VP of Marketing

Andrew H. Wheeler

*** ***** ********* ****** ********, Illinois 60901

815-***-**** *****************@*****.*** https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhamiltonwheeler

SUMMARY

A highly innovative marketing executive with extensive experience in new product development, global marketing strategy, digital marketing campaigns, presentations/proposals, union contract negotiations, consumer market research/trends, customized projects, change management, process improvement, client relationship management, profit and loss (P&L) management, organizational leadership, and team development. A creative and results-driven producer with a background in B2B and B2C marketing and sales, operations, global regulatory compliance, business development, and multicultural internal and external stakeholder relationships. A champion of corporate social responsibility who fosters sustainable industry best practices.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Strategic Thinking and Planning: A forward thinker who created a high-powered global marketing organization from the ground up, with a lead role in overall corporate strategic processes. Led creation of entire differentiated brand strategy platform for 12 current company brands, new brands pre-launch, as well as unique voice/markets in U.S., E.U., Americas, Australia, and Asia.

Public Relations and Media Management: Initiated, recruited, staffed, and mentored PR department within marketing. Led all community, company, industry, media, and governmental relations. Possesses strong working relationships with government in Illinois, Indiana, and Washington D.C. Expert-level experience in media management and PR in food, functional food, beverage, pet, and supplement markets. Skilled spokesperson and crisis manager, who co-managed the internal and external COVID-19 messaging for the companies,.

Competitive Analysis: Developed executable strategy that turned an informal, qualitative approach to competitors into a data-driven and highly organized process of supporting current company products as well as product development/research opportunities. Created targeted lists per product line for sales based on current products on the market and developed highly successful opportunity-driven presentations to customers based on their competitors and positioning.

Actionable Analytics and KPIs: Founded company's first analytics and KPI initiative. Identified actionable data and developed sales programs that drove revenue and impacted sales KPIs.

Presentations: Led all external, intra-company, and internal company communications and brand presentations. Professionalized C-suite presentations, company communications, client presentations/pitches, PR, and industry event/thought leadership opportunities, including trade shows and speaking engagements.

Negotiations: Led negotiations on strategic market alliances, contract negotiations (licensing and marketing services), health insurance for executive team, and all substantial marketing purchases (data, consultants).

Business Acumen and Financial Skills: Proven expertise in corporate and governmental budgeting, actions, and policies that impact EBITDA, benefits management, corporate purchasing (OEM and MRO), product development, TQM, systems management and integration, plant operations, quality, PR, government/media relations, international business, and regulatory environments. Reduced SG&A and COGS via multiple levers within and outside marketing department.

Product and Customer Knowledge: Developed metrics of customer and competitive products on market for actionable sales programs, customer pitches, product development, and internal training.

Customer Service: Established customer service mentality in corporate communications, plant visits, corporate chef/culinary efforts, as well as customer surveys and events. Improved existing business systems as well as websites/phone systems to enhance customer experience.

Product Development: Turned emotional, opinion approach to new product development into two-pronged roadmaps serving customer-driven and market-driven innovation. Restructured internal processes that pushed product development and innovation into fast-track, timely actions.

Broad-Based Skills: Brought valuable non-marketing skills to the C-suite team, including employee benefits, manufacturing, government relations, purchasing, TQM, sustainability, and corporate responsibility.

Leadership and Coaching: Proven ability to build and mentor a high-performing team. Developed individual and team training to work collaboratively. Transitioned under-performing employees into high-achieving contributors to the business. Excels at adapting strategies to change internal and external conditions, with a servant leader mentality.

Agile and Adaptive Leader: Deeply committed to lifelong learning, with ability to keep up with changing technologies and methodologies that keep companies on the front line of innovation and opportunity-driven revenue.

Business Development and Alignment: Achieved high-level success in sales and profitable product launch and managed product development through the entire life cycle.

