VP, Marketing and Technology Initiatives

Posted on: 2008-02-16

Fran S. Simon 9609 Windcroft Way * Potomac, Maryland 20854 Home: (301) 294-9609 * Cell: 301-351-1388 E-mail: [email protected] Summary Unique blend of versatile skills including marketing strategy, technology product development, and relationship management - combined with solid business management experience and the vision and drive to develop new market opportunities. • Broad marketing experience including e-marketing, e-commerce, direct marketing, brand development, product management, and marketing strategy • Continuous record of delivering revolutionary and successful products through nothing less than on-time, on-budget, on-quality product and project management • Proven record of efficiency and creativity that results in exceptional revenue growth • Demonstrated entrepreneurial vision and acumen • Compelling presenter in training, marketing and corporate settings • Dynamic company and community leader dedicated to a strengths-based approach to investing in strong relationships with staff, vendors, and customers • Collaborative and creative team-builder, team player, and contributor Professional Experience Teaching Strategies, Inc. Washington, DC 2000-present Established in 1988, Teaching Strategies, Inc. is a world-renowned educational publisher that delivers market leading early childhood curricula, assessment systems, and related materials. This privately held company employs 75 staff members in Washington, DC, Baton Rouge Louisiana, Hillsboro, NC, and Philadelphia, PA Vice President, Special Projects, 2008 - present Member of the Executive Management Team responsible for corporate oversight and development of strategy for new product lines • Research, evaluate, and propose new product lines that incorporate the complete range of TSI’s technology, print, and professional development products. • Operationalize requirements and specifications gathered from departments throughout the company to deliver innovative and dynamic product suites that open new markets and deliver recurring revenue. • Develop strategic partnerships. • Plan new product launches. • Establish pricing, and comprehensive marketing strategies Vice President, Marketing and Technology Initiatives, 2007 – 2008 Member of the Executive Management Team responsible for oversight and strategic direction for the Technology Initiatives and Marketing Departments. Report to the CEO. • Provide comprehensive strategic direction for marketing activities, new initiatives, business development opportunities and technology product development • Oversight of an ASP business unit with revenues of $4.5M • Direct a Marketing department with an operating budget of $2M • Responsible for corporate and product branding, online marketing, e-commerce web system, direct marketing, advertising, and distribution. • Managed distributor relationships • Brokered and established a vigorous corporate sponsorship program that propelled the company to visibility alongside multi-national corporate giants in the publishing industry • Supervision of 15 staff members in two departments Director of Technology Initiatives, 2002- March, 2007 Develop, direct, and manage a dynamic business unit responsible for delivering best-in-class technology products to subscribers across the diverse early childhood market space. Responsible for delivering and managing an award-winning, highly successful, multi-module ASP model subscription service to state, district, and local educational institutions, government agencies, non-profit agencies, and child care providers. Member of the Senior Management Team. Reported directly to the CEO. • ASP unit, CreativeCurriculum.net launched 2001: • Directed and managed $1.5M redesign, re-engineering, and re-launch 2003 • Established and supervised the implementation of customer-centric sales, account management, implementation, and technical training systems • Grew revenue from $25,000 to $4.5M in six years • Recruit, hire, manage, train, and supervise a team of 8 staff members, a team of multi-media development subcontractors, a team of Help Desk subcontractors • Sales and marketing strategy, product management and branding, and business development • Technology product management, project management, and direction of technology development • Develop the company’s integrated web-based business management system that includes an intranet, multiple integrated databases, accounting systems, CRM, ordering systems, and CMS • IMPACT Sales System training • Plan and manage department budgets. Marketing Communications Manager, 2001- 2002 Implementation and management of e-commerce, e-marketing, web site development, customer service, marketing materials, exhibit management, and presentations for all products and services across departments. • Managed the redevelopment and design of the company’s web site • Managed the development of online systems • Managed a department of 4 internal Customer Service representatives and a team of 4 web site subcontractors. • Directed the development of a Visual Basic desktop child assessment application with a subcontractor • Managed the marketing, development, and business operations for our newly established ASP unit, CreativeCurriculum.net in collaboration with a corporate business partner. • Managed web content, wrote marketing and advertising copy and designed print collateral. Marketing Coordinator and Web Editor, 2000- 2001 Responsible for website content management and e-mail marketing newsletter. All Saints\' All Day, Inc. Chevy Chase, Maryland 1986-2000 All Saints’ All Day (now operating under the corporate name, Wonders Child Care) is a multi-site child care organization that operated 6 child care centers in Montgomery County, Maryland. Wonders now operates 13 centers.) Director of Resources and Development, 1995-2000 Executive level team member. Reported directly to Executive Director. Lead an Management team of 12 that served 480 clients at 6 sites. Associate Director/ Educational Program Coordinator, 1987 – 1995 Reported directly with Executive Director. Responsible for direct supervision and training of 53 teaching staff members and 5 administrative staff members. Program Director, 1986 - 1987 Responsible for supervision of 5 staff members and operation of one program that served 80 clients. Teaching positions at American University Child Development Center, Westmoreland Children’s Center, and Montgomery County Public Schools 1982-1986 Technology Proficiencies Highly proficient with all office suite, various database applications, proprietary CRM and CMS systems, web design, photo-editing, page layout and design applications. Managed Internet development projects with developers who use ColdFusion and SQL. Presentations • Regular presenter on topics associated with educational technology for The National Association for The Education of Young Children from 2005-2007: o Annual Conference o Professional Development Institute • Leadership Connections, hosted by the Early Childhood Leadership Center at National Louis University, 2008 Professional Affiliations • Direct Marketing Association • Women in Technology International • National Association for The Education of Young Children o Executive Committee for the Technology and Young Children Interest Forum 2001-2007 o Vice President: Technology Resource Room, Technology and Young Children Interest Forum 2005 -2007 • International Society for Technology in Education • DC Web Women Professional Development • The Center for Creative Leadership o Completion of The Looking Glass Experience, October 2007 • IMPACT Sales Training • DMA workshops and conferences from 2000-2007 • Publisher’s Marketing Association and BookExpo 2000 and 2001 • EdNet, 2006 Community Activities Experience serving on the Board of Directors of a child care organization and 2 adoption agencies, volunteer experience in hands on positions in Montgomery County Public Schools, and Team Leader of a Silver level winning team in the ThinkQuest Youth Internet Competition in 2000. Education Masters of Education University of Maryland BA, Education, Cum Laude American University