CAFCU

Vice President Marketing

I managed a credit union marketing team focused on using all available channels and tactics to support the company mission to become the primary financial institution of our members. The team’s goal is to do what we can to build and maintain a brand with a reputation for making a meaningful difference in the financial lives of our members. 

In this role, I worked with my team to improve our workflow while growing CAFCU's social media presence, blog, and email channels. These efforts led to more than a double-digit increase in our social media following and our members' use of digital banking services during my tenure. In addition, my team's work to optimize SEO and raise awareness of our brand through digital channels led to CAFCU's recognition by Forbes as one of America's Best Credit Unions in 2023.

Marketing Manager

Fiverr US

In the spring of 2013 I created a simple profile and a single "gig" writing press releases on Fiverr, one of the world's first "gig economy" platforms for creative services. More than 2,800 completed orders later I am one of Fiverr's "Top Rated Sellers" and continue to garner 5-star ratings and rave reviews. Through my gigs, I create targeted marketing and sales messages ranging from press releases to fundraising appeals, nonprofit mission statements, business templates, executive biographies, explainer video scripts, and more. I love my work because every day is different and I enjoy meeting the challenge of creating high quality content for clients in every industry.

Content Marketer

Partnership Financial Credit Union

I spearheaded the marketing department for Chicago-based community credit union with four branches. I managed all marketing channels for the credit union, creating an array of print and digital content for internal and external audiences. Projects included creating marketing procedures to streamline and organize processes, optimizing the company website for member experience and search engines, tightening adherence to brand guidelines, launching and managing social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, and orchestrating communication with 13,000 members about a core conversion that included the introduction of a new online and mobile banking system.

I served on the marketing team for a Chicago-based, national credit union with an asset size of $600 million and 20 branches. I helped strategize and execute the credit union's marketing and communications plans and created content for various channels. Projects included conceptualizing and managing the creation of new sales literature for business development staff, including posters, flyers, stuffers, takeaway cards, banners and promotional items for eight different financial wellness themes; creating the credit union's social media plan, policy and procedures; developing new written content for member and employer partner communications; helping execute events designed to engage Select Employee Group (SEG) employees; and creating and implementing a policy and procedures for responding to reviews of branch locations and mobile apps.

Senior Marketing Representative

Marquette University

In this role I facilitated relationships between the College of Business and key regional constituents, connecting college faculty and courses with area organizations to expand experiential learning opportunities for students while adding value to Marquette’s external partners. I worked closely with the dean, in coordination with University Advancement, to expand the scope, depth, and level of relationships with external college constituencies, including alumni, friends, corporations and foundations; build bridges between the College and the business community; connect regional businesses and organizations with course projects and other experiential learning opportunities; build strong relationships with corporate and community leaders and public officials for the purpose of raising awareness of the College; and connect students with internship and career opportunities.

In this capacity, I founded and directed the Marquette Blockchain Lab, an interdisciplinary project established in the fall of 2017.

Associate Director of External Relations for the College of Business Administration

WaterStone Bank

I managed public relations and community outreach for WaterStone, a community bank founded in Wauwatosa in 1921. My role encompassed everything from media relations to investor relations and event planning. I also managed the WaterStone Bank Foundation, cultivating relationships with the nonprofit community in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties and coordinating all of the bank's nonprofit sponsorship details. Some of the biggest charitable sponsorships I initiated and managed in this role included the "Marquette for Vets" program in partnership with Dryhootch, the Near West Side Partners' "Rev-Up Milwaukee" small business competition and the bank's title sponsorship of the Milwaukee Air and Water Show. In 2016 I also organized the bank's 95th anniversary video contest, through which the bank donated $95,000 to ten local nonprofits who were finalists in the contest.

Community Relations Lead

Mount Mary University

I taught undergraduate and graduate writing and communications courses through Mount Mary's English and Communications departments. Some of the courses I taught included Reporting and Feature Writing (EPW 201), Workshop in Journalism: Theory and Practice (EPW 602), Writing for Nonprofits (EPW 734), Media Writing (EPW 370) and Public Speaking (COM 104) and Introduction to Public Relations (COM 301). I continue to serve on MMU's Communication Department Advisory Board.

Part-time Faculty

NOW Newspapers/Community Newspapers

At CNI, a division of Journal Communications, I edited print content for eight community newspapers serving suburban Milwaukee, working with writers and editors to ensure the highest caliber, most accurate content was published by deadline on a weekly basis. I wrote headlines, head decks and subheads that were search-engine optimized. I also helped manage the weekly newspaper Wauwatosa Now's Facebook page, adding posts multiple times a day to drive traffic to WauwatosaNOW.com's content and engage the publication's readership.

Copy Editor

Tosa Farmers Market

In 2009, I organized a group of volunteers that co-founded the Tosa Farmers Market. I then served as the TFM's marketing director from 2009 to 2011. As part of this role, I created and managed the organization's marketing and publicity plan, handled social media and served as the TFM's email newsletter editor, creating weekly content and promotional messages for the market.

Co-Founder and Communications Director

Bryant & Stratton College - Milwaukee

As member of BSC's adjunct faculty in the department of English and Communications, I taught courses including Research & Writing I (ENGL 101); Public Speaking & Rhetorical Persuasion (COMM 201); and Research & Writing II (ENGL 250). I also worked as a writing tutor through the college's Learning Resource Center.

Adjunct Instructor of English

I help brands grow by building communities around good ideas.

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