I worked with Accelalpha for nearly three years as a contractor/freelancer—like two passing trains, never stopping at the same station at the same time. Fortunately, our schedules aligned once, and I took the opportunity to jump onboard. Over the years, I grew close to the Alphanauts, admired their business practices, and developed a special interest in a few of their clients. I knew this was a team I wanted to join, and I felt a strong pull back to the software and technology space, which I had missed since my time at Aysling. This role has since evolved to include BI, databases, data visualizations, AI, and a range of other "nerdy" projects that I’ve loved spearheading.At Accelalpha, an IBM Company, I currently:• Establish and streamline processes for managing social media channels, ensuring consistent and effective brand messaging across all platforms, for all departments.• Assist in organizing and executing internal communications strategies and events to foster a cohesive and informed workplace culture.• Conduct thorough reviews and analyses of existing marketing technologies to identify areas for improvement and implement viable solutions.• Partner with various departments to develop and create engaging content, including emails, social media posts, and other communication materials.• Regularly review and interpret analytics from the website, social media channels, and other digital touchpoints to drive data-informed decisions.• Host and facilitate internal learning and development courses to upskill team members and promote continuous professional growth.• Develop PowerBI reports, dashboards, and other data visualizations to increase transparency across departments, while also increasing my experience and excitement of data/analytics and AI technologies.

I started The Never Ending Backlog after realizing I had a habit of purchasing game bundles and discounted Steam games over the years but rarely (or sometimes never) playing them. As I approached 3,000 unplayed games, I came up with the idea of a daily podcast where I would review a game, highlight its positives, and share my thoughts. The project evolved many times across different mediums, eventually expanding to include developer interviews, beta test reviews, and other exciting opportunities, helping me build stronger connections within the gaming industry.Daily tasks include:• Hosting The Never Ending Backlog, a media series focused on the adventure of tackling an extensive PC gaming backlog with regular reviews of previously uninstalled and unplayed games.• Reviewing a diverse collection of games, spanning different years, genres, and categories, featuring titles from indie developers to AAA studios.• Creating byte-sized, engaging game reviews that cater to a broad audience of gamers, offering something for everyone.• Utilizing a suite of content creation tools including Final Cut Pro, Notion, and Twitch, along with other martech systems for efficient production and content management.• Releasing and distributing content across multiple platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, to maximize audience reach and engagement.• Building a community of gamers who follow the journey of exploring the gaming backlog, fostering engagement and interaction.

While pursuing my Master’s degree, one of our group projects was a hands-on initiative where we were assigned a local nonprofit to manage a Google Ads Search Campaign, as they had been awarded a Google Ad Grant for nonprofits. I fell in love with the idea of helping others without them having to incur large costs. From this experience, I founded The Nonprofit Grant Organization, where I work with a select group of nonprofits each year to assist with digital marketing, web development, Google Ads management, and data reporting. This role filled the void I had felt after leaving the fire department.Tasks include:• Regularly meeting with nonprofits to understand their goals, aspirations, and the challenges they were looking to overcome.• Web development of new sites, new pages, new services, LMS directories, and other web-based needs for existing sites.• Graphic design, content creation, and related services to fill gaps in their expertise.• Generating ongoing interest in NPGO, as word-of-mouth was my primary advertising channel. With each satisfied nonprofit, I would gain one or two more in return.

