities

Seattle, Washington, Us

Consultant to the Microsoft 365 ISV GTM team working with worldwide partners who created applications for Microsoft Teams and focused on building out their GTM activities including: BoM, PR, blogs, social media amplification, webinars, events, executive engagement, internal communications, tracking and reporting.• Provided guidance and assistance to priority ISVs and those partners who sign-up for the Build and GTM benefits program available to app dev partners who publish with the Microsoft Teams Store and AppSource.

Kirkland, Washington, Us

Consultant to the Microsoft 365 Incubation & Business Strategy team on their worldwide Microsoft Viva incubation program, servicing 130 top enterprise accounts.• Orchestrated the day-to-day Rhythm of Business (ROB) flow – managed account support requests & assigned appropriate resources, coordinated all country/regional sales team coaching & support call cadences, provided cadence call follow-up tasks & communications, designed & distributed internal program updates, and delivered program reporting.

Irvine, Ca, Us

Consulted with new and existing U.S. partners on how to build and grow their Azure practice with the help of marketing strategies, planning and key GTM activities. • Created a webinar series to educate partners on how best to navigate the Azure content, tools & resources available to them• Delivered marketing training to help the “non-traditional” marketers within our SMBs with skill building• Developed Azure case studies to highlight successful partner solutions and revenue growth

Costa Mesa, Ca, Us

Provided strategic guidance on building out an existing executive briefing program for the leader in global information services.• Drove strategic planning, evaluated existing processes and identified areas for improvement• Implemented program tracking and reporting to measure ROI as they transitioned from Siebel to Salesforce systems• Advised and coached sales teams on how to appropriately plan, manage and deliver successful briefings• Collaborated with executives and other stakeholders to create world-class customer experiences• Led customer sessions focused on creating strategic roadmaps, uncovering new opportunities, forming longer term partnerships and driving revenue

Redmond, Washington, Us

Designed and delivered revenue driving client programs for national sales teams.• Partnered with account teams to plan and execute account-based marketing strategies• Produced executive briefing engagements for key clients and executive staff• Developed divisional speaker program to help promote speakers at advertising and search industry conferences, trade shows and customer engagements• Created custom client engagements at events including: Sundance Film Festival, NAIAS/Detroit Auto Show, and CES• Increased ad and paid search speaking engagements by 200%+ and speaker event opportunities by 27%

Redmond, Washington, Us

Built event marketing strategies and processes for the online advertising division which encompassed: executive engagements, customer briefings, advertising industry events, vertical industry events and sponsorships.• Established Microsoft’s commitment, vision and investments in online advertising and digital marketing through partnerships with key industry associations (AAAA, ANA, ARF, IAB, IAA, etc.)• Partnered with clients to promote events and highlight Microsoft as an industry leader• Managed corporate sponsorship of and participation in Advertising Week 2006 and 2007• Created events for brands including P&G, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, Nissan and Ford• Helped launch the new Microsoft Advertising Brand across US field offices

Redmond, Washington, Us

Choreographed global marketing strategies used to promote the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) broad reach initiatives including: events, webcasts, virtual labs, newsletters and online marketing campaigns.• Defined and implemented broad reach content planning processes and led an overall content advisory board• Served as liaison to all US Developer District Marketing Managers to drive program success at the distric, regional and national level• Launched the MSDN Field Event model across 17 districts and 500+ events with an overall rating of 7.9/9.0• Increased MSDN and Architecture Webcast viewings to 330K+ (a 173% YOY increase)• MyDevDays pilot project: created a customized event portal available to registered attendees which showcased pre-event, during event and post-event specific content, offerings and feedback opportunities (Best Practice Award)

Redmond, Washington, Us

Drove evaluation and adoption of .NET for developers within US enterprise accounts through the creation and execution of targeted marketing programs, GTM strategies and digital campaigns.• Owned the BLITZ.NET program which provided product evaluation, workshops and pilot opportunities to participating corporate accounts• Managed multi-day training program options for select global and corporate accounts• BLITZ.NET program generated $22.3M+ in corporate account revenue (129% of fiscal year goal)• Onsite training program delivered 500+ training engagements and trained more than 200K developers• Created targeted marketing campaigns for Microsoft program partners and field representatives• Developed internal tool to automate tracking of program metrics, partner engagements and payment processing

