I provide Fractional/Interim C-level leadership (COO/CCO/CMO) for PR/Communications/Marketing agencies and small-to-mid size businesses/organizations.

Manage day-to-day operations of Chicago office of top-three global PR firm with responsibility for P&L as well as talent acquisition and retention, business growth and development, and client service and satisfactionConceived of and created BCW Food, a reputation-focused practice offering targeting the food and agriculture sectors

Oversaw day-to-day operations and client service for independent women-owned public relations and marketing agency serving the ad/media/marketing industry as well as consumer/lifestyle, tech and corporate clients, including Spotify, Pinterest, McKinsey & Company, TikTok, PMI, LinkedIn and othersDirect reports included Chief Financial Officer, Chief People Officer, Head of Business Development and four Senior Vice Presidents overseeing key practice areasDeveloped business plans and marketing strategies designed to drive growth and expansion of agency through business acquisition, organic growth and potential M&AActively managed P&L in collaboration with CFO and senior leaders by optimizing revenue using strategic pricing strategies and expense reduction techniques without sacrificing client service or employee satisfactionWorked closely with Practice Leaders to reduce overservice, maintain billability of team members and ensure delivery of results that move the needle for our clients’ business and lead to contract renewals and expansion for the agencyDeveloped and maintained strong and trusting relationships with senior clients to ensure stability and drive growthWith CPO, maintained active involvement in identifying, recruiting and retaining top talent; ensuring all benefit and employee programs are competitive; working to deliver on our DE&I goals; and creating an environment where our people can learn, thrive and grow, both personally and professionally

Led Chicago office of top-five global PR agency to become one of the most successful offices in network of 85+ offices, achieving 45% revenue growth and average YOY profit margin of 37% Expanded market opportunity by adding social & digital, creative content, and food & nutrition capabilities to core offerings of consumer brand marketing, healthcare, corporate communications, and reputation, crisis & issues. Significantly unified and improved office culture through transparency, empowerment, trust, flexibilty and connection.Notably increased client satisfactionDrove strong new business development, with numerous multi-million dollar wins achieved, including Illinois Office of Tourism, Illinois Department of Insurance/Get Covered Illinois (Affordable Care Act/Obamacare), Russell Stover, McDonald’s, Quaker Oats, Frito-Lay and Naked Juice. Strong incremental growth with long-term clients including PepsiCo (Gatorade, Propel), Abbott, AbbVie, Walgreens, Beech-Nut, ADM, RSM, CDW and U.S. Foods. Passionate sponsorship of volunteerism and DE&I efforts led Chicago to be among the most diverse of the firm’s U.S offices.

Led Reputation Management practice at headquarters of world’s largest public relations firm with practice revenues of nearly $5 million. Oversaw team of 25 that provided reputation management and corporate communications counsel to publicly and privately held companies, including a dozen Fortune 500 firms. Provided strategic counsel and served as client relationship manager for clients including Allstate, United Airlines, WalMart Financial Services, Burger King, The Coleman Company, Suzlon Energy and The National Association of Insurance Commissioners.Member of the Executive Leadership Team. Championed successful implementation and acceptance of agency’s new Global Financial System as Central region lead working with office president and CFO.

Provided full range of marketing communications services, including strategic counsel, editorial services/content development, media relations, design and branding, and crisis and issues management. Engaged clients including Washington Mutual (strategy and content for all consumer loan communications); Hewitt Associates (co-editor of Hewitt magazine); and Lincoln Park Hospital (total rebranding effort, including logo design, collateral, media relations and launch event).

Managed practice budget in excess of $2 million; led and mentored team of 15. Provided senior-level counsel on reputation, crisis and issues while overseeing development and implementation of strategic communications programs for clients including Hewitt Associates, Maytag and PlanetFeedback. Co-led public relations effort credited with helping The U.S. Army achieve its recruitment goal for the first time in four years – and in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks – including the award-winning launch of goarmy.com. Played key role in new business development.

Directed strategic marketing efforts for one of nation’s largest home lenders (acquired by Washington Mutual in 2000).Managed $1.8 million dollar budget and supervised 10 professionals engaged in public relations, advertising, direct response, Internet marketing, and market research. Led total rebrand and redesign of all marketing collateral; increased usage by sales force resulted in greater brand awareness and continuity, higher response rates, stronger pipelines and increased sales.Conceived, developed and activated online platform for delivery of customized marketing and sales materials to distributed workforce across the U.S.