Though I loved my time at Aysling, I was searching for a role closer to where I was planning to move with my wife as she pursued her dream career. Fortunately, I had briefly connected with Ellis Porter before the move, and a position just happened to open up. What was initially supposed to be a HubSpot Admin role quickly evolved into Director of Marketing. This role was a whirlwind. The best way to describe it is as a startup software company that had moved past the initial startup phase. Everyone wanted Ellis Porter to handle their case, and rightfully so, the Porters I worked with were some of the brightest and most caring people I’ve ever had the privilege of collaborating with. I was able to build my dream team from the ground up, launch new SaaS platforms, host remarkable events, and establish partner relationships with organizations, charities, companies, and more across the globe.Some of the many highlights include:• Was given the opportunity to hire a Content/Marketing team where we worked to design the EP Studio with furniture, decor, and production equipment that included photography, videography, and audio equipment.• Hosted and coordinated company-wide events. From localized intimate events to 300+ person conferences, working with vendors, catering, logistics, and special events.• Developed partnerships with groups in a variety of industries including: SaaS, nonprofits, service providers, and other groups with similar audiences.• Engaged with a diverse range of nonprofits and community organizations across the Greater Detroit area to spearhead impactful community engagement initiatives, charitable events, and programs promoting diversity and inclusion.• Provided ongoing management and maintenance of HubSpot, including the implementation of Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub and CMS, including migrating legacy systems.• Created, managed, and analyzed PPC campaigns through a variety of channels including Google Ads, LinkedIn, and others.

Similar to my experience at Ingenex, I was quickly recruited again, this time as a Marketing Director working directly with the owner. Within my first two weeks, the owner sold his share of the company, the CTO was promoted to CEO (though he was away on a family emergency), and a lot of changes were happening within the company. It was a rollercoaster. However, in the end, I had the opportunity to travel and manage conferences and sponsorships, participate in product marketing, launch multiple products, take on a leadership role with weekly meetings with the CEO, and, of course, elevate our company to HubSpot Apps and Solutions Partner status.This role developed every skill I had, from event planning to partner relations, here are some of the many highlights:• Developed and implemented the brand strategy for Aysling and MagHub, and other properties owned by the FRY family of products/services; including candy, software, and distribution companies.• Oversaw implementation of the marketing strategy - including campaigns, events, digital marketing, and PR.• Worked closely with Aysling’s sales team; enabling them to meet their commercial objectives by providing them with appropriate tools, materials, and presentations.• Created daily content through blog writing, podcasts, press releases, social media posts, website content, etc.• Created and managed a marketing budget that was distributed over various segments including conferences, marketing collateral, printing services, and paid advertising campaigns.• Managed our own internal client events/forums, while attending and organizing conferences across North America, catering to various media publications from B2B/B2C, to niche publishing; also including events for our other properties including candy and software conferences/expos.• Guided our team to become a HubSpot App and Solutions Partner, earning Gold Tier within the first month, adding an additional revenue stream for our business.

Although I loved my time at CDK Global, I was quickly recruited by a digital marketing agency in Ann Arbor. I was eager to join this group because they were a HubSpot partner. During my time at Ferris State University, a visiting mentor had advised me to learn HubSpot, master the Inbound methodology, and set myself apart from my peers. That’s exactly what I did, and I wanted to get as in-the-weeds as possible with HubSpot. This role gave me that opportunity. I worked with clients across various industries, constantly learning new things about HubSpot and falling deeper in love with the concept of inbound marketing. It was also when I attended my first conference, which just so happened to be INBOUND. By this time, I was in a serious relationship... with HubSpot.As an Account Manager at a small agency (I was the only one), I wore many hats, which allowed me to always be on my feet, some tasks included:• Worked closely with clients to gather objectives, set goals, and create the strategy and plan to reach those goals through inbound marketing.• Met with clients weekly for status meetings, campaign performance optimization, and other timely account matters.• Managed inbound marketing campaign execution of email, web, and social media across multiple clients, including campaign setup, testing, QA, approval, and deployment.• Partnered directly with web development, graphic design, content, and paid media team members to develop strategy and execution plans that increased pipeline growth with qualified leads.• Reported on campaign performance and metrics.• Identified opportunities to improve and scale campaigns.• Managed database segmentation using HubSpot with a focus on accuracy and quality, to ensure appropriate audiences received targeted and relevant communications.• Controlled project scope to ensure that projects were completed according to schedule and within budget.

