Scott Watkins Email & Phone Number

Lansing, Michigan Area

I drive organizational growth through strategic leadership and customer experience innovation, positioning Michigan Virtual as a leading educational technology provider. My key contributions include:* Strategic Leadership & Growth: Leading new business development and guiding cross-functional teams in the execution of strategic plans, ensuring alignment with organizational goals to drive sustainable growth.*Customer Experience (CX) Excellence: Crafting Michigan Virtual’s customer experience strategy by leveraging Voice of the Customer insights, journey mapping, and data analytics. Achieved consistently high satisfaction rates (95%+), enhancing customer retention and engagement.*Innovation & Product Development: Leading new product and service development, utilizing gap analysis and market insights to bring innovative solutions to market and improve customer experiences.EdTech Innovation Leadership: Overseeing Michigan Virtual’s EdTech Catalyst initiatives, including an annual pitch contest and innovation bootcamp. Building strategic relationships with venture funds and edtech stakeholders to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.*Customer Care Leadership: Managing a customer care team dedicated to providing efficient support to educators and students, ensuring seamless and satisfying service experiences.With a passion for both CX and business strategy, I’m focused on driving measurable impact through innovative customer experience solutions and strategic growth initiatives that enhance both internal operations and customer satisfaction.

East Lansing, Michigan

I provide management services, market research, survey research, and strategic planning assistance to startup business as well as established small and mid-sized organizations.

East Lansing, Michigan

As the Founder and CEO of AdLuminate, I have managed, designed, and launched an online platform for buying and selling advertising and sponsorships. This included managing the contracted development team, LLC formation, developing and refining the business plan, and pitching the business plan at invite-only competitions, including Greenlight Michigan and the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium. I have also taken the lead in securing seed-round financing, establishing social media presence, and developing partnerships for platform growth

East Lansing, Michigan

I provide management consulting and CFO services for Supported Intelligence, LLC., an analytics software start-up. As CFO, I provide financial reporting and investor relations services, oversight of accounting and bookkeeping, contractual guidance, and cash management. My role has included establishing the LLC, drafting the operating agreement, managing a public relations vendor and web site development, and establishing of social media accounts. I have also participated in talent development, business planning, fundraising (successful seed and Series A rounds), and talent acquisition and development.

East Lansing, Michigan

I was promoted to manage the firm’s Market and Industry Analysis practice area in 2008 and worked directly with clients as a Consultant (2002-08) and Senior Consultant (2008-15). As practice area manager I developed and executed a strategy to provide demographic, economic, industry, and market analyses services to new and existing clients and maintained growth through market declines. I led marketing, product development, quality assurance, staff development, and project management initiatives while undertaking collaborative efforts with subcontractors and growing client relationships.Accomplishments include: • Securing and managing major projects and critical client relationships to generate annual practice area revenues of $400K up to $1.1M. • Leading efforts to develop, market, and deliver expert testimony/analysis during GM/Chrysler bankruptcies and dealership terminations. I built a team of 5 staff and 4 subcontractors, secured nearly 100 client engagements, and record profit/income for the firm in 2010. I continued to build the firm’s expertise in the automotive retail sector in subsequent years and have served as a testifying expert on multiple occasions. • Managed all aspects of projects with budgets ranging from $2,000 to $250,000 for leading clients in the public and private sector. This included economic impact analyses, strategic plans, demographic and market analyses, education and public policy analyses, industry and competitive analyses, and franchise sales performance and territory assessments. Notable clients included Michigan State University; Ferris State University; Northern Michigan University; University of Chicago; Great Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau; Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; Experience Grand Rapids; Project Management Institute; Meijer, Inc.; ITC Holdings Corp.; Automation Alley; Michigan Retailers Association; Michigan Chamber of Commerce; and more than 150 automotive dealerships across the country.

East Lansing, Michigan

As a senior executive in the firm I was involved in running every aspect of the company, including business development, internal strategy, accounting and financial management, IT, human resources, and project management for leading clients in both the public and private sectors.In 2002 I was named Director of Marketing and Administration upon the firm becoming independent from BBK. This role grew to encompass CFO and administrative officer responsibilities in 2008. In these roles I: • Led the establishment of the new firm’s accounting, human resources, marketing, ISO 9000 quality assurance, and IT operations to ensure a smooth transition from legacy systems. • Managed day-to-day operations of firm, including human resources; information technology; accounting and financial reports; payroll and tax liability; quality assurance; supervision of administrative staff; managing vendors and contractors, and managed marketing efforts, including advertising, media relations, website, collateral, and business development. • Developed and implement productivity increasing tools and procedures, including IT upgrades to server and workstations; project management procedures; accounting procedures and financial reporting; quality audits; and practice area planning and strategy frameworks. • Managed all elements related to a search for a new main office as well as establishing a branch office in Chicago. This included negotiating leases, selecting vendors for the moves, establishing IT infrastructures, and completing the moves with minimal (less than on day) business interruption. • Developed and prepared monthly/quarterly/annual financial and performance reports; allocated costs and revenues by practice area for profitability analyses; supervised accounts receivable and accounts payable clerks; managed company cash flow and investments of excess cash; estimated tax liabilities; and reviewed and authorized financial and tax documents prepared by external accountant.

Lansing, Michigan

While in this position, I collaborated with BBK, Ltd’s. Marketing Director to manage branding strategies and cross-selling opportunities, and led efforts to develop Anderson Economic Group’s website content and design. I also assisted in development, marketing, and promotion of a web-based tool for displaying geographic information in an interactive format. This role also involved conducting qualitative and quantitative research for market assessment and public policy projects.

Troy, Michigan

I actively performed quantitative and qualitative research of automotive industry using online resources, survey research, J.D. Power proprietary data, and analytical tools including Microsoft Excel and mTab. I also prepared presentations of data for clients including Ford Motor Company and PPG, and contributed to firm’s first Pickup-truck Market Report and maintained database of vehicle fuel economy information.

Mba, Business Administration And Management, General

Activities and Societies: Beta Gamma Sigma honor society

James Madison College, International Relations

Activities and Societies: Beta Gamma Sigma

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Marketing

Education record