Wendy L. Zielen, Administrative and Marketing Director

Qualifications

Administration and Management

• Office management focused on best practice office protocols and procedures
• Efficient scheduling and meeting coordination to streamline productivity
• Staff supervision, training, hiring, team building, and internal relations for diverse employee groups
• Project management of multiple tasks emphasizing quality standards
• Strategic planning and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis
• Conducting research, compiling data, document preparation, reporting, and presentation

Technical Toolbox

• Administrative: Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook; Google - Docs, Drive, Forms, Calendar
• Web development and maintenance: Html, WordPress, Dreamweaver
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Google Analytics, AdSense, AdWords, Voice, Checkout
• Client Relations Management: Microsoft Dynamics 365, ClickDimensions, Salesforce
• Newsletters and Bulk Email Campaigns: MailChimp, ConstantContact, others
• Social Media outreach: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
• Advertising program collateral development: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

Non-Profit Governance and Volunteer Leadership

• Non-Profit board governance, standard operating procedures, and best practices
• Donor relations, cultivation, and stewardship
• Best practices for recruiting and retaining volunteers http://bit.ly/power-volunteer
• Volunteer and staff coordination including orientation, scheduling, and training
• Fundraising and financial oversight

Grant and Proposal Writing

• RFP, RFQ, SOQ, grant writing
• Budgetary requirements for the competitive bid process and successful project completion

Marketing and Sales

• Opportunities assessment and implementation
• Sales and trend analysis, data interpretation
• Client database development and mining
• Global cross-marketing capability with diverse employee and client groups
• Press release placement and editorial procurement
• Trade show, conference, and event staging: execution and follow-up
• Strong written, verbal, and public speaking prowess

Education

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, 1985

Professional Summary

Marketing Specialist, Int'l Retirement Resource Center, Inc.

The Retirement Resource Center provides high-quality retirement education programs by leading industry experts to help advisers, employees, and consumers make informed retirement decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Developed, implemented, and monitored marketing campaigns for a range of online products
• Cultivated client relations using Microsoft Dynamics and other CRM programs
• Reviewed and reported on digital reach and performed trend analysis (Google Analytics)
• Enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) (Yoast and others)
• Created content for multiple websites targeted at different market sectors
• Secured website customer portals on various platforms (HTML, WordPress, Dreamweaver)
• Implemented online shopping cart, subscription, and membership programs
• Issued press releases and placed advertisements
• Facilitated social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Created and sent bulk email communications (ClickDimensions, MailChimp, ConstantContact)

Client Relations Manager, Resource Recycling Systems, Inc.

Resource Recycling Systems, Inc. has been managing change in a resource-constrained world for over 30 years -- Global Corporate Sustainability, Waste Recovery Solutions, Organics Management

Responsibilities:

• Responded to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), and Statements of Qualifications (SOQs), including budgetary projections within the competitive bid process
• Performed product, market, and other trade research
• Reviewed sales and trends, and analyzed marketing and website performance
• Prepared reports in multiple formats (Adobe, Visio, Presenter, Publisher)
• Reviewed and graded RFP responses for web development; maintained ongoing website updates
• Maintained client relations database (Salesforce)
• Booked and coordinated tradeshows, conferences, and events
• Oversaw event collateral marketing materials development and shipping
• Conducted general office procedures including switchboard, equipment maintenance, and archiving

Board Memberships

Michigan State Premier Soccer Program, Chairperson

The Michigan State Premier Soccer Program (MSPSP) is Michigan's competitive state-wide soccer league, representing over 12,000 talented players annually. Our purpose is to promote the development and execution of highly skilled youth soccer, sportsmanship, quality coaching and officiating within the State of Michigan.

• As Chairperson I am chief executive officer with general and active management of the program, including executing contracts, presiding at all meetings, and other obligations.

