Activate Games

Led national marketing for a high-growth consumer entertainment brand, overseeing strategy and execution across paid media, influencer partnerships, content, and brand development. Responsible for driving top-line growth, strengthening market presence, and building the systems that enabled rapid expansion.

Built and managed a full-stack marketing function with focus on scalable revenue generation and sustainable brand equity. Operated with an owner’s mindset: prioritizing systems, testing quickly, and executing what worked in the market.

Key Achievements:
• Developed marketing infrastructure that improved ROI visibility and scaled across multiple markets
• Directed campaigns that achieved broad viral reach and delivered measurable brand lift
• Delivered double- and triple-digit ROI on lean influencer marketing programs
• Secured national brand visibility through earned media and social growth
• Built and led a marketing team culture centered on innovation, accountability, and performance

Head of Marketing

Graystone Consulting

I launched Graystone to be the kind of consulting firm I couldn’t find, strategic, execution focused, and built to drive revenue, not reports.

Today, we partner with growing businesses across industries to build marketing engines, modernize sales systems, and create operational clarity. Our work spans everything from CMO for hire leadership to campaign strategy, brand development, and sales enablement.

Key Outcomes:
- Drove over $10 million in revenue for clients through strategic marketing and sales initiatives
- Led full scale rebrands, go to market launches, and lead generation systems for SMBs and nonprofits
- Built repeatable sales processes, trained in house teams, and implemented systems that scale
- Helped clients dominate local markets through multi channel campaigns and data backed creative
- Created content engines and social strategies that multiplied reach and community engagement

Whether we’re optimizing acquisition funnels or reengineering internal systems, I approach every client engagement with one goal: turn strategy into momentum.

Founder

PowerForma

As a Sales Consultant at PowerForma, I drive revenue growth and optimize our sales processes. 

My key responsibilities include:
- Establishing and managing a robust sales pipeline to ensure a steady flow of opportunities
- Integrating and leveraging cutting-edge sales software to streamline our sales efforts and improve efficiency
- Prospecting and identifying potential clients who can benefit from our offerings
- Engaging prospects and clients through cold calling, email outreach, and other targeted communication channels
- Creating and delivering compelling presentations and demos to showcase our products and services
- Consistently meeting and exceeding sales quotas to contribute to the company's growth and success

If you want to learn more about how PowerForma's offerings can benefit your business, let's discuss how we can work together to achieve your goals.

Sales Consultant

Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen

As the Director of Marketing at Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen, I've had the privilege of spearheading all marketing endeavors across our nine vibrant locations. In my role, I lead a talented team of marketers who are adept at crafting compelling content, orchestrating impactful email marketing campaigns, and managing our dynamic presence on social media.

Our team focuses on amplifying the voice of Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen, ensuring our messaging resonates with our target audience and encapsulates our commitment to fresh, healthful, and delectable offerings. Our cohesive and strategic efforts aim to strengthen our brand identity, foster customer loyalty, and drive consistent growth across all locations.

My leadership style emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. I am a firm believer in nurturing a work environment where each team member's skills and creativity are given room to thrive. By fostering an open atmosphere for idea sharing and providing ample opportunities for professional development, we consistently deliver marketing campaigns that not only meet but often exceed our goals.

Here's a snapshot of my role and responsibilities:
- Heading a skilled team of marketers specializing in content creation, email marketing, and social media management.
- Crafting and implementing marketing strategies to bolster brand recognition and customer engagement across nine locations.
- Nurturing a collaborative and innovative work environment that encourages creativity and professional growth.
- Continually tracking, analyzing, and optimizing marketing efforts to ensure they align with our business goals.
- Cultivating strong relationships with internal teams, external partners, and our customer base to drive business success.

I am immensely proud of the work we do at Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our team.

Director of Marketing

Breakout Games

In my role as the Marketing Director for Breakout Games, I have been the creative force behind our marketing initiatives. My job primarily revolves around driving sales via our online platforms. To do this, I have implemented a medley of strategies to not only engage and re-engage our customers but also to enhance SEO, discover fresh patronage, and elevate the current user experience.

Key facets of my role encompass:
- Orchestrating diverse marketing campaigns that blend digital and traditional strategies effectively.
- Managing numerous vendors, ensuring quality and timeliness of services.
- Supervising direct reports, fostering a productive and positive work environment.
- Leading the marketing team towards consistent growth and development.
- Improving the customer journey through innovative marketing strategies and enhancements in user experience.

As the marketing lead, my leadership style is centered around fostering development and efficiency within the team. I take pride in overseeing a mix of responsibilities spanning across digital and traditional marketing arenas while maintaining fruitful relationships with a number of vendors and direct reports. Through nurturing a culture of collaboration and innovation, I strive to push the boundaries of what's possible in our industry, driving Breakout Games to new heights.

Tanzanian Children's Fund

Creating a home for children
Transforming communities
Building futures in Tanzania

The Tanzanian Children’s Fund works to ensure that all children and families in the Karatu region of northern Tanzania lead healthy and productive lives and have the opportunity to become positive agents of change for their country. In order to achieve our goals, TCF provides a loving and permanent home for 97 marginalized children at the Rift Valley Children’s Village. However, TCF also recognizes that the best way to promote the well-being of all children is to provide access to high-quality education, free healthcare, and microfinance trainings and loans to the entire community. Our innovative, multi-pronged approach to addressing systemic poverty is what has enabled us to have a deep impact and catalyze real and lasting change.

