Karen DeMarino

Creative Marketing Professional

Richmond, VA 23235

adajvr@r.postjobfree.com

804-***-****

Accomplished creative director and marketing professional specializing in creating, executing and evaluating marketing campaigns across all platforms and channels. Expert in planning, managing and implementing highly effective communications programs and marketing brand strategy. Proven ability to advise, mentor and influence team members and cross-functional leaders ensuring brand standards, advertising campaigns and marketing programs are effectively communicating best practices and corporate goals to the target audience. Achieve superior client satisfaction through resourceful account management, understanding of current media trends and technology, attention to detail, and measuring/reporting marketing analytics. Experienced in business-to-business, client, agency, and media relations. Proficient working with Adobe Creative and Microsoft Office software systems for Mac and PC platforms.

Authorized to work in the US for any employer

Work Experience

Senior Producer

Ampa Events - Richmond, VA

May 2019 to Present

Responsible for developing new business opportunities using a total solutions approach to client event needs including event design, rental furniture, designer bars, lighting, stage sets, themed décor, scenery, AV, entertainment, catering, etc. Pursue business and networking opportunities, develop and maintain contacts within a variety of professional, corporate, and educational industries, law firms, federal agencies, private venues, hotel brands, and museums. Work directly with clients and venders to create and provide event solutions for educational fundraising events, corporate meetings, seminars, new product launches, holiday parties, networking opportunities, partner meetings, etc. Write, design and present detailed proposals, providing event design options and costs for entire experience. Maintain client database using a custom content management system, or CMS version of FileMaker designed specifically for Ampa that includes a point and click inventory database. Assure quality products and professional service is provided throughout the client engagement. Initiated trade of services for marketing and advertising opportunities. Participate and attend industry association events for marketing and business development. Report daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly results, verbally and written.

Results

Within first month of employment, created new client relationship and executed a signed contract for a large law firm partner event, budget in excess of $250,000.00 for 325 people. Negotiated venue space, specialty catering, unique entertainment, light and sound design, branded decor design, floor plan design for three break out spaces. Confirmed three additional future event proposals with same client. Within first month of employment, negotiated a trade of services with DC Luxury online and print magazine valued at $8k for two months of marketing and online presence for Ampa in exchange for the use of Ampa designer lounge furniture

for the grand opening of the Gaslight District of Luxury Homes private event. To date, developed new client lists and initiated communications for future business with over 800 companies and 2600 individual contacts, including direct line phone numbers and email addresses. Wrote 23 proposals, seven signed contracts and currently developing new relationships based on knowledge of published annual events.

Caregiver for my father

Richmond, VA

December 2017 to February 2019

Paused my career to take care of my ailing father, and moved him into our home. Responsible for providing tender loving care, medication management, doctor visits, monitor vital signs and diabetic blood testing, daily memory testing, nutrition, housing, entertainment, and transportation. Incredibly rewarding moment in time, beyond words.

Marketing Director

Diocese of Richmond - Richmond, VA

February 2013 to December 2017

Marketing Director for the Office of Catholic Schools (OCS), and Offices of Development and Communications.

Responsible for planning, development and implementation of strategic marketing communications programs designed to increase school admissions, promote tuition assistance programs, and raise brand awareness through cross-channel communications for 29, pre-k through 12th grade Catholic schools within Virginia. Provide strategic direction and mentoring to individual school directors of marketing, admissions and development ensuring marketing plans are consistent with brand standards and communicate mission, vision and strategic goals to the target audience. Directly engage with theSuperintendent of Schools, Bishop, school principals, senior management, and the media. Writes, designs and implements

effective social media presence, print and digital advertising content, interprets complex issues and presents them effectively while achieving high standards of productivity and timeliness under strict deadlines within tight budgets. Measures, tracks and reports the results of marketing communication efforts to all key stakeholders.

