Work

Over the past five years I have been rethinking everything about how we organize roles. I believe a work-life balance is key to both creative thinking and focused engagement, and ultimately leads to high performance. I also believe that if companies are willing to seek alternative hiring, they can find multiple, amazing, executive-level staff across multitudes of fields for the price of each do-it-all (expensive) exec.

There is a way for companies to get more from their spend, and a way for experienced people to find diversity in their roles. That’s why I started NEXT Fractional. Now I’m taking the concept of a fractional employee and shrinking it to the level of a focused conversation with Thing1. Read about them below…

Current Professional Roles


NEXT Fractional

Founder / Fractional Executive

October 2018 to current

NEXT Fractional executives are seasoned professionals who can lead both strategy and marketing execution. They offer the benefits of strategic consultants, but with a closer, integrated working relationship. Fractional executives are not full-time employees, but are embedded in senior executive teams with no long-term contract.

Ever since selling buyCalls, I had been considering starting a business that allows me and others to bring our very best to multiple companies simultaneously. Fractional CFOs had been around for a while, but there are other roles including marketing, business development and people management where this concept is still relatively unknown. 

I knew that as companies expand, it is extremely difficult to keep pace with all the roles that are needed–starting with executive leadership and including all of the various specialists required to skyrocket success. And it is expensive too!

I had built companies from the ground-up, built teams, and curated amazing talent–I and knew I could replicate this for multiple organizations–using only the percent of people that a company needed.

The first iteration of NEXT was just me… as a fractional executive. As it has progressed, we now have dozens of experts across various industries–delivering amazing results across a multitude of roles. And all at a fraction of the cost of full-time employees.

Thing1

Co-Founder

January 2019 to current

Find an expert. Be an expert. Thing1 provides access to a nearly endless list of expertise. Users pay for just the quick advice, info, or tips they need, when they need it. We call it micro consulting.

At NEXT I recognized quickly how not only were we able to perform at the same level as a full-time employee (at a fraction of the cost), but most-often, even better. NEXT staff isn’t engaged longer than needed which help us be keenly focused. How far can we take this?

Enter Thing1. Whereas NEXT focuses engagement on the critical roles when they are needed, in some instances even this is more than a person or company requires. Sometimes there is a need simply to speak to an expert for a little, to ask hard questions, find answers, and expand knowledge.

I had been in so many business situations where the expert needed wasn’t at the table… or even the company. Partnering with the former COO of Clearlink, Ty Christensen, Thing1 will solve this–bringing experts and advice seekers together in a marketplace that doesn’t yet exist. Set to launch in late 2021, Thing1’s motto is simple. Find an Expert. Be an Expert. Learn more and join us by by sharing (and monitoring) your expertise to the world!

Previous Professional Roles


Clearlink

SVP Business Development and Strategic Partnerships

January 2018 to October 2018

VP Partner Management

January 2016 to December 2017

As SVP-BizDev, I lead Clearlink’s efforts in the identification, evaluation, and structuring of partnerships. In addition, I represent Clearlink’s vision within its parent company, SYKES, interacting with current and prospective partners to evaluate new projects and leverage Clearlink’s capabilities.

Partnering with the world’s leading brands to create intelligent customer experiences, my role involves coordinating with both Clearlink and SYKES. Through 2017 & 2018 I spearheaded Clearlink’s first international partnership – overseeing expansion of sales, marketing, technology, legal and operations into the UK. The project established the framework and processes for additional expansion.

Prior to focusing on Business Development, I led the successful integration of buyCalls into Clealrink, merging the entire workforce, partnerships and platforms. Managing multiple in-house and remote teams, I was able to provide leadership and facilitate a team atmosphere with both new and existing employees.


buyCalls

Founder / President

October 2009 to October 2018

I started buyCalls with a focus on creating great relationships – with our partners and team. At buyCalls, our critical mission was to understand every nuance within our markets. With tens of thousands of ads running concurrently, we implemented a strong framework of reporting, analytics, and evaluation that – together with our nimble and responsive team – formed the cornerstone of our success.

In January, 2016, buyCalls was acquired by Clearlink – the premier digital and partner marketing company for the nation’s leading home service and insurance brands.

Achievements:

  • INC 500/5000 Recognition: 2013, 2014, 2015

Trident Marketing

Chief Marketing Officer

June 2011 to May 2014

Marketing and Business Consultant

August 2009 to June 2011

Director of Marketing / Business Development

April 2004 to August 2009

At Trident, I managed six media divisions and oversaw the marketing for multiple business units, leveraging marketing and technology to deliver profitable customer acquisition for owned and partnered brands. One owned brand, DirectSatTV was a nationally recognized dealership for DIRECTV with annual sales exceeding 60,000 satellite systems. Additionally, I successfully established long-term partnerships with national brands including ADT and ViaSat.


Meridian Kiosks

Founder / Director of Marketing

June 1998 to April 2004

At Meridian I created, structured and directed a nationally recognized program for sales and distribution of interactive kiosk systems.

Leading one of the largest kiosk roll-outs to date, I collaborated between engineering, manufacturing and logistics with a 99.998% successful installation rate, and produced $173 in sales for every $1 of marketing investment.


Travel Resorts of America

Marketing Manager

June 1995 to June 1998

At Travel Resorts of America I successfully diversified marketing to include direct mail, affiliate and digital marketing. In addition to launching new campaigns, I oversaw the development of Travel Resorts’ website and online reservation system. During this period, Travel Resorts experienced a 6x increase in qualified opportunities.


Education


UNC Kenan Flagler

Master Business Administration (UNC Kenan Flagler)

Graduated 2016

  • Honors:
    • Business/Management Communication
    • Consulting
    • Corporate Strategy
    • Managing Innovation & Performance in Organizations
    • Negotiations
    • Project Management
    • Services Marketing
  • UNC Kenan-Flagler Leadership Initiative

University of St. Thomas

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Marketing Management

Graduated 1994

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Business Communication

Graduated 1994

  • Vice President, St. Paul Chapter of American Advertising Federation
  • Awarded for establishing new student publication funded through advertising revenue
  • Chosen by Dean to represent University on Judiciary Board
  • Alpha Delta Sigma Honorary Society
  • Dean’s List 1991, 1993, 1994