Sales Manager

Matt Bell

*** ******** **** ( Riverside, IL ( *0546

Work 708-***-**** ( ****@***********-********.***

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Results-oriented public relations pro experienced at utilizing external

communications to drive brand awareness, reputation enhancement, and

incremental revenue.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Writing - Client Relationship Management, Including Business Development -

Reporter Relationship Building - Crisis Communications - Social Media -

Integrated External/Internal Communications - Presentation Development and

Delivery - Media/Presentation Coaching - Strategic Thinking - People

Management - Speakers Bureau Management - PR-Minded Market Research and

Data Analysis - Thought Leadership Content Development - Continuous

Learning and Integration of Best Practices

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Financially Speaking, Inc. - Riverside, IL 7/05 - Present

Owner and President

Financially Speaking is my own business launched in the pursuit of a dream

to write a personal finance book. I teach people how to manage money wisely

through live presentations, media interviews, blog posts, and the use of

other social media.

Key Responsibilities/Accomplishments:

. Published author of three personal finance books and a blog

(www.mattaboutmoney.com)

. Source workshop opportunities and deliver 40+ personal finance workshops

each year

. Design/conduct national research surveys for PR purposes

. Write news releases and conduct media outreach, with coverage of my work

having appeared in USA TODAY, U.S. News & World Report, Kiplinger's

Personal Finance magazine, The Chicago Tribune, WGN-TV, and many other

media outlets

. Source article opportunities in various publications and write articles

ACNielsen U.S. (now Nielsen) - Schaumburg, IL 1/99 - 6/05

Senior Director, Media Relations and Speakers Bureau

Nielsen is an international market research company. As head of media

relations for its U.S. business, I used various external communications

tools to help transition the company's image from a data provider to an

innovative thought leader.

Key Responsibilities/Accomplishments:

. Helped develop annual strategic communications plans in consultation with

senior leaders and communications department colleagues

. Generated numerous story placements in the Wall Street Journal and other

top tier media outlets leading to enhanced company reputation and

incremental revenue

. Developed strong relationships with top tier trade and mainstream

business reporters by hosting media at industry and company events and

presenting targeted story opportunities

ACNielsen U.S., continued

. Wrote 30+ news releases per year, analyzing data to identify compelling

trends, using easily understood language to introduce complex new

products, and touting new clients

. Created and managed ACNielsen Speakers Bureau, placing speakers at over

25 strategically important events each year and helping with presentation

development

. Served as company spokesperson, successfully navigating numerous

sensitive issues

. Won the trust of senior leaders, preparing them for interviews and

presentations

. Helped prepare and execute several crisis communication plans

. Led PR agency selection process and managed agency relationship

. Sourced by-lined article opportunities and wrote articles

. Monitored competitors in order to identify business threats and hone

communications strategy

. Helped create, managed, and edited monthly client e-newsletter

. Wrote articles for "Consumer Insight," the company's quarterly client

magazine

. Collaborated with international colleagues to develop global thought

leadership reports

Market Facts - Arlington Heights, IL 9/96 - 12/98

Senior Product Manager

Market Facts was one of the largest custom market research firms in the

U.S. It was acquired by Aegis Group in 2001 and was then re-branded as

Synovate.

Key Responsibilities/Accomplishments:

. Managed sales/marketing for "BehaviorScope," a custom market research

tool that generated over $1 million in annual revenue

. Identified new business opportunities, wrote proposals, and made sales

presentations to prospects in the financial services, healthcare, CPG,

and other industries

. Facilitated focus groups as a preliminary step toward developing

quantitative studies

. Designed/analyzed BehaviorScope research studies and presented results to

clients

EDUCATION

DePaul University - Chicago, IL, M.A. Interdisciplinary Studies

. Course work focused on business (market research, stats, marketing) and

sociology

Northern Illinois University - DeKalb, IL, B.A. Journalism

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