Board Member

Volunteer Alumni Trustee

Upscale Living Magazine

As the former VP of Marketing and Sales for Upscale Living, a luxury magazine in the USA, I created significant growth in our industry. Within a span of merely four months, I implemented strategies that led to a remarkable 75% increase across all our social media channels, thanks to a combination of content calendars, carefully scheduled posts, and a focus on top-notch content creation.

My contributions to the team included:
- Streamlining processes by implementing and advocating for the use of various marketing and sales software.
- Overseeing the entire sales cycle and meticulously tracking all KPIs for the sales team.
- Establishing a subscription-based network, which facilitated the magazine's successful expansion into multiple new markets.
- Selling advertising space to upscale businesses and managing a diverse portfolio of over 150 clients.
- Recruiting, nurturing, and leading a high-performing sales team.

In my leadership role, I fostered a culture of ambition and expansion. I managed a diverse clientele, selling advertising to prestigious luxury businesses while building and motivating a dynamic sales team. The experience was enriching, and witnessing the growth - both personally and within the team - was incredibly rewarding. The strides we made continue to contribute to the ongoing success of Upscale Living.

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

The Bourbon Review

In my role as the Director of Business Operations for The Bourbon Review, the leading magazine dedicated to Bourbon and American whiskey, I had the privilege of steering comprehensive business operations. I played a crucial role in driving sales revenue and ensuring the fulfillment of our organizational objectives. My responsibilities were multifaceted, spanning staff recruitment, new business development, partnership management, and channel sales.

I was able to provide effective leadership and deliver results-oriented training to our sales, logistical, and customer service teams. This approach not only fueled their peak performance but also ensured that we consistently met our sales KPIs while fostering an environment of continuous professional development. As a subject matter expert, I successfully negotiated deals with various societies and clubs, enhancing our bulk sales and stimulating recurring subscription sales.

Key achievements during my tenure include:
- Cultivating new sales pipelines and leveraging client referrals and competitive industry knowledge to secure repeat business from our existing customer base.
- Boosting our digital subscriptions by 200% through the strategic redesign and relaunch of a mobile application, utilization of digital advertising tools, and the implementation of industry best practices.
Increasing e-commerce by over 20% in 2019 while also cutting expenses by more than 3%, achieved through platform revamping, process streamlining, and cost containment measures.
- Successfully negotiated with one of the world's largest magazine distributors, which led to TheBourbon Review's acceptance into the international distribution market.

In all, my tenure at The Bourbon Review was a journey filled with learning and growth. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to influence and contribute to the success of the company during my time there.

Director Of Business Operations

Business Development Associate

United Way of the Bluegrass

As the Director of Philanthropy for the United Way of The Bluegrass, I was at the helm of all major gift fundraising, leading initiatives across four out of the nine counties served by the organization. I had the honor of managing a robust portfolio of $1.5 million, made possible through a blend of networking, fundraising events, strategic online marketing, and efficient use of tools such as LexisNexis.

My responsibilities at United Way included:
- Implementing creative approaches to engage donor partners and build community solidarity.
- Cultivating a personal network of individual donors, each contributing $1,000 or more, to champion our cause.
- Successfully growing personal business by 50%, which involved generating over $500K in new donations and pioneering fundraising initiatives.
- Maintaining and strengthening long-term relationships with an existing portfolio of donors, prospects, and philanthropic advisors to achieve organizational goals and boost fundraising.

In my role, I not only managed fundraising but also focused on fostering and deepening relationships with our generous donors. I am proud to say that I was able to grow my personal business by 50%, a feat that involved raising more than $500,000 in new donations. These accomplishments were a direct result of my commitment to creating and nurturing lasting relationships with donors, prospects, and philanthropic advisors, all of which helped us accelerate our fundraising efforts and achieve our organizational objectives.

Director of Philanthropy

Development Officer

Campaign Consultant

I delivered instruction on financial management strategies and problem-solving techniques, taught English language skills to students from kindergarten age through adulthood, and educated students through a range of skill-building activities for speaking, writing, reading and listening. I made lessons interesting and interactive by using visual and auditory approaches. 

Other duties included engagement with external resources, and research into new micro finance technology and software. I also assisted with the implementation of new software for the micro finance program, helped organize financial documents in Microsoft Excel, and organized supplementary materials in English for all students

Volunteer

Husband | Marketer | Helping SMBs Grow Their Marketing Channels

Growth strategist and operator helping founders turn marketing into a profit center.

With 15+ years in marketing, sales, and revenue leadership, I now partner with small and mid-sized businesses through Graystone Consulting, offering Fractional CMO leadership and execution that unlocks scalable, predictable growth. My focus is building funnels, paid media, CRM, and content systems that directly drive revenue.

If you are a founder ready to scale and want CMO-level strategy without the overhead of a full-time hire, let’s connect.

📍 Lexington, KY | 📩 wgray@graystonellc.net | Calendly: https://calendly.com/willgrayco


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