Strategic Initiatives Manager | Growth & Impact through Collaborative Partnerships

I help people and organizations work together in ways that make a real difference. My creative and analytical background gives me a mix of practical and strategic skills that I use to solve problems and bring ideas to life

I’ve built partnerships with universities, industry, and government, and I’ve managed programs and projects from start to finish. I excel at connecting people, creating opportunities to work together, and making sure goals turn into results

I also focus on sharing knowledge and stories that others can learn from and carry forward. For me, the most important part of my work is building connections that last and lead to positive outcomes

Summer Applegate🍏

ALDI USA

Warehouse Associate

Redwood

In this role, I "take care of the details" in many different areas of focus for a family of busy entrepreneurs who own multiple businesses. 
My creative talents combined with my skills for organization & project planning have allowed me to be the "go-to" person for when the owner/founder has an idea, but needs the pieces & parts figured out & taken care of. 
I take ideas, & I produce results.

Various tasks I've been given have included:
- "We have a picture of our family values, mission statement, etc... Can you blow this up & laminate it so it can serve as our family placemats at the dinner table?"
- "Can you create a calendar/reference sheet/course materials out of (given information) for our coaching clients?"
- "Can you create a video promoting an upcoming event?" (using footage of previous events, conducting interviews to collect video footage of testimonials, taking sound bites from previous events, etc.)
- "Can you create a low-maintenance website where we can sell apparel year-round where we don't have to worry about delivery (as opposed to running limited-time 'order windows' through sports & apparel companies several times per year, where we then distribute products manually)?"
- "Can you figure out a way for our coaching clients to be able to access stored meetings/lessons, but have them password-protected?"

Currently, I serve as an Administrative Assistant for Redwood's virtual men's community, Redwood ManMaker. 
- Foster engagement within the community space
- Create calendar events & corresponding links for weekly meetings
- Share resources (as directed by founder)
- Serve as "customer service" for anyone who has questions about how to use or access different resources the community offers

Adminstrative Assistant & Digital Marketing/Design Specialist

private residence

Nanny

The Owl Morning ‘til Night

Barista/Bartender

Panera Bread

During my time at Panera, I succeeded in creating a positive environment where customers were cared for attentively and associates felt appreciated for their efforts.
• Made sound business decisions in response to daily and hourly sales forecasts in addition to current business volume
• Quickly identified potential problems such as disruptions to the flow of service by analyzing situations and delegating appropriate corrective action
• Lead group discussions that fostered creative solutions that both expedited and simplified daily procedures
• Ensured execution of all enhanced health, safety, and cleaning procedures during COVID-19 pandemic

Manager

Line Associate

Cave Canem, Inc.

•	Synthesized information from numerous resources to determine levels of accuracy regarding areas of study in which misinformation is more commonplace than the truth 
•	Demonstrated strong organizational and planning skills by constructing articles in a clear and coherent manner
•	Attracted internet traffic to articles using SEO guidelines

Content published on Addiction Resource.com

Freelance Writer

Established and expanded upon positive relationships between clients and consumers by responding to 50-250 online reviews in a timely manner (bi-weekly and/or weekly) on behalf of anywhere from two to six clients at a time
•	Strengthened clients’ existing relationships with customers by responding to positive reviews with sincere, individualized appreciation
•	Repaired damaged client-consumer relationships by exhibiting responsiveness and integrity on behalf of the client
•	Successfully maintained the public image of brands such as Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Marriott by communicating with patrons according to the preferred tone and posture of each particular client (hotel)

Consumer Relations Specialist / Ghostwriter

Verified Business Solutions LLC

•	Mastered the jargon and corresponding syntax often used in discourse concerning a range of fields including law, finance, construction, photography, etc. 
•	Researched individual businesses and their respective industries to determine what each company offers and which of its qualities or accomplishments separate it from its competitors 
•	Helped build a database comprising descriptions of various U.S.-based businesses for an up-and-coming review website by highlighting each company’s distinct qualifications, affiliations, and services offered

Buffalo Wild Wings

•	Prioritized tasks such as taking and entering orders, delivering food and drinks, and interacting with guests to provide quality service to large volumes of people
•	Took the initiative to re-organize certain areas of the restaurant and re-structure a number of daily procedures to improve the overall functionality and efficiency of the restaurant

Server

Indianapolis Colts Grille

•	Often served as a liaison between servers and management when concerns or other issues arose 
•	Encouraged and motivated a team of five or more members to work together on tasks
•	Played role in devising and implementing innovative changes made to daily routines that increased organization and efficiency
•	Deciphered body language in relation to spoken word, while providing accommodations and excellent customer service

My most prominent strengths lie in my ability to synthesize information & curate different mediums of visual design that enable others to share a perspective. 

Whether it's internal communications like workflows, timelines, memos, group calendars, save-the-date notices, presentations, or meeting agendas, etc., I enjoy arranging & experimenting with different layouts & designs that enhance understanding & highlight actionable items. I employ infographics whenever possible. 

My knack for visual design also carries over into video production.
In the past, I have designed, scripted, collected interviews for, edited, & produced short videos for a) the ministry I was working with, b) solopreneurs selling digital products or other high-ticket offers, & c) to promote different events for the professional & personal development program I was working with.

I've designed several websites-- one of them being a nearly self-sustaining print-on-demand e-commerce shop.

I have a mind for strategy.
I never show up "without ideas."

While I will always have projects & pursuits I engage in outside of my career, whatever company I work for is one that I will honor with my time & my maximum effort— always operating with a standard of excellence & doing “more than is required" of me in any task or project I undertake.

Serve your masters as unto the Lord-- not as if they were people--
knowing that whatever good you do, you will receive back from the Lord.
[Ephesians 6:7-8]

*****

Personally, 2023 was a hard year for me. 
It led me to a range of experiences I'm still in the middle of trying to understand.
I stopped doing a lot of the things I perceived myself to be "good at," & became extremely isolated from nearly everyone in my network.

I pray 2024 is a year that engages the gifts God gave me in new ways, 
& that he builds, repairs, & solidifies my network according to His will.

taplio

The Battle

Summer Applegate🍏

Charley MacDowell

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