Patrick Hester Email & Phone Number

Validate the functionality of a variety of products including desktop, browser- based applications, mobile, and hardware-based solutions, understand and utilize a strong understanding of software troubleshooting and the ability to recognize an issue as related to interface, back-end logic, database communication, or hardware. Perform GUI testing, functionality testing, database validation and compatibility on a range of devices from desktop, mobile, and tablet environments. Collaborate with Product Owners and Product Development Team for the writing of Test Plans for full-product testing / User Acceptance Testing. Manage testing tools to catalog bugs, communicate with the development team and report results to the QA Manager. Bridge communication between Development and Product Owner, understanding User Stories to ensure the final product meets the use cases of the Product Owner.

Centennial, Co

Responsible for database driven email marketing, Integration of automated marketing systems, Corporate, Brand and Local PR strategies and execution, Liaison between Technical/Software Development and Marketing teams, Content and structural/seo updates for Corporate and Franchise websites and apps, User Administration and support for Marketing team, Product Testing of new features for internal, marketing, web and external facing systems, Technical Support and troubleshooter for marketing systems and the Marketing team. Successfully reduced costs by 54% per month while increasing YoY Open and Click rates by 43%, and Click Thru Rates by 24%. Introduced variable data and segmentation to email marketing and landing pages, adding 61 specific data points and 10 segments to provide customized messaging based on tastes and behaviors. Rolled out mobile-first email marketing strategy, templates and messaging. Increased email output by 47% while reducing unsubscribes and opt-outs by 112%. Drove a 28% increase in web traffic through SEO efforts including a redesign of top pages and local pages adding local flair, images, and on-page optimizations plus more indexable, search engine friendly content to help organic rankings resulting in a 98% increase in pageviews, sessions up 43%, new users up 24% YoY. Redesigned and launched a new Social Media engagement effort on Twitter resulting in a 68% increase in impressions.

Everywhere

I am a published author with several credits to my name, including:INTO THE FIRE: Samantha Kane Book 1 from WordFire PressUpside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling from Apex Book CompanyCahill's Homecoming - AmazonCahill's Unfinished Business - AmazonConversations with my Cat - AmazonConsumption - AmazonWitchcraft & Satyrs - AmazonSpace Battles: Full-Throttle Space Tales #6 - Flying Pen PressI have maintained a personal writer blog for 10 years. I have blogged regularly since early 2001.I am or have been a Contributing author/blogger at: Kirkus Reviews Blog, The Functional Nerds, Technorati.com, LinkedIn, Grasping For the Wind, 40kUSA blog, Writing from the Peak, I Should Be Writing, The Three Hoarsemen, Inkpunks and Terrible Minds.

Internet

I am the podcast producer and co-host for the Functional Nerds podcast. We push out a show every week, usually paired with an interview with a speculative fiction author. I record every show/interview, edit them, add music/effects, and push the episode live on the website.I also act as Webmaster / Editor for the Functional Nerds website, working with our contributors who provide articles and content for the site on a wide range of subjects and topics while keeping the site running and looking its best.

Internet

I was the Producer / Host / Show Runner / Interviewer for the SFSignal.com podcast. Each week, I put out two shows - on Monday, a panel discussion of the chosen topic for the week, and on Thursdays, an interview with a speculative fiction author.Shows were done using Skype and recorded using WireTap Pro for Mac. I edited the shows, added music and effects, cleaned up any audio (as necessary), wrote the posts and pushed the episodes up to the website. I also booked all the guests, moderated the panels and did the majority of the interviews.

Greater Denver Area

Responsible for all marketing for the company including print, web, email and social media. Planned, designed and executed the launch of a new, mobile-first e-commerce-based website, working closely with a third-party developer utilizing the Magento platform. Successfully launched a new, segmented marketing program for target customers and prospects, raising email deliverability rates by 7%, and doubling open rates within the first six months. Relaunched blog and Facebook presence with new, original industry specific content.

Riverfront Facility

Inside Sales Associate.

Responsible for all marketing output for three channels: Corporate (B2C), Non-Profit Foundation and Franchisees (B2B and B2C) operating under the Crestline brand name. Duties included planning and executing all marketing strategies, training sales people on social media and marketing, plus executing multiple trade show events throughout the year. Successfully launched a new variable email marketing system and SEO optimized website. Planned, organized, budgeted and executed a paid-event Realtor Summit, and a brand-new content marketing site featuring local Real Estate writers and topics.

