Summary of Qualifications

  • More than 10 years of success in leading sales, marketing, and cross-functional teams in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, with a focus on brand building and management, integrated marketing, and digital marketing.
  • Success in driving lead growth through multiple channels and building effective nurture and engagement programs.
  • Experience in developing content strategy that delivers value to audiences and builds brand awareness and affinity.
  • Skilled at creating and delivering training sessions and resources that empower staff members be strong brand ambassadors and execute effective local marketing campaigns.
  • Increasing leadership role over the past 7 years within a rapidly growing national/regional organizational matrix; experience guiding teams through change and managing tailored local execution of national campaigns.
  • Additional skills: proficiency in project management software, (Workfront, MS Project, Basecamp) email marketing platforms, (Pardot, ExactTarget, MailChimp) MS Office, Google Apps for Work, Drupal CMS, and Salesforce.

Professional Accomplishments

Downing Concept, LLC - Sea Cliff, NY
May 2016 - present

Founder, President, and Chief Consultant
  • Develop marketing and content strategy, brand positioning, messaging and tactical plans 
  • Provide copywriting services across all channels including print, email, website, and digital advertising
  • Design and deliver learning modules to develop teams' marketing knowledge and skills

Teach For America - New York, NY
January 2009 - April 2016

Senior Managing Director, Marketing
  • Developed insights-based brand, message, and content strategy targeting prospective applicants to increase the size, quality and diversity of Teach For America’s teacher corps
  • Created plan and managed execution of fully integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns targeting college and young professional markets to achieve recruitment goals and increase brand awareness
  • Co-led prospect acquisition and nurture campaign resulting in 185% lead growth and 27% applicant growth from Marketing sources in 2015-2016 over previous year; 600% growth over 2013-2014
  • Built marketing team vision, established priorities, and developed strategic plans; coached and developed team members to ensure professional and personal development and satisfaction
  • Partnered with Communications, Recruitment, and Admissions leadership to ensure teams were aligned on brand strategy and messaging and executed effectively
  • Served as a member of the Marketing leadership team and informed national marketing strategy, internal operations, and team culture

Managing Director, Marketing​​
  • Created strategy and led execution of insights-driven marketing campaigns and tactical plans targeting college students and young professionals
  • Designed, developed, and delivered marketing-specific learning and development curriculum to 200+ recruitment team members to build knowledge about Teach For America’s brand and empower effective execution of campus-based marketing campaigns
  • Built innovative collaboration and communication structures to optimize partnership between marketing and recruitment teams

Director, Marketing
  • Generated insights-based copy, briefed creative and digital teams, managed feedback loops, proofread, and managed numerous print, online, social media, and video projects from conception through completion
  • Created and optimized content and strategy for email marketing programs and Teach For America’s website
  • Assessed and enhanced marketing training tools, resource platforms, and operational processes used by recruitment team

Freelance - New York, NY
June 2008 - December 2008

Search Marketing Consultant, various clients
  • Developed search marketing campaign strategy to promote brand awareness and generate traffic to client websites
  • Developed keywords and ad text and informed landing page content and design; optimized and expanded campaigns to increase conversions and revenue

Oddcast, Inc. - New York, NY
June 2007 - September 2007

Digital Marketing Manager (Summer Associate)
  • Piloted first vertical marketing campaign for SitePal avatar technology into the education market
  • Conducted educator research to identify market opportunities and determine product positioning
  • Created messaging for website, campaigns, case studies and newsletters; analyzed ROI and made strategic recommendations to executives

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions - New York, NY
July 2001 - August 2006

Associate Director of National Pre-College Sales
  • Hired, trained, and managed 30+ corporate sales associates responsible for hitting targets of approximately $16 million per year
  • Gathered consumer insights and collaborated with brand managers to identify new target segments, develop new products, and inform national marketing campaigns
  • Crafted sales messaging and coached sales team to communicate unique selling points of Kaplan products, field tough questions, and develop excellent customer service
  • Analyzed call volume, lead management, and conversion data for all pre-college products to optimize team performance
  • Created incentive plans for sales team; maintained one of the lowest company turnover rates
  • Presented sales training seminars to staff across the country to improve local conversion rates
  • Increased national pre-college revenue 30%+ over four years

Pre-College Sales Associate
  • Advised parents and students regarding standardized testing and college application process
  • Recommended appropriate test preparation products for students based on their unique backgrounds; consistently exceeded sales targets
  • Provided customer service to support clients and field staff

Phase2Media - New York, New York
May 2000 - June 2001

Business Analyst
  • Analyzed performance of various digital advertising products and packaged recommendations for senior leaders

Simon & Schuster - New York, NY
August 1997 - August 1998

Marketing Assistant
  • Executed integrated marketing campaign tactics to promote young adult and children’s book series such as contests, giveaways, and book signings

Education

M.B.A. - Marketing
May 2008
Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College
Honors Program, 3.9 GPA

B.A. - English (Minors - Art and Communications)
May 1997
State University of New York at Geneseo, 3.8 GPA

Personal

  • Jazz singer with professional experience performing in lounges, clubs, and for special events
  • Trained actor with experience and comfort delivering presentations
  • Foodie and avid cook