MELINDA E. GARDT

**** ****** ***** *********: 859-***-****

Union, KY 41091 Mobile: 859-***-****

abmw8u@r.postjobfree.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/melindagardt

MARKETING AND SALES EXECUTIVE

Inspired and innovative marketing and sales executive routinely thinking of

new approaches exceeding goals. Decisive and energetic with a gift for

being eloquently direct and open. Exceptional leader and mentor, experience

in financial investments, consumer products, and educational industries.

Naturally competitive "corporate athlete" seeking an opportunity to

collaboratively build your business through unparalleled marketing and

business development. Specific areas of Expertise:

Customer Relationship Management Business Development

Strategic Planning Trade Show Management

Annual Sales Projections Training/Development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Great American Financial Resources, Cincinnati, OH 2008-2010

Client Relations and Sales Manager

Challenged with the opportunity to grow client groups and foster customer

retention through strategic sales and marketing efforts. Responsible for

building relationships with independent agents and key customer groups in

an effort to increase sales for support division(s).

. Increased sales by 236%, quadrupling client groups in 18 months by

aligning plan administration resources with group client needs.

. Grew the independent agent sales force by 30% through influential

presentations of information and parleyed with administration

training.

. Negotiated and tailored Service Level Agreements, in collaboration

with the legal department, resulting in the increase of semi-exclusive

managing firm's partnerships by 47%.

. Increased client groups for 2009 by 19% through the approval to

acquire competitor TPA groups.

. Reduced travel budget by $73,000 for 2009 by strategically aligning

existing and prospective client meetings.

. Collaborated with IT to design collective reporting that resulted in

33% fewer reports while increasing management's understanding of how

business units can better partner together.

Meridian Global Marketing & Business Solutions, Inc., Union, KY 1997-

2008

Senior Consultant/Owner

Innovative entrepreneur motivated by the opportunity to provide marketing

and business solutions through consultative efforts on projects acquired

through networking and client recommendations.

. Procter & Gamble - teamed with R & D in the "Pamper division"

resulting in improved fitting diapers and "ThermaCare" products.

Advanced 3-D design achieved through the application of engineering

specifications utilizing Asame CAD software. Represented the chassis

design team at the I2000 trade show through the creation of large

scale collateral and computer animations. The exposure greatly

increased awareness across all R & D global business units with regard

to the capabilities of the chassis design team and the Asame software.

. YourEncore - designed marketing presentation to the Wright Patterson

Air Force base displaying the Small Business Innovation Research grant

proposals. Generated market research that determined the feasibility

and viability of specific anti- defense mechanisms. Created the

commercialization pieces embedded within the SBIR grant proposals.

. A2T2 - partnered with the scientific research team to write

commercialization pieces incorporated with the Small Business

Innovation Research grant proposals targeted for the Department of

Defense and the National Institute of Health. Commercialization pieces

were created for the promotion of anti-defense mechanisms in addition

to medical devices for those suffering from post traumatic stress, and

brain injuries.

. The City of Union Kentucky - appointed the marketing executive for the

Union Town Plan Committee with key responsibilities in strategic

marketing planning and designing collaboratively with the KZF

architectural firm. The resulting marketing brochure was presented to

more than 200 key commercial developers across the US as outlined in

the newly marketing plan.

. Nor-Com - management and design of a large scale design project for

yearly trade show in Chicago resulting in the increase of booth foot

traffic by 56%.

BP Chemicals, Florence, KY, Accounts Payable Supervisor 1991 - 1993

Krauss Maffei, Florence, KY, Accounts Payable Specialist 1990 - 1991

Mazak Corporation, Florence, KY, Accounts Payable Clerk 1988 - 1990

SUPPORTIVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Energetic mentor endowed with the opportunity to touch the lives of

business and design students through presenting the latest concepts

relative to marketing, management and design trends.

. Based upon course objectives, develop syllabi and course materials,

motivating students into subject specific thought provocation and peer

interaction.

. Incorporated new age teaching tools including virtual black board

allowing interactive "e-learning".

. Created testing materials and/or rubric as a means for course

evaluation and student understanding of materials.

. Utilized hands-on teaching through project assignment requiring the

output to be a group presentation and when appropriate, an individual

progressive portfolio piece.

Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 2006 - Present

College of Marketing and Management

Adjunct Part-time Professor

EDUCATION

MBA, Thomas More College, Edgewood, KY, 2005

Concentration: Marketing and Management

BA, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY, 1997

Major: Graphic Design and Marketing

AFFILIATIONS

Florence/Union Small Business People Working Cooperatively

Organization

Honorary Kentucky Colonel Northern Kentucky Habitat for

Humanity

Covington Partners in Prevention Delta Epsilon Sigma (Academic

(Mentoring at risk children) Honorary)

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