Wisconsin School of Business

Dominican University

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Preble High

Business Development Director at The Karma Group

I work to inspire others to believe in your company as much as you do,

Responsibilities:
-Lead new business strategy development.
-Create and lead the digital marketing strategy including SEM, Social Media, Content Marketing efforts.
-Oversee and execute tactics to carry out new business strategy. 
-Attend conferences, events, and seminars across all industries to build relationships. 
-Lead cross-functional teams to conceptualize, develop, and conduct new business presentations. 
-Train agency on CRM use. 
-Lead internal projects and initiatives
-Responsible for lead generation and prospect conversion to clients.

Accomplishments:
-Developed a new business marketing strategy to include inbound and outbound tactics. In-person meetings, event & conference attendance/presentations, content emails, SEO/SEM, social media activity, and website re-targeting are employed to build awareness and relationships through a systematic approach that nurtures prospects in the long and unpredictable sales cycle of professional services.
-Led agency in applying CRM data to be actionable, utilizing automation where appropriate, and driving face to face interaction whenever possible. 
-Led the creation of new business materials and the updating of existing materials. 
-Connected with companies' and organizations' leaders by building the relationship first, then demonstrating our commitment to their business' mission. Professional services are bought, not sold. They buy from who they like and trust. 
-Developed new business opportunities by finding new partners where indirect leads emerged or by working together to fill an expertise gap to result in a shared client. 
-Attended trade shows, conferences, events, and other social functions to develop face-time with prospects and clients.
-Conducted cold-calls that led to nurtured business relationships.  
-Led internal cloud based file storage conversion project.

The Karma Group

Business Development Director

Responsibilities:
-Act as the client representative in the agency
-Translate client need to execution
-Create client brand, message, and media strategy
-Manage budgets
-Project management
-Analyze qualitative and quantitative research
-Present research findings
_Troubleshoot outputs
-Led internal mission-based  initiatives 

Accomplishments: 
-Conducted complex project management for multiple $100,000 plus projects with teams of 10+ and client exposure at the C suite level.
-Navigated sensitive re-naming and re-branding of a client's ingredient brand, which also included developing a message strategy, brand video, and brand book, the production of collateral, and the creation of a complex website with public and members only interfaces. 
-Managed tight budgets. 
-Synthesized qualitative and quantitative research into findings and implications that led to clients' re- branding, message strategy redirection, operational changes to change their customer experience, and deeper consideration of a building project. 
-Led internal initiatives driving efficiency and effectiveness.
-Created message strategies that engage and persuade.
-Oversaw video production for a $70M fundraising campaign, with repeat business for and additional video project for a $10M fundraising effort.
-Led the brand message overhaul of a Catholic Diocese.
-Oversaw project management to ensure client projects were on-time, in scope, and within budget.
-Collaborated with clients, research, strategists, creative, and media teams to troubleshoot, manage, and coalesce findings, executions, and client expectations to drive results.

Senior Account Executive

Responsibilities:
-Visionary leadership.
-Strategic planning.
-Community Engagement.
-Organizational alignment.
-Budget development & management.
-Market research, assessment & marketing plan development.
-Process improvement leadership & education.
-Customer growth and retention.
-Public relations and customer engagement.
-Fundraising & grant writing.
-Facility planning, building projects, & management.
-Legislative & governmental engagement.
-Change management.
-Personnel management.
-Policy review & creation.

Accomplishments:
-Led strategic direction and responsible for decisions, policy, and implementation for countywide library service of nine facilities, 115 employees, and $7.4M.   
-Generated over $1 million in new revenue through building executive-level relationships with donors and a common agenda with elected officials.
-Secured $20 million in one-time tax revenue for capital projects by demonstrating the continuous benefits and long-term outcomes to elected officials.
-Earned $24,000 in new rent revenue annually for vacant library space by brokering a deal with Concept Loft, LLC, establishing an entrepreneurial business incubator that fulfilled the economic development strategic initiative.
-Sold $101,000 in sponsorships in two months resulting in a successful first-year UntitledTown Book and Author Festival that saw 5,000 participants, 80 authors, and 100 events that changed the landscape for what is possible in Green Bay. 
-Increased room use 34%, programming attendance 7.7%, digital resource use 2%, customer traffic 1%, and active card holders 1% by re-branding the library from a warehouse of materials to a center for community advancement.
-Saved $200,000 and 4,000 work hours annually through Lean, Six Sigma projects improving purchasing, customer service, and receivables processes. 
-Led multiple major facility renovation projects costing $650,000.
-Developed buy-in with stakeholders by supporting change champions & addressing detractors' concerns.