Managed a team of six creating custom multi-stage email campaigns, print marketing (direct mail and event), custom photography, graphics, SEO optimized websites and search engine marketing solutions for Realtors and mortgage professionals. Worked with and built lasting relationships with individual agents as well as larger, multi-agent offices, capturing leads and growing our company footprint within the local real estate community.Additionally: I supported the A/R department, performed software testing, wrote all of the documentation for the proprietary software systems, trained both employees and clients on the use of software products onsite and in the field, supported the department by answering overflow inbound calls and managed a support staff of six employees and two ‘in the field’ photographers.Lastly, I organized and implemented offsite, classroom style training sessions for large offices.

In the new, re-imagination of Innov8, I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of Customer Service and Operations. I trained clients on the use of the proprietary web procurement system and provided support via email, phone, fax, live internet chat or offsite as needed.Internal to Innov8, I trained employees, created sales and marketing presentations, wrote documentation including the terms and conditions of sale, shipping, claims and returns policies and acted as internal IT support for both Innov8 and her parent company.Under Operations I was tasked with: setting up office & warehouse spaces, overseeing warehouse employees, project planning, building new relationships with product & shipping vendors, hardware/software implementation & trouble shooting, light AR/AP, invoicing, processing quotes & orders, placing & tracking orders with vendors (both traditionally and via EDI) while maintaining overall customer satisfaction in accordance with TL 9000 Quality Standards.

As an employee of Spherion, I worked as a contract employee in a call center for a company in the Retail RV Industry called Affinity Group Holding, Inc., whose subsidiaries include: The Good Sam Club, Trailer Life, Coast to Coast and Camping World. As a Customer Service rep I was responsible for handling all inbound calls placed to the different clubs owned by the parent company, changing between different sets of proprietary software, making reservations, taking orders, selling/renewing memberships, trips, magazine subscriptions and auto insurance.

Responsible for processing HVAC, Electrical, Telecom and MRO quotes and orders via fax, phone and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), placing and tracking orders with vendors and maintaining overall customer satisfaction. Also trained co-workers on using software, on EDI standards, provided internal software/ hardware support, installed office equipment as needed, and fostered good relationships with vendors and clients.

Owned and operated a small, discount web hosting provider offering hosting, web design, e-commerce and marketing solutions & services to wholesalers in the after-market appliance parts and HVAC markets. I was attempting to bring an aging industry into the internet age, introducing new sales and marketing tools to a predominantly ‘print only’ industry. I had some moderate successes but sold this business in September 2003 for a small profit.

Responsible for custom production of in-house advertising materials for a major manufacturer of after market appliance and HVAC parts and accessories, including monthly direct mail and mass fax advertisements, seasonal advertisements, banners, signs, business cards and multimedia content for presentations, trade shows, email and web applications. Produced original artwork and operated a digital photo studio for photographs of all company products. Additionally, I produced an updated product catalog and initiated a centralized advertising database project, storing all product advertising information, including images, product descriptions, tables and charts within a centralized location for ease of access.

Working out of Knoxville, TN - responsible for representing the company on the road as a Bonded Warehouse Examiner. This included the installation, training and auditing of Field’s Bonded Warehouse Program to HVAC distributors in an 8 state territory. The Bonded program allows wholesale distributors of HVAC equipment to maintain large inventory quantities without having to pay for that equipment until it is sold. As an Examiner, I installed the program, trained the distributor’s agents on the reporting procedures, rules, forms and the use of MS Excel as a reporting tool, and generally oversaw aspects of customer service and satisfaction. I performed physical inventories and worked with the distributor to reconcile those inventories to the records of both the distributor and the manufacturer.

Responsible for the day to day running of the main branch and advertising and marketing for A-PED Inc., a Wholesale distributor of Appliance parts and HVAC equipment, and 12 affiliated distributors across California. My advertising duties included producing monthly and seasonal direct mail and mass fax advertisements, banners, signs and business cards. Also responsible for the Bonded warehouse program, acting as the Bonded Agent for Field Warehousing and Goodman Manufacturing.My Operations duties included: opening / closing, data processing, computer system (Unix OS) administration, hardware/software implementation and trouble shooting, customer service, maintaining computerized inventory records in the bonded warehousing program for five (5) branches, receiving, point of sale invoicing, preparation of weekly and monthly sales and inventory reports, preparation of bonded warehousing paperwork, weekly and monthly physical inventories, light accounting, multi-line phone and daily bank deposits.

Computer Science

Activities and Societies: electronics, advanced electronics/theory, computer science, computer programming/theoryBoring. Not meant to sit.

Diploma, Electronics