Results

Increased Office of Catholic Schools' website and social media traffic by 516%, and individual school's website and social media traffic by 2,842% within the first week of launching media-wide campaign

"Catholic School is Cool" and "Why My School is Cool" cross-channel branding and media blitz with new TV and radio commercials, measuring and tracking ROI using Google Analytics. Created design and strategy for Catholic Community Foundation's ad campaign promoting the experience of philanthropy through socially responsible investments in permanent endowment trusts and successfully generated three calls, a $10,000

donation, and an estate endowment the first day the new ad ran in the Catholic Virginian publication. Collaborated with Segura Initiative Program Director and through strategic marketing communications campaign, increased Latino student enrollment from 9 to 389 new students within three years. Increased traffic on OCS Facebook page from 6 to 1,237 followers, and Twitter social media site from 0 to 534 followers within first week of hire.

Increased enrollment by 2-3% annually and generated a higher rate of requests for school tours and admissions packages, traffic to websites and social media sites, and increased traffic to sports and fundraising events while managing, analyzing data, and recommending targeted solutions to individual diocesan schools based on annual needs assessment. Creative Director

Brand Facilitators - Richmond, VA

September 2003 to December 2013

Demonstrate success leading and managing high performance creative teams by delivering innovative, results-orient- ed marketing solutions, communications programs, graphic design, copy writing, editing, and media buying that exceed client expectations, provide a strong value proposition in a competitive landscape, and meet brand standards and best practices. Track record of success in directing key marketing and advertising initiatives from inception through completion and ensuring all projects are delivered within stringent deadlines and budgets for local and global clientele. Outstanding communicator and valued contributor who selects best channels, messages, stories, and media for generating brand awareness and sales leads by consulting, acquiring commercial meetings, assessing client needs, and closing new business. Main markets include; technology, health care, finance, non-profits and government.

Results

Increased clinical trial donation revenue of unrestricted funds from $150,000 to $600,000 within two years for VCU Massey Cancer Center's strategically targeted Massey Club direct mail campaign. Generated list of 46 interested prospects with follow-up calls signing 11 new customers in less than two months for Omniplanar, an image processing software company, through value proposition development, technical sales support materials, product capabilities brochures and exhibit graphics themed, "When Every Millisecond Counts" for the AIIM Trade show and Conference. Directed, designed and produced award-winning annual reports for Old Dominion Electric Cooperative for sixteen consecutive years.

Produced high quality creative solutions for clientele based on 95% referrals, lead all business development initiatives, provided creative direction and leadership with strong work ethic, and managed hundreds of projects delivering results on time and within budget while owning brand marketing firm.

Maximized resources and partnerships to improve cost-benefit relationships leading to substantial increase in project volume, clientele, and revenue by 10 - 25% each year over 10 years. Consistently exceeded client expectations by efficiently delivering successfully targeted brand and marketing communications materials, over a wide range of media and industries, for 20 consecutive years and throughout two company ownerships.

Vice President & Creative Director

RoKa Inc - Richmond, VA

September 1993 to September 2003

Responsible for providing creative visual solutions and managing the creative process through hiring, subcontracting or mentoring high performance creative teams, writing marketing plans, proposals, creative briefs and advertising content, creating and delivering client presentations, budgeting, estimating, editing, strategic design and copy writing. Emphasis placed in the development of identity and brand campaigns, direct mail, and annual reports. Develop sales strategies and creative content to support client retention, new business generation and increase brand awareness for company services. Results

Awarded "Best Branding Campaign" at Comms-Live European Conference in Monte Carlo, Monaco

- 'No Borders. No Barriers. No Limits.' for Viatel, a telecommunications company providing services throughout North America and Western Europe, and followup studies conducted by Fortune magazine showed the advertisements scoring significantly higher than average awareness among readers with a 60% recall rate and a 50% read rate.

Achieved a 300% increase in traffic to trade show booth, product inquiries, scheduled meetings and closed sales for Tredegar Film Products at the Non-Wovens Industry trade show in Miami, Florida by developing a new brand campaign that included

direct mail, industry publications and tradeshow program ads, two videos, booth graphics, and product and sales literature.

Achieved awards of excellence, medals, and awards of merit for designing a variety of client logos and/ or corporate advertising direct mail campaigns selected for several prestigious communications and advertising publications within 10 years.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications

University of Delaware - Newark, DE

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