Brown County Library

Executive Director

Responsibilities:
-Visionary leadership.
-Strategic planning.
-Organizational alignment.
-Budget development & management.
-Market research, assessment & marketing plan development.
-Process improvement leadership & education.
-Sales, customer growth and retention.
-Public relations and customer engagement.
-Fundraising & grant writing.
-Facility planning & management.
-Legislative & governmental engagement.
-Change management.
-Personnel management.
-Policy review & creation.

Accomplishments:
-Reversed a budget deficit into a surplus and established facility reserve funds.
-Led the Board through mission statement, strategic vision, and core values development process.
-Grew revenue by an average of 4.6% annually through successful fundraising campaigns.
-Wrote grants with an award rate of 90% totaling over $150,000 in 5 years.
-Led cross-functional teams in Marketing, Youth and Adult Services, Technology, and Circulation to improve productivity and customer growth.
-Led marketing strategy and execution improving event attendance by 38.5%, library visits by 7.6%, and circulation by 9.5%.
-Led Lean Six Sigma circulation project resulting a ROI of $150,000 annually and a 700% efficiency improvement. 
-Led the building remodeling and RFID Materials Handling Sorter and Self-Check installation project to completion ahead of schedule and 4% under budget.
-Led strategic planning, tactical execution, and change management requirements of organizational restructuring.
-Built a common agenda with elected officials resulting in advocacy for library legislation and financial support.
-Positioned the library as an established leader in early literacy driving a 16% increase in new customer acquisition.
-Innovator of national partnership opportunities bringing dinosaur exhibits, USA Cyclocross Championships, and a NEH endowment challenge grant to the library.
-Led the redesign and re-branding of the library website.

Verona Public Library

Director

Responsibilities:
-Visionary leadership.
-Strategic operational planning.
-Budget development & management.
-Marketplace research and assessment.
-Strategic services and marketing plan development.
-Sales, customer growth and retention.
-Public relations.
-Grant writing. 
-Facility planning & management.
-Legislative & governmental engagement
-Change management.
-Personnel management.
-Policy review & creation.

Accomplishments:
-Provided a new vision for the library resulting in library visit growth of 51%.
-Launched separate marketing campaigns and developed services targeting underserved Hispanic, teen, and upper socioeconomic adults which contributed to the 60% increase in circulation.
-Grew the summer library program event attendance by 42%.
-Led the Board of Trustees in overhauling and updating the library policies.
-Built supportive relationships with local units of government improving the library image and increasing funding.
-Led the Board through a major remodeling project, and oversaw purchases and installation of new operational infrastructure.
-Guided the library through the Dynix Horizon to Sirsi-Dynix Unicorn migration.
-Drove modification of the financial mechanics and practices of the municipal government to be in accordance with the Wisconsin State Statutes governing the library budget.
-Established a retirement payout contingency that allowed for balanced budgets and immediate replacements of retirees.
-Modernized the pay scale and led the Board in updating the job descriptions for the first time in 12 years.
-Led the Board through the website development process from mission, vision, and policy creation to executing the content and construction of the website.

Aram Public Library Delavan, WI

Responsibilities:
-Marketing (physical and online).
-Merchandising (physical and online).
-Strategic website plan development.
-Website design.
-Collection development.
-Reference and research.
-Budgetary development and financial management.
-Marketplace research and assessments.
-Sales, customer growth and retention.
-Report generation and presentation to the executive director.

Accomplishments:
-Instituted purchasing, merchandising, and marketing changes that grew the Young Adult collection circulation by 62%.
-Chaired website committee, defined website mission and vision, set web policy, and managed website design and content.
-Designed and executed innovative programs increasing teen program attendance by 312%.
-Developed thought-leader status on teen library services.
-Authored entries into published works.
-Provided leadership as State Youth Services Liaison for the Manitowoc-Calumet Library System.
-Led the reference and web development teams through the ILS system upgrade process.

Brian Simons