Melissa Schwartz Email and Phone Number

- Responsible for allocating approximately $10 million annually of commercial airtime for various Fortune 500 Companies after evaluating efficiency for clients based on cost per thousand formulas along with client’s goals using propriety programmatic platforms - Partner with sales representatives, account executives, and management to ensure the integrity of negotiated commercial schedules, future business, and growth for local television stations in Chicago; Boston; Seattle; Albany, NY- Manage buyers who are responsible for 10+ markets each and serve as a mentor on advancing their skill set - Attend bi-monthly meetings with the Chief Investment Officer to help enhance the buying department- Oversee quarterly meetings with national sales representatives to discuss the expansion of opportunities in bringing national advertising dollars to local TV stations- Coordinate multi-platform campaigns for clients involving TV billboards and web-site components- Estimate viewership in local and syndicated programming for specific target audiences based on Nielsen information and extensively monitor the estimates throughout the duration of a clients buy- Evaluate posting reports to ensure 100 percent delivery to clients on a quarterly basis- Negotiate rates, create and maintain buys for top advertisers in an unwired network staying within budget- Perform weekly maintenance based on revised quarterly schedules, updated corporate sales goals, and weekly analysis - Previously served as a local market specialist in Phoenix, Tampa, Cleveland, Orlando, Charlotte, Hartford, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Albuquerque, Greensboro, New Orleans, Green Bay, Toledo, Jackson and Cedar Rapids - Train my assistant in various areas of our company and industry to allow them a better understanding of their role- Validate monthly billing and investigate discrepancies to ensure appropriate payment to television stations

- Increase the use of data to monitor delivery, inventory, preemptions, & cost per thousands across 500+ TV stations - Analyze complex and large datasets, turning big data into impactful insights- Collaborate with senior management to develop a metrics strategy- Develop reports for internal teams to be distributed to TV stations - Improve business performance by identifying sources of growth and pinpointing issues - Oversee a team of assistants to process information- Work as a team to design and publish Power BI dashboards to use to increase company profitability and increase clearance of allocations- Serve as a liaison between the company's Buying Department and Finance Department to ensure proper contacts to enable prompt payment

- Created a 105-page manual on the proprietary programs to use as a training tool on Confluence- Attend weekly programming meetings to further advance usability of buying software- Continuously test features for developers to help improve compatibility of company software- Key point of contact between a fifty-person department and the technology department- Troubleshoot problems involving internal buying software

During the 9 1/2 years I was the Buying Training Program Manager, I successfully trained 30+ assistants in the transition from an assistant to buyer in the company's Junior Buying Training Program (JBTP) by:- Conducted lessons for individuals in the JBTP predetermined topics relevant to how ITN acquires clients, Media Terminology/Measurements/Estimating, Negotiations, Allocations etc. - Provided remedial classes to individuals requiring additional support in the JBTP- Assisted and provided guidance in the negotiation process by reviewing rates, cpms and strategies for conversations with reps/AEs- Supported in the improvement of optimized buys, clearance issues etc - Attended calls with account executives/station management for markets within the training program and explain in more detail aspects of how ITN works -Reviewed weekly pre-emptions and posts for markets within the training program, provide guidance on how to improve clearance/recouping of value owed - Reformatted the company’s manual for the JBTP to allow for a better learning experience

- Assisted in the buying, revising and confirming of over 200 client contracts per quarter in two of Nielson’s Top 5 markets - Maintained client advertisements through electronic verification- Effectively managed comparable make-goods for pre-empted spots within contracts - Trained new personnel in their daily responsibilities and job requirements- Reconciled monthly billing through obtaining monthly invoices - Verified and reconciled client media invoices and billing discrepancies monthly