VICTORIA LYNN DERRY COWELL, APR

**** ************ **. 216-***-****

Parma, OH 44134 aceuy5@r.postjobfree.com

MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL

Accredited public relations professional with non-profit background, marketing/sales experience and established contacts is interested in securing a position with a team-oriented organization offering opportunities for leadership as well as ongoing personal and professional growth.

WORK EXPERIENCE

CAXTON GROWTH PARTNERS, Independence, Ohio 2011 to present

Consulting/Growth Services firm. Work to grow client sales using a mix of strategies voice of the customer research, messaging, marketing automation and establishing pipeline.

AT&T, Valley View, Ohio 2005 to 2008

Yellow Page Advertising Sales. Responsibilities included selling yellow page directory and online products within a set canvass period and to identify and close sales to new businesses. Out-placed when business unit was moved to Michigan and I was unable to relocate at the time.

Met canvas objectives while returning a 5% increase in new business sales

CHA/CHAMPS, Cleveland, Ohio 1994 to 2004

CHAMPS is the for-profit management services affiliate of The Center for Health Affairs (CHA), a regional hospital trade association.

Director of Marketing, New Business Development, Marketing Research

Held several progressively responsible positions at CHAMPS. Conceptualized, introduced and provided oversight to ongoing implementation of new branding initiative for organization. Wrote and implemented marketing communications plans. Managed a 2.5 person department with a $175,000 budget.

Worked with sales team to identify new opportunities, target markets, track sales and generate sales support tools. Sales increased 10% in each of past three years.

Identified and profiled potential new product/service offerings

Planned and executed new program and product introductions, news releases, special events, direct mail and phone lead generation. This included raising match dollars for joint sponsorship of customer events ranging from golf outings to 2-day educational conferences.

Generated & conducted surveys; worked with managers to improve satisfaction from 80 to 98%.

Meridia Hillcrest Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio 1990 to 1994

Manager, Public Affairs Department

Managed media, community and internal communications function for hospital; responsible for a $200,000 annual budget. Planned and executed special events including community health fairs, grand openings/ground breaking and fund-raising events. Assisted with product line marketing communications. Supervised community relations coordinator and student interns.

Pitched and placed a feature on comprehensive birthing center resulting in front page Plain Dealer feature and photograph as well as week-long TV5 television feature.

Wrote, designed and distributed a bi-monthly publication circulated to community

Successfully managed media and specialty interest groups to defuse issues related to the hospital’s review of its medical abortion policy. Offered both sides a forum, while enabling hospital services to continue uninterrupted.

Victoria Cowell - Page two

The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio 1987 to 1990

Advertising & Special Promotions Account Executive

Generated new accounts in new territories for The Plain Dealer. Counseled clients regarding display newspaper advertising buys and creative for their ads. Demonstrated value by encouraging special offers or “couponing” to measure advertising effectiveness.

Developed $50,000 in new small business accounts in economically-depressed Lorain County in less than six months.

Conceived and promoted special insert sections to increase advertising potential.

Cowell Communications, Cleveland, Ohio 1986 to 1987

Freelance Counsel

Provided counsel, program planning and execution to mid- and small-sized clients in public relations, advertising and marketing. Clients included school local board candidates, physicians and several retail businesses.

Deaconess Hospital of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio 1972 to 1986

Public Relations Director

Founded and managed all aspects of hospital’s Public Relations Department including printing, volunteers and mailroom (five employees, 500+ volunteers). Directed work of agency used for advertising and special project work. Successfully managed a $300,000 annual budget. Served four different CEOs while at that facility.

Developed program of image surveys to measure public relations for use in long range planning.

Planned and executed a grand opening event that included then Vice President Walter Mondale.

Planned & executed a program to engage medical office assistants that grew physician referrals 5% in six months

Sun Newspapers Metro Group, Cleveland, Ohio 1969 to 1972

Reporter, Feature Writer, Assistant Editor

EDUCATION

BS Marketing/Management, (external degree program-nights) David N. Myers College, Cleveland, Ohio

Cuyahoga Community College, (1976, real estate course work) Real Estate, West Campus, Parma, Ohio

Cleveland State University, (1970-72) Journalism/English, Cleveland, Ohio

Numerous seminars on management, marketing and public relations seminars conducted by American Management Association, Public Relations Society of America, Healthcare Financial Managers Association, CWRU Weatherhead Business School.

ORGANIZATIONS/VOLUNTEERISM/AWARDS

Accredited member, former Board & committee(s) member - Public Relations Society of America (including Accreditation Committee Chairman-3 yrs), Greater Cleveland Marketing Advisory Board member for Cleveland PlayHouse 2000-2002

Numerous industry awards for specific public relations & marketing programs

Health Care Sector Financial Development Committee member 1996-99 - United Way

Past member - Board for Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation

Served six years on Senior Citizen Resources, Inc. Advisory Council

Recipient, Award of Merit - Boy Scouts of America, for Explorer Scouting leadership.

References and portfolio of work presented upon request

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