Neil Ruffolo
Creative Pro and Internet Marketing Expert
- Location
- Greater Chicago Area
- Industry
- Marketing and Advertising
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Neil Ruffolo's Overview
- Current
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- Internet Marketing Coordinator at Waubonsee Community College
- Past
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- Graphics Specialist, Web Designer at TechPro, Inc.
- Marketing Specialist, Sales Associate at Charles Rutenberg Realty
- President at Stargato Enterprises, Inc.
- Team Marketing Specialist/Sales Associate at RE/MAX All Pro
- Interactive Director at Venture Marketing
- Owner at Studio Ruffolo
- Adjunct Instructor at International Academy of Design & Technology
- Vice President, E-Commerce at Kudoz.com
- Art Director at Train Reinforce Inspire, Inc.
- Art Director at Marketing & Technology Group, Inc.
- Education
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- Millikin University
- Hillcrest High School
- Recommendations
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9 people have recommended Neil
- Connections
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114 connections
- Websites
Neil Ruffolo's Summary
I am a seasoned marketing pro with more than 15 years experience providing creative and strategic leadership, including hands-on production of print publications, advertising, signage, direct mail, websites, broadcast email, digital video and more. I have also honed an ability to write effective promotional copy, online content, editorial articles and press releases. Stemming from my involvement with business start-ups and as an independent consultant, measurable results are as important to me as compelling design.
Specialties
Integrated Marketing, Higher Education Marketing, SMB Marketing, Creative Direction, Web Design/Development, Graphic Design
Neil Ruffolo's Experience
Internet Marketing Coordinator
Waubonsee Community College
Educational Institution; 501-1000 employees; Higher Education industry
September 2008 – Present (3 years 5 months) Sugar Grove, IL
As part of the award-winning Marketing and Communications team at Waubonsee Community College I oversee a variety of Internet-based initiatives promoting general awareness of educational programs, institutional services and special events. Ongoing responsibilities include Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), social media messaging, online advertising, e-mail marketing and technology-oriented special projects. Significant department accomplishments I have contributed to include grand opening events for three new facilities and the redesign of the college website.
Graphics Specialist, Web Designer
TechPro, Inc.
November 2007 – August 2008 (10 months) Saint Charles, IL
At TechPro I implemented a re-branding initiative, including website redesign, communication materials (e.g. letterhead, envelopes, forms), sales support literature, vehicle graphics, trade show displays and more. I also provided website design, development and support services for clients in the health care, real estate, online retail, shooting sports and motorsports industries.
Marketing Specialist, Sales Associate
Charles Rutenberg Realty
Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Real Estate industry
May 2007 – August 2008 (1 year 4 months)
As an independent agent for Charles Rutenberg Realty I developed a successful Fox Valley regional real estate search portal and lead generation system that attracted 2,000 monthly homebuyers.
President
Stargato Enterprises, Inc.
August 2005 – August 2008 (3 years 1 month)
As an independent developer I introduced SignScout, the first client-side mobile search solution for the Chicagoland residential real estate market. Other services and client projects included video podcasting, e-commerce, e-mail marketing and SEO/SEM for clients in the real estate and tactical supply industries.
Team Marketing Specialist/Sales Associate
RE/MAX All Pro
Privately Held; 5001-10,000 employees; Real Estate industry
February 2005 – March 2007 (2 years 2 months) Bloomingdale, IL
As co-manager of a top producing sales team I developed and implemented a local/regional marketing strategy resulting in 50,000+ sustained monthly website visitors and more than 2,000 registered users. By several measures it was widely recognized at the time as the top-ranked RE/MAX agent portal in the northern Illinois region.
Interactive Director
Venture Marketing
Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry
July 2004 – December 2004 (6 months) Downers Grove, IL
As Interactive Director at Venture Marketing I managed all web development projects. In addition to graphic design and HTML/CSS, I was responsible for content management system configuration, information architecture, usability consultation and ongoing support for clients in the technology, higher education, commercial real estate and financial services industries.
Owner
Studio Ruffolo
November 2000 – November 2004 (4 years 1 month)
Studio Ruffolo provided marketing communications and web design/development, including graphic design, art direction, corporate identity and copy writing for a variety of clients in the financial services, staffing, publishing and technology fields. As a local contractor for Utah-based CirclePix, Studio Ruffolo also managed the startup of a thriving franchise fulfilling real estate photography service orders throughout DuPage and Kane counties.
Adjunct Instructor
International Academy of Design & Technology
Educational Institution; 501-1000 employees; Higher Education industry
September 2000 – June 2001 (10 months) Chicago, IL
Provided digital imaging software instruction to undergraduate students preparing for careers in the graphic arts and interactive media.
Vice President, E-Commerce
Kudoz.com
September 1999 – November 2000 (1 year 3 months) Chicago, IL
Coordinated internal and external resources to transition the Web strategy of Train Reinforce Inspire, Inc. from online retailer to marketplace portal. Also developed the brand identity, including advertising and promotional materials. In 2000, Kudoz.com was featured by Cardean University in its Internet User Experience courses co-developed by Jakob Nielsen and Don Norman of the Nielsen Norman Group.
Art Director
Train Reinforce Inspire, Inc.
March 1997 – August 1999 (2 years 6 months) Elmhurst, IL
At TRI I provided creative direction for product development and marketing communications, including the SEO/SEM and social marketing tactics that evolved into the primary focus of the organization. As de facto publicist, I successfully secured radio, television and trade press coverage for the CEO. Through a seat on the Office of the President advisory committee I provided general organizational development and strategic input.
Art Director
Marketing & Technology Group, Inc.
Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Publishing industry
February 1994 – February 1997 (3 years 1 month) Chicago, IL
As Art Director for this Chicago-based publisher, I managed the editorial layout and design for three food processing trade magazines. In 1995 I was recognized with a second place national award from the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for "Infographics Excellence" and contributed to the company's trailblazing Web initiatives.
Neil Ruffolo's Skills
- Graphic Design
- Web Design
- Print Publications
- X/HTML + CSS
- Web Development (PHP, Classic ASP)
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.)
- Structured Query Language (SQL)
- Corporate Identity
- DotNetNuke
- Tightrope Carousel (Digital Signage)
- Web Content Management
- E-Commerce
- Digital Video
- Cascade Server (higher ed content management)
- RSS/XML
- Email Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
- Information Architecture
- Web Analytics
- Usability Engineering
- Interactive Advertising
- Direct Mail Marketing
- QuarkXPress
Neil Ruffolo's Education
Millikin University
BFA, Graphic Design
1989 – 1993
Graduated suma cum laude
Activities and Societies: Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity (Eta Epsilon chapter), Art Gallery Staff, Auditorium Usher, Computer Graphics lab technitian
Hillcrest High School
1985 – 1989
Neil Ruffolo's Additional Information
- Websites:
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