Brad Ward

Current

• Chief Explosion Officer at BlueFuego
• Co-Founder at BlogHighEd.org

Past

• Electronic Communication Coordinator at Butler University
• Marketing and Recruitment Specialist at University of Illinois at Springfield
• Resident Assistant at University of Illinois at Springfield

• Marketing Intern at Design Ideas (Sole Proprietorship)

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Education

• Butler University - College of Business Administration
• University of Illinois at Springfield

Recommended

43 people have recommended Brad

Connections

441 connections

Industry

Higher Education

Websites

• My Blog
• My Website
• My Company

Brad Ward’s Summary

I'll let my recommendations [below] speak for me. I think you'll find them informative and valuable and show the level of experience and knowledge I possess and the type of worker I am.

I'm the Chief Explosion Officer at BlueFuego, a consulting agency that focuses on social web strategy and creative campaigns in Higher Education.

I love connecting with new people and sharing my experience and knowledge. I enjoy traveling and spending time with family!

Check us out at http://bluefuego.com.

If you'd like me to speak at your event, please visit http://www.bradjward.com/presenting for more information.

Visit my blog at http://www.squaredpeg.com.

Brad Ward’s Specialties:

See recommendations below.

Higher Education recruitment and marketing, Social Web Strategy, speaking and training on multiple topics (http://bluefuego.com/presentations) around the globe.

Brad Ward’s Experience

• Chief Explosion Officer

  BlueFuego

  (Privately Held; Higher Education industry)

  December 2008 — Present (1 year )

  BlueFuego is the hottest company in higher education marketing and recruitment consulting.
  
  We're helping schools achieve their goals using web-based/social media tools. Are you ready to ignite the Fuego at your insitution?
  
  http://www.bluefuego.com

• Co-Founder

  BlogHighEd.org

  (Higher Education industry)

  January 2008 — Present (1 year 11 months)

  Work on idea, conceptualization, marketing and maintenance of http://bloghighed.org, which aggregates the best blogs in higher education from all areas: webmasters, marketers, vendors, counselors, consultants, and more.
  
  The site is designed to bring a great amount of quality content together and provide a community atmosphere around it all. We are now approaching 500 RSS subscribers after three months and are featured on http://education.alltop.com.

• Electronic Communication Coordinator

  Butler University

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  June 2007 — January 2009 (1 year 8 months)

  • Developed social media recruitment plan.
  • Took the lead on using social media and electronic communication in recruiting new students for Butler.
  • Created and moderate Butler Bloggers and Butler Forums. Did hiring/selection of Bloggers each year.
  • Assisted with the strategy and implementation of communicating to high school students using email, web, blogs, online chats, and other forms of e-communication and social media.
  • Updated web content, supervised a student team, kept up-to-date on e-communication trends and suggested new ways to integrate print and electronic media.

• Marketing and Recruitment Specialist

  University of Illinois at Springfield

  (Government Agency; 501-1000 employees; Higher Education industry)

  February 2006 — May 2007 (1 year 4 months)

  • Create and develop web counterparts that are aligned with recruiting (print) materials (electronic viewbook, search and travel pieces, etc.)
  • Develop and maintain virtual and self guided, web-enabled campus tours.
  • Develop and monitor other electronic marketing formats such as podcasts, social networking, etc. that are aligned with recruitment efforts and strategies.
  • Coordinate with and assist admissions recruiters with virtual chat sessions.
  • Monitor new software products that are available to enhance web-delivered customized materials.
  • Periodically assess current students’ perceptions of print and web-based recruitment materials.
  • Develop and update stand-alone electronic media for student recruitment.
  • Photograph events and activities that serve to assist with promoting the image of the campus and student recruitment.
  • Assist with the development and maintenance of a database of electronic photos to be used and shared by selected UIS offices and units.

• Resident Assistant

  University of Illinois at Springfield

  (Government Agency; 11-50 employees; Higher Education industry)

  June 2003 — December 2005 (2 years 7 months)

  • Help to create a comfortable, safe, and educationally conducive living environment for the 220 students who live in Lincoln Residence Hall.
  • Was Resident Assistant for the specialized wing Healthy Lifestyles, a wing dedicated to students who wish to abstain from alcohol, smoking, and illegal substances during college.
  • Duties include making sure University rules and regulations are followed by residents, and organize educational as well as social programs to enhance their living experience.
  • Developed mediation and conflict resolution skills through training and two years experience.
  • Managed administrative tasks including room condition reports, maintenance requests, incident reports, and the room change process.
  • Confronted and resolved issues on diversity, racism, alcohol and drug abuse, academic performance and social acceptance.

• Marketing Intern

  Design Ideas (Sole Proprietorship)

  (Sole Proprietorship; 51-200 employees; Design industry)

  May 2005 — August 2005 (4 months)

  • Worked closely with the Director of Marketing and Sales on specialized programs that obtained data through product research and consumer surveys.
  • Created product positioning maps that allowed the company to forecast and budget the next fiscal year based on sales, product uniqueness, and product design.
  • Presented findings and research to the President and Board of Directors and answered questions pertaining to my work.

Brad Ward’s Education

• Butler University - College of Business Administration

  MBA , Marketing, Leadership , 2007 — 2009

• University of Illinois at Springfield

  Bachelors , Business Administration , 2002 — 2005

  Activities and Societies:

  • President, UIS Blue Crew, 08-03 to 11-05
  • Marketing Coordinator, UIS Springfest 2005
  • Webmaster, Christian Student Fellowship, 02-04 to 08-05
  • Executive Board Member, Housing Residents’ Council, 04-04 to 05-05
  • Director of Public Relations, UIS Student Government Association, 05-03 to 01-05

Additional Information

Brad Ward’s Websites:

• My Blog
• My Website
• My Company

Brad Ward’s Interests:

Spending time with my wife and dog, BlueFuego, photography, golfing, fishing, vacationing, and meeting new people.

Brad Ward’s Groups:

•    UIS Alumni
•    Education Marketing Professionals
•    Butler University MBA
•    Digital Communications Marketing in Higher Education
•    National Association for College Admissions Counseling Member Group
•    Higher Education Professionals
•    Higher Education Public Relations and Marketing Group
•    Higher Education Management Group
•    Higher Ed Financial Aid & Enrollment
•    The Hub for Education Professionals
•    Triiibes Members
•    Blog Indiana
•    Inside Higher Ed -- The New Conversation
•    Web 2.0 for Higher Education
•    Council for Advancement and Support of Education
•    Butler University
•    UIS Career Development Center

Brad Ward’s Honors:

I've spoken at conferences around the world about higher education recruitment and marketing. See the full list at http://www.bradjward.com/presenting/.

My work has been featured in several magazines and websites such as Campus Technology, University Business, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, Wired, CNET, New York Times and more.

I am a judge for the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards in 2009.

Brad Ward’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• new ventures
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch