Visionary and Tenacious Entertainment/Lifestyle Marketing Professional

6/2006 - 11/2008

AC Entertainment

Director / VP

• Directed the development and execution of all marketing, public relations, communication, graphic design and promotional efforts for major international entertainment company AC Entertainment and its brands, including but not limited to the Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival (the highest grossing rock & roll festival in the United States), Historic Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre, AC at the Valarium, Vegoose Music Festival, Tennessee Shines, ConcertWire.com, and Sundown in the City. As a member of senior management, directed a team of brand managers and graphic designers consisting of eight people; managed marketing budgets totaling over $3 million. Worked in an agency-like setting, overseeing promotional efforts for multiple artists, tours, properties, and festivals throughout the country; personally handling an average of 75 major accounts at any given time. Worked with national artists such as Alison Krauss, Dave Matthews, The Smashing Pumpkins, Bill Cosby, Bob Dylan, and Tony Bennett as well as emerging acts across all genres. Developed and implemented Web 2.0 and social marketing efforts via Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, iLike, Bebo, online message boards, widgets, and emerging media. Created award-winning campaigns for subscription packages. Negotiated media sponsorships, strategic partnerships, third party and retail promotions; acted as liaison to major clients, partners and advertising agencies. Effectively communicated marketing strategies for each project to key stakeholders, including the artist, their management team, record label, venue management, and internal staff. Managed street team network responsible for the execution of grassroots promotions. Developed, oversaw and policed multiple brands; worked with existing brands (i.e., artists and sponsors) to ensure that they are presented appropriately. Responsible for the rebranding of Historic Tennessee Theatre, AC Entertainment, and Sundown in the City; plus the redesign of two award-winning websites and development of new sites for AC Entertainment and Tennessee Shines. Consistently exceeded sales goals, which in 2008 resulted in the Historic Tennessee Theatre’s most successful year in its 80 year history and the Bijou Theatre’s dramatic turnaround from near destruction in 2006 to being “in the black” for the first time in history in June, 2008.

1/2004 - 5/2006

Knoxville Opera

Director / VP

• Developed and executed effective communications campaigns, outreach initiatives, educational programs, and special events to advance awareness of and participation with Knoxville Opera throughout Knoxville and the surrounding areas. Collaborated with arts organizations, business leaders, community/government leaders and area schools to create effective community arts programming. Managed and marketed events such as the Rossini Festival, a week-long celebration of the arts culminating in a wildly successful Italian Street Fair. Prepared and managed budgets, projections, pricing, and goals. Worked with Board of Directors, key staff and consultants to manage strategic planning. Oversaw day-to-day operations of Knoxville Opera’s administrative duties, including fundraising, education/outreach, ticketing, office management, and communications; supervised Ticketing and Education staff. Also responsible for grant requests and sponsorship proposals; served as primary liaison with corporate sponsors and partnering organizations. Attracted and cultivated donors and board members. Developed community events that resulted in immediate sell-out opera performances and increased opera subscriptions by more than 15% over previous years. Planned an advertising campaign that resulted in 23 ADDY awards on the local and district levels, including a special Award of Distinction. Executed a regional communications campaign to promote Knoxville Opera’s Rossini Festival, resulting in the attendance of more than 65,000 people at the 2005 Italian Street Fair – an 87% increase over the previous year. The 2006 fair drew over 80,000 people to downtown Knoxville and resulted in the event being awarded an Opera America Bravo! Award for innovation in marketing as well as designation as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast.

8/2001 - 1/2004

American Heart Association

Director / VP

• Planned, organized and implemented fundraising events within a defined region. Developed and maintained timelines and budgets in accordance with goals and objectives. Recruited, trained and motivated volunteer committees to assist in the implementation of events. Specialized in the development of the Knoxville Heart Gala, the largest fundraising event for the Knoxville AHA office, by mobilizing and managing volunteers, coordinating silent and live auctions, creating promotional materials, and developing and maintaining databases. Developed Boards of Directors and secured financial sponsorships for counties and events. Responsible for all aspects of communications, public relations and marketing on a local level, including the negotiation of media sponsorships, press releases, direct mail campaigns, the development of promotional materials and guerilla marketing strategies.

8/1997 - 7/2001

U.S. Internet, an Earthlink Company

Manager

• Responsible for the recruitment, training, and management of Authorized Resellers and affiliate companies throughout a five-state territory through marketing efforts, sales incentive programs, a reseller-oriented website, and day-to-day contact with the agents. Worked with individual Resellers to develop sales incentive programs, co-op marketing strategies and sales promotions. Performed all management and fulfillment duties for agents including forecasting, goal setting, preparing quotes, coordinating mailings, and creating regular sales and commission reports. Assisted agents with business and high-volume sales in addition to meeting my own sales goals. Trained agents on new policies, products, and technologies and maintained a strong relationship with them. Responsible for development of all reseller advertising campaigns and marketing materials. Planned and implemented training session and awards banquet for affiliate agents, resulting in an immediate 25% increase in Reseller Division sales. Created and maintained an exclusive reseller website with account creation and management tools. Instrumental in the development of the OneMain.com Partner program and successful transition of U.S. Internet agents to the new program. Later, assisted in the creation of an Affiliate program for Earthlink.

2004

Bachelor Degree

Washington State University

• Communications & Social Sciences