As an independent consultant with a Masters degree in Business Administration, I bring over 15 years of marketing and design experience to a diverse client base ranging from major multimedia corporations and brands to small start-up businesses, entrepreneurs and 501(c)(3) non-profits.​

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My career in marketing began at Home Box Office (HBO) within the affiliate marketing and sales division where I facilitated the launch of several national programming campaigns.

 

I further cultivated my skills as Senior Marketing Coordinator for Black Enterprise (BE) by designing dynamic integrated sales presentations and a comprehensive plan to re-position Black Enterprise as a global multimedia brand.

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After several years at BE, a true passion for consumer strategies emerged as Regional Marketing Specialist for the Starbucks Corporation as I developed, communicated, and implemented store-specific strategic plans focused on increasing sales, supporting company growth and creating local value for the Starbucks brand. 

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Alas, the pitfalls and risks associated with working for a global brand erupted in early 2008 as the Starbucks founder, Howard Shultz, returned to his CEO post after an eight year hiatus to help turnaround the then struggling chain of coffee houses.  First on his list of saves was a massive layoff across the human resources and marketing divisions. My hard-earned, first lesson in LIFO (last-in, first-out).

 

It was at this time that I decided it was time to take a step back and re-calibrate. I relocated to Atchison, Kansas (about 40 miles north of Kansas City) to complete my undergraduate studies in marketing at Benedictine College. This was a path in the works but never completed for over 10 years, initially launched at Michigan State University immediately after graduation from high school--then to design school in downtown Chicago, a brief stint at beauty school, and then night classes for the next decade as I balanced a full-time career in marketing.. 

 

After a little over 6 years in Atchison, and I walked away with both an undergrad in business and a Masters in Business Administration.  In addition to the degrees, I also earned during that time beneficial and broadening experience as a Senior Marketing Strategist within the Business Intelligence and Analytics group of Blackbaud, an organization that services some of the world’s largest non-profit organizations, and as Director of Marketing and Communications for the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce. 

 

While small-town life in Atchison served me well, I was very eager to return to my home "sweet home, Chicago."

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Since 2014, I have found a full-time working home at CompTIA, the voice of the IT industry and leading provider of vendor-neutral certifications for over 1.5 million IT professionals around the globe.  My work at CompTIA as  senior marketing manager, alumni relations has resulted in over $12 million in marketing attributable sales, the conception and management of innovative B2C and B2B marketing campaigns across relevant digital channels, management of an over $500K budget and support staff towards cultivation of IT/technology careers, marketing performance optimization through the creation and management of integrated content calendar, alumni retention via data-based strategies and custom BI visualizations, collaboration with c-level management, the leveraging of a growing technology marketing stack to create relevant and thought-provoking campaigns, program engagement, and genuinely positive user journeys.

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While I enjoy my 9-5 work and the "stable" perks that come with it, my biggest love is the idea that I can use my skills, passions, education and experience to help make a positive difference.  I want to pay forward what I have gained by providing innovative design and data-driven marketing strategies for entrepreneurs and small- to enterprise-sized nonprofits across the world.

 

I am ready to finally share my ideas and talents with the world in a way that will make the world a better place.

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