
Head of social media at Ford Motor Company. [NB: I only accept connections from people whom I've met or interacted with]
Greater Detroit Area

Head of social media at Ford Motor Company. [NB: I only accept connections from people whom I've met or interacted with]
Greater Detroit Area
A new media communications executive with deep experience in healthcare, life sciences, biotechnology and high tech industries. I've worked with senior-level executives at a wide range of companies, from start-ups to large multinational organizations. I'm known for providing trustworthy advice and strategic counsel that address business issues wider than just marketing & communications.
I have significant experience in the following areas:
- Social media marketing / new media strategies
- Integrated marketing & communications strategy
- Creative ideation
- Public speaking & presentations
- Digital marketing strategy
- Speechwriting
In addition, I am adept at building relationships online and in person and I enjoy my special ability of being a "connector" - knowing interests, skill sets and needs and being able to bring individuals together to make great things happen.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; F; Automotive industry)
July 2008 — Present (1 year 5 months)
I head up the social media function globally for Ford, where I am developing and executing a social media strategy for the entire company. Reporting through Corporate Communications, my responsibilities cover many areas of the company as we explore how digital communications affect all of our business functions. I lead a team of online publishers and new media relations specialists who are listening and creating new content every day.
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Marketing and Advertising industry)
August 2006 — Present (3 years 4 months)
I write about the b2b implications of Social Media Marketing - the tools and interactions that are the leading force in new marketing. Consumers are talking about your brand, and smart organizations need to take part in or at least be aware of what's being said about them. Blogs, podcasts, wikis, RSS feeds, social bookmarking and social networking can all play a critical part in how a brand is portrayed and how companies choose to engage in the conversations.
With marketing moving at the speed of light, there new tools and techniques evolving daily, and brand managers are already overwhelmed with meetings, deadlines and a sea of information. My role is to make sense of the landscape for marketers and communicators, helping them to understand what social media means for their organization, which tools are appropriate and relevant and how to incorporate them into communications programs.
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Publishing industry)
August 2005 — Present (4 years 4 months)
Just what the world needs: a blog about the world of Sherlock Holmes. In this blog that was originally designed to help bring a human face to the literary publication The Baker Street Journal, I write for self-proclaimed "Sherlockians" around the world who are passionate about their literary interest.
While the content is primarily related to the great detective, I also use the Baker Street Blog as a research and testing center for the latest technologies, widgets and tools related to blogging. I use this research to develop social media expertise and strategy that I can share with clients on engagements and on my other blogs.
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Publishing industry)
January 2001 — Present (8 years 11 months)
The Baker Street Journal (BSJ) is literary publication that has provided scholarship on the Sherlock Holmes canon since 1946. When I was invested into the Baker Street Irregulars (BSI), the exclusive literary society comprised of 300 members worldwide, I was tapped to lead the business operations of the BSJ. I develop and implement marketing plans to increase brand awareness, drive subscriptions and support the burgeoning publishing empire of the BSI.
Successes:
- Web site development and redesign, including an e-commerce solution that drives nearly $60,000 in annual revenue from some 1,000 customers
- Direct mail with a 30% response rate
- Cross-industry marketing and promotion
- Social media strategy
- Subscription numbers have been maintained, despite the aging demographic of the readership
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
2008 — 2008 (less than a year)
(Marketing and Advertising industry)
June 2007 — June 2008 (1 year 1 month)
- Provided strategic consulting, agency, advisory, thought leadership services in the social media industry to a wide range of clients.
- Acted as day-to-day relationship manager, ensuring consistently high quality client service.
- Kept current on emerging media and trends, offering sound advice with a strong marketing, communications and business acumen.
- Spoke at industry events and participated in panel discussions on what companies - large and small - were doing in social media.
- Raised awareness of client businesses and products, resulting in deeper understanding of their offerings and in certain cases, an increase in sales.
- Developed creative & strategic ideas that harnessed the three tenets of conversational marketing: community, dialog, and partnership.