During my junior year of college, multiple professors referred me for a position that would be available after graduation. This was my first true marketing career (that I didn’t create myself), and it allowed me to move to Detroit after only having visited it once before. In this role, I had the opportunity to put my firefighter-level calmness to the test, working with some of the most challenging car dealers in CDK’s book of business. Fortunately for me, the most challenging dealers also had the largest accounts. By the time I left CDK, my book of business included 40 of the largest General Motors dealerships across the United States, collectively generating well over $1 billion annually.Some of my tasks and accomplishments included:• Was responsible for General Motor Dealer's Digital Marketing Strategies across the United States, as well as a few Lexus and Infiniti dealerships.• Maintained an ad spend of $1,000,000 + annually, focusing on Account Management and Digital Marketing Strategies.• Participated/orchestrated multiple small group lesson plans with fellow co-workers.• Worked with dealers on the UI/UX of their website.• Created monthly and quarterly strategies based on our client's digital analytics, as well as current needs/hurts.• Traveled to multiple dealerships across the country to help build client relationships, and strategies that fit their needs.

I enjoyed creating my own internship so much that I decided to create two. To be fair, I really wanted the chance to work with a food-service group, and I had developed a love for coffee, or maybe an addiction; I haven’t decided yet. While managing the local on-campus Starbucks social media accounts, I earned free coffee and baked goods every day. Needless to say, I was living the good college student life.Beyond drinking delicious Starbucks everyday, I also:• Maintained Starbucks' Twitter, Facebook, and offline promotions. Similarly with The Market and other retail establishments on campus.• Created campaigns and various promotions that adhered to the rules of Starbucks & Tapingo Corporate.• Used services similar to that of my Research Assistant position, including TweetDeck, Google Analytics, and Twitter Analytics. • Attended various university events to promote new products, services, and applications.• Participated in brainstorming and idea generation meetings with other staff members from Ferris and partner corporations.• During my last semester in college, we worked together to turn this position into an internship for future students. Also, by doing that, we guaranteed internship continuity after I graduated.

As a local non-traditional college student, the opportunity to move back home to pursue a college internship wasn’t an option, and as I was still active on the fire department, I wanted to find a marketing adjacent internship. My only option was to create one, which is what I did. This is where I learned the quote, “To Hell with circumstances, I create opportunities.” by Bruce Lee. In this role I needed to rapidly learn social media management, public relations, and event management in a higher education setting.Some tasks and achievements include:• Performed research on various subjects of social media and networking in regards to academic communication and the humanities department.• Created and maintained our social media accounts with relative information to the Communication department on campus; updated daily.• Arranged and updated a chronological academic journal database in the office.• Created multiple databases with complex Microsoft Excel formulas to calculate random name assignment generators.• Broadened my political knowledge with web-based research on voting habits and the way the internet has influenced political outcomes.• Created and analyzed multiple class Survey Monkey applications for speech and presentation feedback.• Worked with Twitter Live Feed and Hashtag Analytics for real time updates during organized debates on campus.

Prior to starting college, a friend of mine convinced me to join the local fire department, as I was looking for some semblance of family. What I thought would be a part-time volunteer role ended up becoming nearly a full-time commitment, where I’d learn the most important lesson of my professional and personal life. After being a firefighter and medical first responder, other things seem less stressful or severe. Pushed deadlines, failed ideas, etc., just aren’t as overwhelming as we tend to make them out to be. That lesson has guided me throughout my entire career, allowing me to remain level-headed in stressful situations and earning me the nickname, "The Creative Problem Solver."Some of my responsibilities and successes were:• Participated with various media outlets such as The Big Rapids Pioneer Newspaper, WZZM 13 News, and other media providers about events such as Hometown Heroes, Pet Rescue, and various funding events.• On-call firefighter 24/7 who was medically and fire trained with well over 50+ certifications in multiple disciplines in public safety. • Participated in various volunteer functions such as town events/parties, breakfast events, and fair safety standby.