Mount St. Mary's University

Freelance Insights and Marketing

Freelance

Charged with obtaining a deep understanding of the consumer to keep a pulse on cultural movements, shifting desires and striking behaviors to institutionalize insight and knowledge for creative development, brand strategy and key business decisions. 
- Led qualitative research including the strategic planning, recruiting and guidance of consumer projects and focus groups. Wrapping up with analysis, presentation and often workshopping of the insights. Notable projects include our “Why Watch…” insights series, Culture of Inclusion and Discovery Corporate Brand insights. 
- Oversaw Discovery's proprietary consumer community and insights panel averaging over 130 consumer surveys a year garnering over $1.5M in savings across the corporate, network, ad sales and digital research teams.  
- Additional projects and studies include: Corporate strategy and branding, Future of TV, Super Fan immersion, media behavior tracking, various Commerce, Licensing and Education projects, network brainstorming and workshops, show development presentations and purveyor of ongoing cultural trends, consumer insights and all around cool stuff.

Discovery Inc

VP Consumer Behavior & Strategy

Director - Consumer Behavior

Led strategic and creative development of multi-faceted marketing campaigns for new and returning series and specials. Key successes included:
o	Deadliest Catch 2011 – Developed a complex campaign strategy to promote a veteran series in order to speak to both old and new viewers. Season premiere ranked #1 in cable for the night and was one of the highest rated episodes in series history.
o	Life 2010 – Embarked on a 2-year planning process to determine the strategic direction for the blue chip series Life. Collaborated with multiple departments and vendors to launch a multi-platform campaign and multi-network premiere. Overall series exceeded company expectations, exceeding records set by Planet Earth with 82 million total viewers.
o	Colony 2010 – Worked closely with research to develop a tactical campaign targeted at the younger Colony viewer. Developed the company’s biggest viral campaign resulting in over 120K uniques in its first week, a 20% awareness increase of the series and double digit ratings increases in all key demos.

Marketing Manager

Promoted to Project Manager after a year and a half with the company and went on to manage several off-air marketing campaigns. Key successes included:
o	Dirty Jobs 2008 – Developed strategic plan to promote series schedule change and increase time spent viewing. Exceeded ratings expectations by 5%.
o	Shark Week 2008 – Worked closely with sales, affiliates and digital partners to launch the annual special at a minimal budget. Increased YoY rating, bringing in 29 million viewers to the week.
o	When We Left Earth 2008 – Managed one of the largest digital campaigns on the network to date working closely with media to analyze the digital space. Achieved a 68% gain YoY for the timeslot.

Project Manager

Managed and Coordinated strategic and creative development of both on and off-air campaigns including one of the most successful specials in company history. Key successes included:
o	Planet Earth 2007 –Organized all timing, budget and deliverables and fully managed zoo events and promotions in local markets. Garnered over 40 million viewers on the premiere night.
o	Discovery Rebrand – Worked with upper management to brainstorm and develop a brand refresh and new logo for Discovery Channel.
o	Dirty Jobs 2007 – Took on role as campaign manager and launched a talent focused off-air campaign in TV, Print and Digital platforms. Increased talent awareness and e-score of Mike Rowe.

Marketing Coordinator

Worked closely with CEO to analyze monthly sales, space and layout and managed all insertion orders to track sales.

Baltimore magazine

Advertising

Obtained valuable skills in public relations and problem solving through guest interactions and complex situations.

Meghan Beno