Business Development Personal Assistant

Melissa Leuzinger

EDUCATION

Rockford University - Rockford, IL 2001

Master of Business Administration in Business Marketing Rockford University - Rockford, IL 1995

Bachelor’s Degree, B.S.in Economics

Loyola – Chicago, IL 2018

Paralegal Certificate – ABA Approved (Litigation)

SKILLS

• Microsoft Word

• Excel and PowerPoint

• Fireside

• Share-point

• Salesforce

• LexisNexis

• Westlaw

• Adobe Software

• Relativity

• TrackVia

• Business Development

• Banking

• B2B Sales

• Adobe Acrobat

• CRM Software

• Event Planning

• Product Management

• Product Development

• Branding

• Negotiation

• Executive/Personal Assistant Experience

• Pricing

WORK EXPERIENCE

State of Illinois - Rockford, IL Jan 2022 to Present Outreach & Legislative Assistant

• Outreach and Legislative Assistant to Senator Dave Syverson

• Leads, Organizes and Attends outreach events for office.

• Provides Constituent Services in the 35th District – State Level and Congressional Referrals Discover Financial Services - Rockford, IL Aug 2018 to Apr 2020 Regional Marketing / Field Solutions Representative

• Responsible for implementing business to business market penetration strategies for Discover Financial products for both local and regional banking marketplace.

• Worked in the Merchant Service Processing industry.

• Core responsibility: Conducted merchant site visits within respective footprint to gain acceptance and share Discover value story.

• Visited local merchants on a daily/weekly basis to educate on acceptance, place signage, terminal testing and/or remediate and convert merchants to accepting Discover

• Independent learner, organized, utilized by the ability to plan and prioritize an executive workload

• Maintained and built relationships with key clients and exhibited the ability to overcome obstacles

• Proficient at organizing priorities in order to work smart/efficiently

• The Face of Discover – Conducted myself in a professional manner and adhered to a professional dress code

• 80-100 small business visits per week

• Technical Skills/Soft Skills: Salesforce, MS Office Suite, Organization/Time Management, Strong communication skills with ability to influence others, Excellent customer service skills, Ability to problem solve/creative thinking skills, Work independently Brink's Incorporated - Rockford, IL Apr 2018 to Aug 2018 Logistics / Project Contractor

• Analyze, Review, Report, and Communicate to the Sales Team on Logistic Opportunities for them customers in Rockford and in the United States.

• Daily Management of Tracking and Proximity Software.

• Worked with the National Product Manager.

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP - Janesville, WI Feb 2018 to Mar 2018 Tax Associate/Preparer

• Enter Client Data into Tax Prep Software.

• Prepare tax returns in accordance with firm policies,

• Adhere to the firm's written tax practice standards and the firm's 1040 procedure manual.

• Ensure client confidentiality by following all the company's procedures regarding information handling.

• Adobe Acrobat experience and knowledge of basic accounting concepts involving preparation of the tax return, utilizing new technology and a paperless environment.

• Accuracy and attention to detailed tax returns.

• Requiring critical thinking skills as well as well-developed problem-solving skills, and the ability to work independently.

Self-Employed Contractor - Rockford, IL Aug 2017 to Dec 2017 Contractor - Philanthropic Project

• Conducted research, held community meetings, and recommended a plan for a California church to pursue historic building status.

Quincy Media - Rockford, IL Mar 2017 to Aug 2017

Account Executive/New Local Business

• Consistent performer in media and advertising sales

• Researched prospective clients, delivered sales presentations, and followed up on calls Gannett - Rockford, IL Dec 2016 to Feb 2017

Account Executive/New Media

• Developed relationships with prospective new business accounts

• Sold advertising and educated business owners on value of advertising to bottom line BMO Harris Bank - Chicago, IL Jul 2016 to Oct 2016 Executive Assistant

• Managed schedule for busy regional vice-president, and coordinated large meeting events

• Created weekly newsletter and posted on social media Rock County Human Services - Janesville, WI Nov 2015 to Apr 2016 Temporary Grant Project

• Compiled confidential information into health services survey using Excel.

• Interviewed Child Protection Services workers to obtain survey data. Cornerstone - Freeport, IL Aug 2014 to Nov 2015

Business Services Officer

• Identified new business and loan opportunities for up to $3MM, and negotiated terms

• Managed existing consumer and small business relationships Bank of America - Chicago, IL Nov 2011 to May 2013 Vice President, Small Business Banker

• Prospected to small business owners with sales $0-5MM

• Developed new relationships in Rockford, South Beloit, McHenry, Fox Lake

• Collected loan information for CRE, lines of credit, and SBA Loans Fifth Third Bank - Chicago, IL Jan 2011 to Nov 2011 Small Business Banker

• Managed existing relationships for small deposit accounts and small business/SBA loans.

• Opened new small business accounts for members and collected information for loans.

• Sold ancillary products such as business credit cards, merchant services and payroll services. Commercial Real Estate Broker, Licensed Independent Broker 2004 to 2011 Leased

• Purchased and sold commercial properties to local developers and individuals.

• Worked with land purchasers to develop large parcels into retail establishments.

• Attended ICSC retail trade shows and took the introductory CCIM course study. UTC Aerospace Systems - Rockford, IL 1988 to 2003

Contracts Specialist, Contracts Administration

• Contracts Administration for Regional Jets and Exclusive Account in Aftermarket Embraer

• Contracts Administrator for Business Jet Customer Gulfstream and travelled to Wichita, KS

• Trained customer in Sao Paulo Brazil on our electronic ordering system

• Received many awards for teamwork regarding customer expectations.

• Management and administration of customer contracts, and purchase orders, for commercial aircraft platforms.

• Extensive internal interface with various support organizations within Sundstrand Aerospace.

• Focal point for customer communications regarding spares activity, acting as a direct representative for UTC Aerospace Systems.

• Various levels of customer service-related responsibilities, including opening accounts, maintaining records, and resolving product and service problems.

• Generate and analyze reports to ensure that specific customer requirements and contracts are being fulfilled.

• Propose and implement process improvements to enhance department function and performance.

• High degree of proficiency with the most recent versions of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

• Digest large amounts of data quickly, while dealing with ambiguity, to provide the best win-win solutions.

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills that allow one to proactively anticipate requirements and potential problems

• Excellent interpersonal organizational skills.

• Self-starter who is resourceful and takes initiative.

• Capable of working efficiently and

• effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and autonomously.

• Enthusiastic with a positive outlook and possess a “can-do” work ethic.

• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with customers and leadership.

• Travel, as required, to provide direct customer support (less than 10%).

Contact this candidate