As the Founding CEO of LINK nky, I have led the creation and growth of a news startup dedicated to delivering reliable, community-focused journalism in Northern Kentucky. My role encompasses strategic vision, operational leadership, and innovative growth strategies to ensure our platform remains at the forefront of local media.Key Responsibilities and Achievements:- Strategic Vision & Leadership: Established the strategic direction for LINK nky, guiding the organization through concept development, launch, and growth phases.- Content Strategy & Editorial Oversight: Developed a robust content strategy that prioritizes journalistic integrity, relevance, and audience engagement. Oversaw editorial operations to ensure timely, accurate news coverage.- Digital Innovation: Implemented advanced digital technologies to enhance user experience. Used data-driven approaches to optimize audience reach.- Community Engagement: Built strong relationships with community leaders, local businesses, and residents to establish trust and credibility. Organized events and initiatives to strengthen community connection.- Revenue Growth: Capitalized on revenue opportunities through advertising, partnerships, and subscription models. Secured funding to support our mission and expansion.- Team Building & Management: Recruited and led a talented team of journalists, editors, and salespeople, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture.Impact:- Launched LINK nky as a trusted news source, achieving rapid audience growth and high engagement metrics within the first year.- Increased revenue year-over-year through strategic partnerships and innovative advertising solutions.- Expanded our digital footprint, with a significant increase in social media followers and website traffic.- Recognized for excellence in journalism with several industry awards.Under my leadership, LINK nky has become a vital part of the NKY community, providing timely and relevant news that matters.

I used my real-world business and sales experience to provide hands-on sales experience to senior-level students in a Marketing 5000 Sales Practicum course. Upon completion of the course, my students networked with sales professionals and successfully participated in and critiqued multiple professional selling role plays.Teaching sales in a university setting helped me get really, really good at explaining sales. I've perfected the art of taking sales concepts and turning them into easily understood, bite-sized pieces, and I can teach those to just about anyone, from a college student to a sales VP to a business owner.

As President, I was responsible for making sure Legion ran like a well-oiled machine. I oversaw the sales, marketing, human resources, accounting and finance teams and served as the face of the company, spreading the message of our awesomeness from coast to coast. (Or at least from Kentucky to Ohio.) I grew the company from startup in my basement to $30+ million in sales before making a successful exit.

I founded Starling Consulting because I saw too many companies - large and small - frustrated with their inability to create actionable strategy, break through revenue ceilings, innovate with new technology and processes and develop accountable teams. I worked with everyone from solopreneurs launching their first business to commercial construction firms with hundreds of millions in annual revenue, helping define obstacles and then break through them.

I always say that I've sold everything from mascara to freight services, and this is where I learned to sell mascara. As an Independent Sales Director, I was responsible not only for making my own sales through lead generation, cold calling, referral development and product demonstration, but I was also responsible for the training and development of the 20 women in my unit. I held regular unit meetings, conducting training sessions and provided mentorship and advice for my team.

My experience in the non-profit world is exclusively in development, which I always joke is sales without commission (or, really, a product or service to sell.) Learning to sell the "good feeling" of helping your community while also being a part of the largest professional non-profit development department in Cincinnati was an incredible education in meeting people where they are. My portfolio was composed of more than 150 companies in the Greater Cincinnati region, and was focused on industrial, manufacturing, real estate and accounting firms. I helped companies develop and run their annual campaigns, spoke at hundreds of annual kickoff events, held CEO meetings with company leadership and was accountable for several million dollars in donations.