Youth Solutions is a nonprofit organization committed to closing the gap between education and workforce development by providing Michigan’s young people with equitable access to education and employment pathways through two service delivery avenues: Jobs For Michigan Graduates and Youth Solutions Select.

I provided senior counsel to help craft strategic and tactical plans to grow programs statewide including internal and external analysis, establishing goals, objectives, resource needs, tools, timelines, and the creation of an overall strategy for diversified fund development and supporting strategies including staff roles and responsibilities.

• Transformed Public Affairs from reactionary crisis communications to be proactive, promotional storytellers, creating, publishing, and distributing engaging customer content across all PESOI channels, w/a focus on digital & social distribution.• Introduced standardized, cross-functional strategic planning, integrated brand and unified message narratives in all communications. • Instituted multidisciplinary workflows, governance and cross-functional teams that developed evergreen &… Show more • Transformed Public Affairs from reactionary crisis communications to be proactive, promotional storytellers, creating, publishing, and distributing engaging customer content across all PESOI channels, w/a focus on digital & social distribution.• Introduced standardized, cross-functional strategic planning, integrated brand and unified message narratives in all communications. • Instituted multidisciplinary workflows, governance and cross-functional teams that developed evergreen & seasonal “toolkits” of tactics w/detailed action plans.• Expanded qualitative and quantitative research & data analytics w/ a tech stack including Google Analytics & Ads, Sprinklr, Medallia, Meltwater, and customer surveys and panels. • Incorporated KPI-based visual management and lean-based problem solving.• Led brand refresh including a new brand profile, architecture, pillars, and creative elements• Introduced industry recognized brand metrics: Iposs Brand Closeness and JD Power Brand Appeal Index.• Grew brand from 3rd quartile to 2nd second strongest of industry peers. • Increased Ipsos Brand Closeness score from 5.3 to YE 6.6 in 2022. • Increased the drivers of our brand by an average of 14.4% in 2022 • Drove 66% increase in awareness & support for clean energy programs, helping exceed customer enrollment goals each year.• Reduced customer high bill complaints 17% in 2022.• Saved over $1.75 MM /year building in-house creative team that increased customer open rates to an average of 36.85% - exceeding industry average.• Exceeded solar development targets 100% w/ a targeted communications and community engagement. • Drove equitable change through the CE Foundation, committing and deploying grant funds to social justice initiatives in Michigan.• Directed comms response to largest crisis in CE history w/ “offensive mindset” of new message content and channels resulting in record engagement (21x higher), positive social media sentiment of 60% (vs. 20% for smaller crises). Show less

• Appointed by the Governor to oversee the Department of Talent & Economic Development (TED) to administer, coordinate and develop Michigan’s economic, housing and talent programs, managing 3,000+ employees and $1 billion budget.• Drove groundbreaking change in education and talent policies, legislation, and practices to improve student access to career exploration and training by forming the Michigan Career Pathways Alliance – an unprecedented partnership between TED, Department of… Show more • Appointed by the Governor to oversee the Department of Talent & Economic Development (TED) to administer, coordinate and develop Michigan’s economic, housing and talent programs, managing 3,000+ employees and $1 billion budget.• Drove groundbreaking change in education and talent policies, legislation, and practices to improve student access to career exploration and training by forming the Michigan Career Pathways Alliance – an unprecedented partnership between TED, Department of Education, and a 100+ member coalition of schools, labor, community associations and employers.• Spearheaded development, legislative approval, and implementation of the revolutionary $100 MM Marshall Plan for Talent to better prepare students for post-secondary pathways.• Convener that successfully unified unparalleled consortiums of higher education, K-12 education, non-profits, and businesses to build unique programs for their communities.• Supervised economic and job creation loan and grant programs, growing private investment $15.3B and creating +91,000 jobs in Michigan 2017-2018.• Transformed Michigan Land Bank (MLB) from a disregarded agency to vibrant community revitalization tool, returning +1,000 properties to active use in 2 years and piloting a collaborative program with local LBs, using MLB funds to build new homes on vacant land.• Oversaw Michigan Travel achieving increased legislative funding for award-winning Pure Michigan campaign that grew state visitation 4.6 % and visitor spending by 8.4% over three years.• Directed successful creation and execution of multimillion-dollar communications & marketing campaigns, including publicity/advertising and web site development for: Choose Michigan, Michigan’s 1st ever talent attraction and retention effort; Going Pro, a campaign that changed perceptions of technical careers; Experience Sooner, a campaign that raised awareness of apprenticeships; and Rising Tide, a program that aided and empowered small/rural communities. Show less