Redmond, Washington, Us

Developed marketing strategies to promote Microsoft Press, TechNet, Training & Certification along with MSDN products and programs.• Generated integrated messaging and digital content opportunities through collaboration with internal product teams which support key company initiatives and product launches• Produced and distributed .NET Developer Resource Kit to 60K+ attendees at worldwide launch events• Managed development and execution of hands-on training labs for Fall Comdex 2001• Developed labs for the Visual Studio.NET Training Tour: 25K+ developers trained in the US • Drove a pilot program for the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) launch at 30 US retail events

Redmond, Washington, Us

Performed global event marketing to promote books and self-paced training products across three key audiences: Developer, IT Professional and Consumer. • Drove selection of product content/messaging and collateral development for targeted audiences• Managed 60+ events, conferences, trade shows, focused on software and publishing industries• Produced and managed annual customer conference for 300+ attendees with overall rating of 4.24/5.0• Increased product sales by identifying key partners to generate on-site and online book sales• Managed MS Press participation in the Windows 2000, Office XP and Visual Studio.NET launches

Duluth, Georgia, Us

Microsoft World Wide End-User TrainingDirected the production and distribution of WIN 95 training materials for national and international end-user product training.

Duluth, Georgia, Us

Microsoft Interactive Television (MITV)Implemented an on-site training program for the top 30 MITV cable and telecom industry partners. Managed the million-dollar Insight training lab, designed training content and presentations, and planned customer events for CEOs, VPs, and IT managers.

Duluth, Georgia, Us

Microsoft Small Business & VAP Channel MarketingPlanned and executed customer focused marketing programs, created content and messaging, established metrics and tracked budgets. Hired and managed vendors and contractors, created sales tools, developed case studies, produced retail packaging, POS and merchandising materials. Assisted with the production and distribution of our small business television show. Managed the Small Business Crossings U.S. road show tour promoting the launch of the BackOffice Small Business Server. Responsible for the presentation staff and all aspects of the Microsoft sponsorship of this event. Established the technical specs, structural design and AV requirements for the keynote portion of the show. Developed OEM sponsorships to obtain hardware for all the equipment used on tour. Collaborated with product managers to identify appropriate product demo content and key product messaging for the small business market. Coordinated district office participation and staffing for each show.

Duluth, Georgia, Us

Microsoft Solution Provider Channel MarketingExecuted direct marketing phase for the BackOffice Technical Training Program by selling pre-certification training classes to North American Solution Providers.

Duluth, Georgia, Us

Microsoft Training and CertificationManaged the planning, launch, and execution of the $7MM SQL Server 7.0 training initiative. Served as the main point of contact for product groups, channel marketing, field marketing, inside sales, and online marketing. Identified necessary resources and program processes for successful execution. Directed operational aspects and managed the vendors involved in the program.

Seattle, Wa, Us

Directed key areas of operation for this public affairs organization which provided programming for the downtown community:*Programming: Orchestrated 75+ events ranging in size from 25-600 guests, including live television and radio broadcasts. Led both the Program and PR Committees, which were dedicated to developing forum topics and selecting local/regional speakers, as well as, establishing PR and marketing plans to cover event promotion and demand generation. Produced weekly and annual events including addresses given by the Mayor of Seattle, Governor of WA State, and WA State Congressional Leaders. Established corporate partnerships to expand programming opportunities, contribution levels, and event sponsorships. *Financial: Implemented membership drives and various fundraising activities to increase membership and contribution levels by 20%. Computerized manual accounting system, utilizing QuickBooks software to help track CityClub's $250,000 budget. Managed and analyzed organizational budgets and made recommendations to the Board of Directors on all financial matters. *Promotion/PR: Designed, edited and produced organization's bi-monthly newsletter distributed to 700+ members. Created and produced direct mail and PR materials. Established press contacts and worked directly with KIRO TV and Radio news anchors and crews to produce live event broadcasts and political debates.