SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Digital publishing expert with extensive expertise in implementation of digital strategies, project management, online communications and Internet site development. Always at the forefront of new technologies and strategies, and recognized as a leader in each field. Adept at managing direct staffs or highly matrixed teams which build sales and profits. Decisive leader focused on innovation and dedicated to all approaches to build results.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2006-2010 Chicago magazine (Tribune) Chicago, IL
SENIOR ONLINE MANAGER
Hired in 2006 by Chicago magazine when they decided to turn more attention to the web site. In less than one year I switched technology vendors, scoured the landscape for new ideas, hired an editor, and focused the entire magazine’s staff on developing a winning strategy for both readers and advertisers. With a goal of having a blend of “not available elsewhere” content, along with stories from the magazine itself, chicagomag.com became a destination to visit daily. The results:
- Website traffic tripled within a year.
- Revenue grew more than 500% in the first year.
- Website was profitable by second year.
- Currently more than 25% of the traffic is generated by web-only daily content; the remainder is represented by selected magazine content.
- In 2010 rolled out a fully digital edition, iPhone/iPad app and second quarter plans for a mobile dining guide.
Honored as one of the 2008 FOLIO: 40 - Folio Magazine's List of magazine industry influencers and innovators.
Webby Honoree in 2008 and 2009 - magazine division
Speaker:
Folio:Show | 08 - Creating Your E-media Business Strategy
SNAP - Getting The Best of Both: Leverage Print in the Digital Age
2005-2006 Orbitz (Division of Cendant) Chicago, IL
SR. PROJECT MANAGER
Led projects with business, technology, and other company stakeholders to execute corporate critical initiatives.
- Managed and delivered full life cycle projects, reporting schedules, budget, scope, and quality of the deliverables.
- Projects focused on coordinating teams within Orbitz’s software development, technical operations and engineering groups.
- Managed projects with budgets ranging from $1MM to $10.5MM.
2000-2005 SAVVIS Communications (formerly Exodus Communications), Elk Grove Village, Illinois
PROGRAM MANAGER - Professional Services
Program Manager for General Electric Co., managed myriad projects for company designing complex Internet hosting solutions and provided sophisticated controlled environments. Managed clients with budgets ranging from $10,000 to $10MM. Clients included, GE (multiple business units), Orbitz, CAN, and other Fortune 1000 companies.
- Planned and coordinated migration schedules that supported the move of customers’ network infrastructures and data centers.
- Completed task on time and within budget, which contributed to retaining and extraordinary number of clients in a ferociously competitive market.
1999-2000 Xpedior, Inc. – Chicago, IL
SR, BUSINESS CONSULTANT – DIGITAL BUSINESS STRATEGY
Consulted and developed eBusiness strategies on enterprise and project levels. Worked as a leader and member of team that implemented Xpedior's process by leading strategy workshops, conducting discovery interviews with clients, performed competitive analysis, defined business processes and facilitated eBusiness education seminars. As a founding member of Xpedior's Digital Business Strategy Team helped developed and refined Xpedior Process.
1997-1999 American Marketing Association – Chicago, IL
DIRECTOR, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Brought strategic direction to the AMA's online efforts for their second generation website.
- Managed all Internet related operations of and its staff, including Web site development, Internet advertising plan and chapter web site hosting.
- Integrated the new Internet strategy into overall business plan as the AMA worked toward developing a “virtual” association online.
- Proposed, received and implemented a $340,000 fund to develop next-generation AMA web site coordinating resources with internal staff and external consulting firms.
- Migrated first generation Unix based website and email server to three Windows NT servers running IIS, Ad Server, Ipswitch email server and Web Trends reporting software for performance and advertising reports.
1983-1997 Pioneer Press Newspapers – Glenview, IL
MANAGER OF ONLINE SERVICES
After a 10-year career in photojournalism and photo editing, became manager of the team that developed Pioneer Press' first web site in 1995, becoming the third newspaper in the state of Illinois to publish on the Internet.
- Developed the Internet strategy for Pioneer's web site covering more than 60 Chicago area communities.
- Coordinated consultant’s build process and trained staff to integrate into production cycle for content management plan.
- Managed web staff and coordinated integration of news coverage from editorial staff.
- Developed and implemented sales strategy.
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1995 to 2000 Northwestern University – Evanston, IL
ADJUNCT FACULTY, Medill School of Journalism
Instructor for News and New Media class under Professor Neil Chase. Lead discussion, assign lessons, speak on subjects concerning online media and teach software techniques for Internet software along with basic of PhotoShop and Quark Express.
1995 to 1997 Illinois Press Photographers Association
PRESIDENT
Introduced monthly newsletter to IPPA and coordinated first shared convention with Wisconsin Press Photographers Association.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts – Communication Media - University of Northern Iowa