• Developed and led a top performing team at a year-round entertainment facility attracting over 400,000 guests and generating over $80 million in revenue annually.• Oversaw every facet of event entertainment including customer experience, marketing, sales, accounting, security, concessions, facility operations and maintenance, community and government relations, and artist/sanctioning body/vendor relationships.• Instituted a shared vision and guest-centric culture that set customer… Show more • Developed and led a top performing team at a year-round entertainment facility attracting over 400,000 guests and generating over $80 million in revenue annually.• Oversaw every facet of event entertainment including customer experience, marketing, sales, accounting, security, concessions, facility operations and maintenance, community and government relations, and artist/sanctioning body/vendor relationships.• Instituted a shared vision and guest-centric culture that set customer experience industry benchmarks and increased ticket renewals.• Provided astute financial responsibility and discipline preparing all budgets, master plans, and capital expenditures, lowering costs an average of 3.5%/year.• Built and oversaw a groundbreaking public/private partnership with state government that produced an unprecedented multi-million-dollar economic development investment, enhanced our customer experience, and delivered an 8% ROI.• Transformed the facility into a year-round entertainment destination by leading innovative business development, including starting one of the largest music festivals in the United States (Faster Horses) with partner Live Nation, and growing new event net revenues from $0 to $20 million in 4 years.• Created, developed, and implemented a complete customer insights driven facility rebranding and market repositioning.• Introduced ground-breaking environmental initiatives that lowered costs, increased revenues, and secured significant positive PR for the track.• Empowered and developed 8 direct reports that were promoted to executive positions while at International Speedway Corporation. Show less

• Led a fully integrated marketing and sales team responsible for $72.4 million in revenues, growing the business 13% in 2 years.• Restructured the marketing and sales teams to enact sweeping changes in vision including developing a long-term strategic plan and brand repositioning based on market trends to maximize growth in the #2 largest market in the United States.• Responsible for building and executing Go-To-Market plans for all B2C and B2B events including full 360 marketing… Show more • Led a fully integrated marketing and sales team responsible for $72.4 million in revenues, growing the business 13% in 2 years.• Restructured the marketing and sales teams to enact sweeping changes in vision including developing a long-term strategic plan and brand repositioning based on market trends to maximize growth in the #2 largest market in the United States.• Responsible for building and executing Go-To-Market plans for all B2C and B2B events including full 360 marketing strategy development and activation.• Oversaw integration, prioritization and maximization of all internal customer data and insights and external analytics allowing us to respond with agility to the market.• Responsible for the delivery of all in-house and multiple agencies produced creative assets. Show less

• Directed a marketing and sales team who generated $52.3 million in revenue, a 25% increase over a three-year period.• Successfully implemented and repositioned the track’s brand, significantly increasing its visibility and equity, both internally and externally • Directed all strategic and day-to-day marketing and sales operations.

• Directly responsible for the strategic development and the tactical execution of a comprehensive integrated sales and marketing program including budgets, pricing, resource allocation, and event logistics.

• Worked for multiple NASCAR race teams, culminating in founding and operating my own motorsports marketing firm. I oversaw sponsorship procurement, was solely responsible for securing DeWalt Tools entry into NASCAR, handled team and sponsor public relations, and customer marketing and activation.

• Assisted the label with publicity for artists including any follow-up with journalists and radio station music directors on new music releases and tour dates.