Business Development, Marketing, Strategic Relations Executive
Resume:
LAURA LEE WALKO
URL: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraleewalko/
*************@*****.***
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MARKETING STRATEGIC RELATIONS EXECUTIVE
Leader in National & International, Commercial & Government Relations Linking People, Organizations & Strategic Objectives through Communication Visionary, Diverse, Responsive, Diplomatic & Articulate
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Certified in Microsoft Office programs; 5 Steps to Visual Identification certification course, Brady Corporation; Food Safety and Handling certification; Certified OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard-general industry; Certified DOT Hazmat Transportation
Proficient in Lean Process, 6 SIGMA, SMART theory, Project Management, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems(Enterprise Software) and web based and social media programs
Member of ‘Strategic Deployment’ Lean process team, Brady Corporation, EU
Completed 3 levels of achieveglobal®, Professional Selling Skills courses
USAID Monitoring & Evaluation course, MENTOR, U of NC
Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Leadership and Information Assurance Training - US DOD
Legal Aspects of Joint Operations Course - USDOD
Current ‘Secret’ clearance - USDOD
Degree in Marketing Management - Phi Theta Kappa, All USA Academic Team; Indian River State College
Graduate of LandMark Education, Self-Expression & Leadership Program; Communication: Access to Power; Communication: Performance and Power; Curriculum for Living, and numerous professional development courses
STRATEGIC PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS
Recipient US Commander’s Joint Chief of Staff, Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award (JMCSA)
Facilitated and managed Key Leader Engagements between 1, 2 and 3 Star International Military Generals and Minister and Deputy Ministers of International Governments
Advised International Government legal and technical team in drafting regulations to include internationally recognized standards with a goal of facilitating acceptance into the global community
Key member of Agriculture Policy Working Group transition team comprised of USAID, USDA, International Organizations, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan Ministries
Analyzed and updated NATO, Congressional and US DOD quarterly and annual reports over 1.5 years
Authored point papers, policies, progress reports and presentations for international Governments
Conceptualized and disbursed monthly ‘Development Newsletter’ to engage stakeholders from 48 nations
Planned and successfully executed numerous humanitarian and business operations including marketing of business cooperatives, facilitating medical care and women’s volleyball tournaments, and cross functional engagement within local communities and international business partners
Chair of the South Patrick Residents Association Community Relations & Events Committee
Member of Brevard Zoo’s Women of the Wild
Board member of Space Coast Girls on the Run, Managing Marketing, Branding & Partnerships
WORK EXPERIENCE
Executive Director Business Development, Communications, Marketing & Business Relations
VALKOVAcreatives
Melbourne, FL, USA
2009 - Current (part time)
Support clients in developing project strategies, proposals, summaries and mentoring programs.
Review, assess, and develop new business and marketing campaign programs through full life cycle.
Develop visionary training, branding and collateral materials, and strategic planning for long term financial stability.
Manage trade shows and marketing events including all creative aspects of booths, strategies and presentations. Laura Lee Walko *************@*****.*** Page 2 of 3
Assist clients in closely coordinating with web designers to build web sites, landing pages and web based brand and economic development.
Chief (Director) of Agriculture Development & Cultural Adviser for Civilian Military Interaction Group
US Department of Defense/NATO Civilian
Kabul, AF
2012 - 2013
Embedded in NATO/Headquarters International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
Engaged with and facilitated collaboration between partners, ISAF, Afghan Ministries and international economic development donors to encourage support of strategic programs between all stakeholders, thus ensuring innovative solutions and consensus of priorities.
Mentor and advocate for Private Sector Development Directorate on enhancing business development, implementing a strategic marketing plan, enticing regional business investment and escalating the bi-annual AG Fair and Family Festivals to reach farmers from 34 provinces. Collaborated international business development and marketing support for 5 Regional and Women’s Cooperatives in coordination with Afghan Ministries Deputy Ministers and numerous Program Directors. This initiative helped expand depth and breadth of existing relationships to gain strategic positioning as well as retain existing business through grants, increasing product visibility and supporting the value chain.
Key member of USAID transition team, international liaison with Afghan Ministries and facilitator of bilateral cooperation and communication between ISAF and Afghan Ministries. This action evolved into AG Policy Working Group (APWG) assimilating the project of writing transition procedures for Ministries, which evolved into Ministries taking the lead in writing procedures with guidance from the APWG. The framework was approved by the Minister and is now implemented in support of US Government, prime contractors and foreign clients.
Continuous collaboration with international military and regional development advisers from 48 nations to coordinate with Afghan HR department, Minister and ISAF in addressing provincial staffing, training and gender issues in 368 districts, by request from Provincial and District Governors, and to clarify Afghan Ministry funding and budgeting questions. My inquiries instigated the Afghan Ministry’s HR Director to start an investigation, which resulted in coordination with the Ministry of Interior to resolve provincial issues.
Principle link of ISAF Commander for communication, exchange and interaction processes between high-level military, local and International Governmental and diplomatic authorities; and key ISAF representative in meetings, conferences and training programs with DOD and 32 governments, thus establishing long term customer relationships relations and coordination of long-term strategic objectives.
Engagement with Ministers, Private Board of Directors, Non-Government Organizations and Afghan Government staff to initiate campaigns to end corruption starting with private sector business owners proving transparency, and then challenging other business owners, then the AF Gov to show their transparency to all.