EXPERIENCE

Van Drunen Farms/FutureCeuticals, Momence, Illinois

Vice President of Marketing, 2013-2020

Oversaw and managed all global marketing, including strategy development, market-driven innovation, P&L, claims and brand development/management, budgets, PR, corporate communications, training programs, market-driven data analytics, trade events, and all other processes that developed and drove strategy into execution. Built high-performing marketing team from ground-up. Member of executive leadership team.

Developed seven-figure annualized new business sales revenues each for four new and six existing brands.

Facilitated $3,500,000 reduction in manufacturing cost (outside department purview) and drove minimum 20% revenue growth for six consecutive years.

Created five new supplement ingredients outside of R&D, creating at least 34% annual growth for product categories.

Developed and launched ingredients/campaigns that led to three global ingredients award winners with continued revenue growth into year three and four.

Inserted marketing into corporate leadership team and as driver in R&D/clinical research process.

Recognized as first in the company to draft and execute budgets.

Developed claims review and substantiation process for company with regulatory/legal department.

Designed campaigns and ads that won readership scoring contests. Leveraged PR and trade publication content into heavily increased corporate and brand awareness.

Developed analytics program for company and quantified ROI on marketing across all platforms.

Created high-impact, agency-like customer presentation protocol, leading to revenue increases.

Designed unique trade show and booth experience that drove traffic and leads. Planned and executed highly desirable show events for industry and press partners.

CIBC of Illinois, Kankakee, Illinois

Director of eCommerce, 2010-2013

Directed all eCommerce initiatives and client-based technology solutions, custom benefits video for clients and employees, SEO and sales operations, and external relations with clients, government, academia and media. Designed and launched health insurance quote/sales platform as well as primary company website. Created and executed all ancillary marketing and SEO programs, op-ed article generation, social media planning and execution, as well as strategic partnerships. Developed and executed all other marketing for firm. SME of health insurance and employee benefits, produced all press releases as well as organized all company events. Managed media relationships and developed internal communications for clients. Employee benefits consultant for large public sector clients in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

Learned Affordable Care Act at inception page-by-page and taught businesses how to mitigate costs and comply.

Partnered with Illinois State Chamber of Commerce to hold training across Illinois to identify client savings while providing peace of mind via compliance with law.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Small Newspaper Group, Inc., Kankakee, Illinois, Associate Publisher, Managing Editor, 2003-2010. Founded two respected and profitable business-to-business publications and Spanish-language monthly newspaper. Oversaw all aspects of publishing, including content production/contracting, design, marketing, H/R, sales and strategic planning. Managed entire publishing process, including sales and other staff necessary to produce and distribute publications. Represented parent company on regional boards and as member of editorial board of The Daily Journal in Kankakee, IL. Turned profit from day one on all new publications and grew niche publications by 17% minimum year-over-year for entire tenure.

Applied Industrial Technologies, Cleveland, Ohio, Branch Manager, Account Manager, 1995-2003. Managed clients and branches of industrial engineered sales and distributorships in Rockford, Crestwood, Burr Ridge, and Bradley, Illinois. Directed all sales, engineering, inventory, HR, ISO, training, integrated supply initiatives, and all other aspects of managing power transmission distributorship. InSync National Salesman of the Year in 2002 per company program.

Berry Bearing Company, (Bourbonnais, IL), Operations Manager, 1992-1995.

Pilot Battery Company, (Kankakee, IL), Production Manager, 1990-1992.

EDUCATION

Governors State University, (University Park, IL)

M.A., Media Communications and Training, 2010

B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies/Journalism, 2009

CIVIC LEADERSHIP

Kankakee County Board, Kankakee, Illinois, Chairman, 2012-2020. Turned $15,000,000 deficit into $3,000,000 surplus in three years through financial planning, operational management and mutually beneficial contract negotiations. Completely changed the entire culture as the CEO of a 600+ employee unit of government. Built and maintained Federal, State, Interstate, and Local governmental bi-partisan relationships. Member of many community and government boards and economic development organizations.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, CRM, HTML, Mintel GNPD, Google AdWords, Hootsuite

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