Lori Jacoby Email & Phone Number

Responsibilities:• Manages the product line P&L, collaborating with functional leaders to deliver results• Drives program strategy and vision to deliver high quality products and/or features on schedule and budget that meet customer needs and corporate goals.• Communicates project scope changes, prioritization reasoning, and decisions affecting product delivery• Leverage data (usage, efficacy, etc.) to define project deliverables to support delivery of high quality products on schedule that meet customer needs• Lead Agile product development team as Product Owner or Subject Matter Expert (SME), attending daily Scrum meetings, keeping Scrum artifacts visible, helping resolve impediments to the team, and assisting with sprint planning and review meetings. Based on user requirements, write user stories and acceptance criteria, create prototypes and/or wireframes for new products• Develops product level Business Plans that deliver against the corporate goals for improved student outcomes and market share growth• Manages product lifecycle management from initial conceptualization, authorization, development, launch, maintenance and sunsetting products• Liaise between core project team and internal stakeholders (e.g. engineering, editorial, design, marketing, research, QA, etc.) to collect and synthesize feedback, manage/align project schedules, and motivate team.• Collaborate with stakeholders to assure timely completion of all tasks associated with the development process, gather feedback across organizations for a continuous improvement model.• Research and report information about market trends, competitive issues and products, customer issues, and sales force needs to stakeholders as directed.• Make recommendations for revisions of and extensions for existing solutions, including product customization, new components, and pricing models.• Create market and business requirements for new solutions that satisfy customer needs and revenue/profit goals.

Responsibilities:Sales & Marketing• Define positioning and messaging, and plan market launch, lead generation and ongoing customer campaigns to achieve omni-channel presence that differentiates new product solutions and services from others in the market. • Develop and execute online marketing strategies and plans in alignment with overall merchandise strategy in order to support sales optimization efforts, customer acquisition and transaction goals. Maintain an exceptional understanding of our customer, what motivates them and the products they purchase and use this data to provide excellent customer experience and maximize conversion rates.• Manage site navigation, category assortments, featured products and rich content article placement, sale promotions online. Enhance product detail pages for maximum conversion with a focus on SEO (images, copy, titles, keywords, content).• Optimize the Amazon product portfolio, including pricing strategy and new product development and maintain product data and brand integrity throughout entire Amazon catalog and on retailer.com marketplace.• Strategize and develop list of potential reseller partners, create marketing colleterial, contact and conducts meetings and product demonstrations. • Assist existing reseller partners with any product, marketing, and sales needs.

Promoted from Director, STEM Education to Senior Solutions DirectorResponsibilities: Business Leadership & Management• Responsible for product and marketing P&L of Nasco Education and Farm & Ranch business• Develop strategic plans to meet business objectives, manage appropriate product assortment and pricing strategy to achieve sales, profitability, and margin goals.• Lead, coach, develop, and mentor a sales and marketing team of ten, four product managers, three assistant product managers, three customer engagement managers, for continued professional growth. Provided leadership that facilitates collaboration, team cohesion and effectiveness.• Drive and support company initiatives for enhanced customer experience, process improvement, expense efficiencies, and increased profitability. Product Management & Innovation• Identify new opportunities by analyzing market trends to enhance and lead the development of new product lines and solutions and create product business cases by collecting, prioritizing and specifying business/market requirements from customers, team members, company leadership, and partners.Sales & Marketing• Collaborate and steer marketing department to define positioning and messaging, and plan market launch, lead generation and ongoing customer campaigns to achieve omni-channel presence that differentiates new product solutions and services from others in the market. Preserved brand integrity by monitoring the consistency and quality of marketing content.• Develop ecommerce marketing strategies in alignment with overall merchandise strategy