Lost Voices, Board of Directors, Secretary

Lost Voices brings hope and healing to young victims of abuse, neglect, violence, addiction, and human trafficking using music. Since its beginning in 2007 Lost Voices has touched more than 2,500 young victims and produced dramatic therapeutic breakthroughs.

• As a voting member of the board and as Secretary I record the proceedings of monthly executive and general membership board meetings, maintain the record of board actions, and manage the governance and other documents.

KrabbeConnect, Board of Directors, Secretary

KrabbeConnect seeks to revolutionize the practice of medicine by identifying, optimizing, and implementing advances in the care and cure of globoid cell leukodystrophy using a multicenter network of cooperation between patients, patient advocacy groups, clinicians, researchers, industry and government.

• As a voting member of the board I review issues before the board and contribute to governance as required. As Secretary I record the proceedings of monthly board meetings, maintain the record of board actions and act as custodian of organizational documents.

Silver Lake Association, Board of Directors, Secretary

Silver Lake Association works to maintain excellent lake quality, high standards and neighborhood safety of the Big Silver Lake community.

• As Secretary I provide notice of all meetings and record the minutes for general membership, executive board, and committee meetings, retaining the hard copy, digital, and web records. I also attend and represent the Association at Township, County, State, and other meetings.

Founder and Registrar, BAYSA/Blast Leagues

Soccer and futsal leagues and camps designed to deliver international soccer skills training in a "Learn to Play - Play to Learn" atmosphere, with the goal of giving children a life-long joy of exercise and activity

• Non-profit founding and paperwork filing; board management
• Oversight of merchandise (soccer kits, uniforms, ancillary items) in a mini-storefront setting
• Website development including graphics, sign-up forms, online payment (Frontpage, Adobe, Paypal, etc.)
• Invoicing, collections (Quickbooks)
• Hiring and management of diverse workforce from several countries, mediation
• Interface with regional and state associations

Additional Experience

Manufacturer's Representative and Sales Consultant, Hoya Museum Crystal

Hoya Crystal was a subsidiary of Hoya Optics specializing in crystal dinner and giftware home decorative products from 1945 - 2009. Items developed during that period remain collectible today.

• Represented Hoya as a brand consultant to Neiman Marcus, Marshall Field's (Hudson's), Studio 330, and other accounts
• Performed sales training for consultants in various shop locations
• Staged and escorted international artisans to private signing events in stores, museums, private venues
• Analyzed regions for product growth opportunities
• Merchandised client displays to optimize product visibility
• Cultivated client relationships

Buyer - Purchasing Agent, Jacobson's Stores, Inc.

Jacobson's Stores Inc. was a chain of 24 upscale department stores located in Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas. Headquartered in Jackson, MI, Jacobson's developed a loyal carriage trade clientele focused on apparel, fine jewelry, and home furnishings. The company was established in 1838 and was in continuous operation for 164 years until 2002.

• Purchased over $7,000,000/year China, Crystal, and Silver Department
• Traveled on buying trips to national and international markets
• Solicited and contracted for advertising cooperative funding and sponsorships from vendors and partners to stage events and run numerous print, billing statement, radio, and television advertisements
• Maximized turn and gross margin
• Developed and implemented a computerized client registry program
• Trained assistant buyers and buyer's assistants in purchasing protocols and industry standards
• Oversaw and reviewed dynamic office staff
• Conducted weekly in-store merchandising (display) training sessions for salespeople in all Midwest stores
• Developed and executed quarterly marketing plans and sales campaigns

Accomplishments:

• Won national Home Decorative Award (surpassing other high-end retailers including Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom's, etc.)
• Procured $200,000+ in advertising cooperative funding from multiple vendors resulting in televised launch of Fox Bridal event starring Linda Carter
• Selected by the Board of Directors to be on the Buyer's Re-engineering Committee

Interests

• Environmental sustainability and historic preservation
• Community health, fitness, and wellness
• Youth advancement and underserved community advocacy, local and international
• Language studies include Portuguese and French