(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
March 2007 — December 2007 (10 months)
In March 2007, marketing agency executives Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton envisioned an e-book about this new era of communications we’ve all entered together. But not just any book. It had to be a quick book. Exciting. Sharp. Inclusive. It had to be a book about community and conversation that came from that community and spoke the same vernacular.
So it was that I found myself on the invitation list and one of the first 20 writers to respond before the project was opened up to the larger blogosphere. My chapter, "B2B Social Media: Don't Monkey Around," is one of 103 chapters written by some of the sharpest minds in the marketing world today.
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
October 2007 — October 2007 (1 month)
Gave a presentation on social media tools that are practical and beneficial for productivity of today's business worker.
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
November 2004 — May 2007 (2 years 7 months)
At this full service agency, I am part of the health sciences group, working with clients in the medical device, life science, healthcare technology and biotech fields to plan & execute campaigns.
- Strategic and day-to-day marketing, communication and branding advice to clients, from strategic branding initiatives to print and online advertising and sponsorships, thought-leadership programs, awareness and lead generation.
- Maintain industry knowledge of current marketing trends and techniques, with a particular specialty in social media marketing – blogs, podcasts, RSS and other Web 2.0 applications to maximize brand experience.
- Develop client relationships that result in trusted advisor status and bring the agency additional revenue.
- Manage internal teams of writers, designers and account staff with clarity, candor and energy.
- Experience and familiarity with Internet marketing metrics: conversion rate, clickthrough rate, internal and external benchmarking, ROI analysis.
(Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Fund-Raising industry)
September 2002 — May 2004 (1 year 9 months)
Simmons is a small liberal arts college for women, with coed graduate schools of social work, library science and health studies. Met with alumni from Simmons graduate schools of social work and library science, raising $235K in major gifts within 18 months. Prepared marketing materials, engaged administrators and faculty members to participate in meetings, created financial agreements including bequests, and built confidence for gift-giving.
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Management Consulting industry)
November 1999 — May 2002 (2 years 7 months)
Boston Healthcare is a small boutique life sciences consulting firm, focused on reimbursement consulting, corporate development services, and clinical trial management for the biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic markets. Assisted clients with corporate strategy and marketing plans, including the development of product materials and the identification and negotiation of partnerships.
(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Hospital & Health Care industry)
July 1996 — October 1999 (3 years 4 months)
Private Healthcare is a large Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), supplying network services and medical management to small insurers, third party administrators, and self-insured companies with health plans. It is the largest proprietary PPO and the second largest independent care management company in the United States. As Account Manager and Project Manager, worked with clients to provide products and services that met satisfaction.
(Non-Profit; 1001-5000 employees; Hospital & Health Care industry)
May 1995 — June 1996 (1 year 2 months)
Brigham and Womens Hospital is a world-renowned 1,000 bed facility. Responsibilities included marketing assessments and operational improvements. Worked on creating a virtual radiology department for the growing Partners network, and effected better patient flow at the MRI units.
(Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Public Relations and Communications industry)
January 1994 — May 1995 (1 year 5 months)
The Department of Veterans Affairs is the government agency responsible for the healthcare of United States veterans. Wrote speeches for the Director of the Medical Research Service and crafted a public awareness manual. Integrated efforts across workgroups to provide a clear VA policy on healthcare reform and health, food and safety for the 21st century.
MBA , Health Care Management , January 1994 — May 1996
Dual degree with Master's in Medical Sciences.
MS , Medical Science , September 1992 — May 1996
Thesis: Clinical and Managerial Implications of Developing Ultrasound Technology
BA , 1988 — 1992
New technology and marketing, the intersection of PR and advertising, public speaking, voice overs, golf, skiing, literature, music, Sherlock Holmes.
Social Media Club, American Marketing Association, SXSW, Twitter, Blogging, Podcasting, Golf, Masons, Baker Street Irregulars., BS08
- Top tier of the Power 150 list of top marketing blogs by AdAge since May 2007
- Named a Successful & Outstanding Blogger
- Listed as #5 on the Top 100 Social Media & Social Networking Blogs
- Quoted in the Wall Street Journal ("Attention, Bloggers," 3/17/08) and provided the Recommended Reading companion list.