Promoted from Category Manager to Director, STEM/STEAM & CTE Key accomplishments:1. Increased sales of a multi-million product portfolio by implementing an omni-channel marketing strategy to drive product and brand awareness 2. Optimized operating expenses through strategic sourcing, eliminating poor performing products and suppliers, and reducing marketing expensesResponsibilities: Business Leadership & Management• Responsible for P&L of STEM/STEAM Education Solutions business.• Develop strategic plans to meet business objectives, manage appropriate product assortment and pricing strategy to achieve sales, profitability, and margin goals.• Lead, coach, develop, and mentor a sales and marketing team of three, an assistant product manager, a customer engagement manager, and a customer solutions manager, for continued professional growth. Provided leadership that facilitates collaboration, team cohesion and effectiveness.Product Management & Innovation• Identify new opportunities by analyzing market trends to enhance and lead the development of new product lines and solutions and create product business cases by collecting, prioritizing and specifying business/market requirements from customers, team members, company leadership, and partners.• Developed and implemented strategies to optimize product performance across all phases of the product life-cycle, from launch to distribution. • Determine strategic sourcing strategy and identify top product lines for initiative. SaaS Product Management• Collaborate with Business Directors to build the digital platform vision and roadmap.• Interpreting high-level business and digital product requirements and creating feature requirements, user stories and relevant product backlog items.• Writing system requirement specifications in user stories, using the higher-level product management requirements as a guide.• Prioritizing the backlog to satisfy delivery milestones and deliver client value.

Fort Atkinson, Wi

Accomplishments: 1. Grew sales in the category by 5% with new product additions and remerchandising2. Drove an increase in revenue by 13% through re-launched of STEM/STEAM product portfolio and marketing strategy Responsibilities:Product Management & Innovation• Identify new opportunities by analyzing market trends to enhance and lead the development of new product lines and solutions and create product business cases by collecting, prioritizing and specifying business/market requirements from customers, team members, company leadership, and partners.• Developed and implemented strategies to optimize product performance across all phases of the product life-cycle, from launch to distribution for Math and STEM/STEAM Education categories. Sales & Marketing• Collaborate and steer marketing department to define positioning and messaging, and plan market launch, lead generation and ongoing customer campaigns to achieve omni-channel presence that differentiates new product solutions and services from others in the market. • Develop and execute online marketing strategies and plans in alignment with overall merchandise strategy in order to support sales optimization efforts, customer acquisition and transaction goals. Maintain an exceptional understanding of our customer, what motivates them and the products they purchase and use this data to provide excellent customer experience and maximize conversion rates.• Manage site navigation, category assortments, featured products and rich content article placement, sale promotions online. Enhance product detail pages for maximum conversion with a focus on SEO (images, copy, titles, keywords, content).• Optimize the Amazon product portfolio, including pricing strategy and new product development and maintain product data and brand integrity throughout entire Amazon catalog and on retailer.com marketplace.

Stoughton, Wisconsin

Accomplishments: 1. Highest producer of release documentation in the department2. Onboarded and full operations in one month (one month ahead of precedent and expectations)3. Recognized for the greatest detail in project documentation for the successful transfer of data during ERP system transitionResponsibilities:• Compose engineering release documentation to facilitate regulatory and service releases.• Identify, track and work with stakeholders to initiate corrective action and resolve cross-functional engineering document related issues.• Review engineering data for accuracy and completeness to ensure global standards are met.

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Promoted from Merchandising Manager to Product Category Manager Accomplishments: 1. Promoted to manage the largest product portfolio in the organization of $30 million across all brands2. Successfully implemented product data for new ERP and PIM systems3. Reduced costs by eliminating poor performing products and suppliersResponsibilities:Product Management & Innovation• Identify new opportunities by analyzing market trends to enhance and lead the development of new product lines and solutions and create product business cases by collecting, prioritizing and specifying business/market requirements from customers, team members, company leadership, and partners.• Developed and implemented strategies to optimize product performance across all phases of the product life-cycle, from launch to distribution or lighting, safety and towing categories across Arien's Specialty Brands: AW Direct, Ben Meadows and Gempler's. Sales & Marketing• Collaborate and steer marketing department to define positioning and messaging, and plan market launch, lead generation and ongoing customer campaigns to achieve omni-channel presence that differentiates new product solutions and services from others in the market. • Develop and execute online marketing strategies and plans in alignment with overall merchandise strategy in order to support sales optimization efforts, customer acquisition and transaction goals. Maintain an exceptional understanding of our customer, what motivates them and the products they purchase and use this data to provide excellent customer experience and maximize conversion rates.• Manage site navigation, category assortments, featured products and rich content article placement, sale promotions online. Enhance product detail pages for maximum conversion with a focus on SEO (images, copy, titles, keywords, content).