Business Development, Management, Marketing & Agriculture Project Adviser USAID Civilian Technical Adviser Program
Kabul, AF
2011 - 2012
Embedded in Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL)
Supported the office of His Excellency Minister on international, economic & business development, program management & coordination via speech writing, and sensitive document analysis and composition. This ensured decisive and diplomatic messages for all outputs and conveyed a consistent proprietary message to all stakeholders, which aligned with the reporting requirements of donor programs and of the Parliament of Afghanistan.
Mentored HR Directorate and Organizational Development team in preparing the ‘Capacity Building for Results (CBR) Application’, then the follow on ‘CBR Proposal’ for submission to the Ministry of Finance. MAIL’s CBR proposal was officially accepted and was told the reason their application and proposal were accepted at the highest level was due to the professional content, appearance and presentation of both the application and proposals. With my suggestion, MAIL will use CBR funds to continue training programs in 34 provinces affecting 2748 employees supported under the HR Directorate.
Drove partnerships through executive relationships with Chief Counselors, Country Directors, Team Leads and Chief of Parties for 14 donor agencies, 13 implementing partners and the international community. Also engaged with and facilitated collaboration between MAIL and numerous donors to encourage linkages to Afghan priorities and strategic objectives, and generate revenue opportunities.
Facilitated inter-organizational knowledge management & business development collaboration between Ministries, 27 international donor and partner organizations, NATO and United Nations Organizations to identify opportunities for regional synergism, cost savings and enhanced global practices; and to review and assess programs to identify strengths, weaknesses and causes of ineffectiveness and write process improvement plans.
Assisted to increase the business management capacity of the staff and to enforce Change Management Program, develop pricing and positioning strategies, gain understanding of export compliance requirements, and coordination and communication to all internal and external stakeholders. Mentored directorate staff of 120 on continuous improvement of formal and informal business practices and communications in order to improve ability to engage in business development with regional and international business partners.
Mentored 22 member female intern business support group to encourage, bolster and train young female interns to Laura Lee Walko *************@*****.*** Page 3 of 3 be professional business women and to build their careers within the modern business world.
Worked in and lived on the local economy in Kabul, AF for 13 months, being completely entrenched in local culture, customs and social knowledge.
Northern UK, Key Accounts and Business Development Manager Manchester, UK; Western USA Regional National Accounts and Business Development Manager; and Western USA Region Strategic Distribution Manager San Francisco, CA, USA
Brady Corporation - European & American Divisions
Milwaukee, WI, USA
2001 - 2008
Established long term customer relationships & partner channels with key decision makers that encompassed the full business development life cycle of prospecting, networking, opportunity identification, qualification, strategic positioning, and working cross functionally, yielding 112% Brady partner growth within region.
Expanded depth and breadth of existing client relationships to gain strategic positioning as well as retain existing business with Grainger and end users including US DOD, Hilton, Boeing, Clorox & GE.
Trained and mentored 1000’s of partner support staff in technology, knowledge of Government regulations, policy and planning, plus conducted certification courses for process industries, hospitality and DOD participants.
Assisted with the definition of marketing programs for demand creation and lead generation, helped determine market priorities, go-to-market strategy and the capture strategy models for upgrade strategies and program improvements; participated in trade organizations, spoke at seminars, conducted training and empowered sales partners by engaging them with industry leaders.
Assisted MRO & OEM partners by closely coordinating with and facilitated working with integrated industry drivers to improve productivity and profits, strengthen client partnerships to enhance corporate strategies & providing exceptional quality and service, which resulted in regional sales and market linkage of 125% of goal.
Business development adviser to 9 ‘cross functional’ sales & business development teams.
Customer advocate for all strategic distribution, B2B & B2C sales and training, including domestic, direct commercial sales, US Government and corporate accounts totaling $9.7M annually.
Traveled 70-90% within region and for events and to achieve successful levels of effectiveness and efficiency.
South Central USA Business Development & Sales Manager Ramsey Company (Butchers) Sturtevant, WI, USA
1996 - 2001
Senior member of a 5 person team hired by VP of Business Development to design B2B & B2C model for program development and long & short term strategies for the new national distribution channel of Ramsey. (Acquired by Diversey then Sealed Air, now dissolved)
Developed and managed channel and partner strategies with Grainger & MRO clients in Central USA.
Established superior client relationships to gain strategic positioning as well as retain long term customer relations.
Generated regional input and feedback to HQ and internal clients on strategic business development, policies, determination of market priorities, go-to-market strategy, capture strategy, planning and start up initiatives for the region which included 9 states, 52 branches, 3 business channels, 200 territory managers and 27 national sales managers of the primary MRO client, Grainger and managed the national Hospitality Sector.
Encompassed the full business development life cycle of prospecting, networking, opportunity identification, qualification & strategic positioning.
External adviser on 4 regional cross-functional teams designed to implement actions for capacity development and incentives for partners, which kept regional sales and market linkage growing at an average of 60% per year.
Executed Ramsey’s participation in national conferences and trade shows to build brand and product awareness.
Traveled 80% within region and for events and to achieve successful levels of effectiveness and efficiency.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NATO Medal for Support of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) USDOD Medal for Global War on Terrorism
‘President’s Value Award’ - Brady Corporation
‘Legion of Excellence’ three concurrent years - Brady Corporation Outstanding Sales Achievement ‘100% Club’ five consecutive years - Brady Corporation
‘Super Growth Award’ with sales over 125% of goal - Brady Corporation
‘Strategic Distribution Manager of the Year’ - Brady Corporation Regional Creative Merchandising Award - Diamond Company
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