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Promoted from Assistant Merchandising Manager to Merchandising Manager Accomplishments: 1. Successfully launched a new-to-the market lighting technology that increased revenue of the product category by 25%2. Grew revenue 3-5% annually for three consecutive years3. Transitioned the company from direct mail to an omni-channel marketing Responsibilities:● Created product positioning and messaging to differentiate products in market and expand visibility.● Planned new product external launch and release while managing the cross-functional implementation of the plan.● Contributed to planning and production of industry events, advertising, direct mail, and sales collaterals.● Directed development of collateral, including data sheets, web content, direct mail, FAQ, sales and channel training, PowerPoint presentations, and ROI calculations.● Collaborated with marketing department to define positioning and messaging, and plan market launch, public relations, and lead generation campaigns.● Directed and coordinated marketing activities and policies to promote products and services.● Preserved brand integrity by monitoring the consistency and quality of marketing content.● Cultivated effective partnerships with marketing, sales and customer support staff.● Developed pricing strategies while balancing firm objectives with customer satisfaction maximization.● Initiated market research studies and analyzed findings.● Applied sales forecasting techniques and strategic planning to verify sales and profitability of products, lines and services.● Analyzed business developments and monitored market trends.● Consulted with buying personnel to determine projected demand for products and services.● Completed quarterly forecasting and monthly financial reviews.● Coordinated and participated in promotional activities and trade shows.● Analyzed third-party data and investigated new growth opportunities.

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Promoted from Product Support Specialist to Assistant Merchandising Manager Accomplishments: 1. Updated the website taxonomy and reorganized all the products to improve customer shopping web experience2. Increased revenue for the product line of tow dollies by 5% annually by building custom website landing pages Responsibilities:● Coordinate photography of products for merchandising in the catalog and on the web.● Create product images and update web using Photoshop● Coordinate between Marketing and Tech to add clickable parts to the web and create shopping page designs for the web.● Add accessories and replacement parts to products on the web to drive sales.● Proof and edit product copy on the web and in the catalog.● Proficient in MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, AW Direct Admin Tool, Photoshop CS5, Nuance, PeopleSoft 8.

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Promoted from Customer Service Associate to Product Support Specialist Accomplishments: 1. Published in quarterly trade magazine for technical articles on industry product trends2. Onboarded the live chat function to the website from inception to deployment Responsibilities:● Answer product questions for customers on a daily basis● Manage the live chat feature on the AW Direct website● Special order products that are not in the current inventory● Add technical documents to the web for products● Edit product copy on the web and in the catalog● Write technical documents for training and magazine articles● Create and manage product compare charts on the web● Add replacement parts to current inventory, feature products at trade shows● Work with vendors to add in demand products● Provide new product ideas for merchandising department● Wreck master level 2/3 and 4/5 certified.

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Accomplishments: 1. Aided with product support when new brand was onboarded to the company2. Represented four brands in customer service while average managed two brands3. Youngest team member to assist with custom embroidery (high customer touch service)Assisted customers on a daily basis which included placing orders, setting up accounts and returns and creating custom logo products for customers and managed mail and emails sent to company.

Rockford, Illinois Area

Managed 5 employees schedules, payroll and daily tasks, maintained inventory, placed orders for products with vendors, created reporting for sales, inventory and accounts, provided one on one customer service with customers, delivered products, filled in any position in the store when short staffed.

Delevan, Wi

Cashier, Cleaner, Stocker

Elkhorn, Wi

Managed 5 employees schedules and daily tasks, maintained inventory, provided one on one customer service with customers, filled in any position in the store when short staffed.

Elkhorn, Wi

Cashier, Cleaner, Stocker

Computer Information Systems And Business, Computer Science And Business

Major in Computer Information Systems, Minor in Business

Undeclared

Undeclared major