Michele Burghardt is a marketing professional with extensive bac        background in developing strategic marketing plans, 
                                    corporate branding strategies, tactical implementation,
                                    and media management in the service sector.  Strengths
                                    include packaging of service offerings to achieve                                               optimum sales results.  

Additional experience includes  program development, public speaking, and development of pricing strategies.  Effective budget manager with a track record of execptional results with limited resources.

                                  AREAS OF EXPERTISE                                  

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Azione Marketing                 
Director of Marketing                                                           2003 – Present

Consulting firm providing strategic marketing plans and tactical implementation for companies initiating marketing and branding efforts as well as organizations requiring step-up marketing strategies. 

  Ø Designed and launched client service offerings - Quick-Start Marketing Kit®, Workshops,
Tele-Seminars and Retainer Programs.

Ø      Create and deliver large group PowerPoint presentations for training and marketing purposes.

Ø      Develop and manage cost-effective branding campaigns with average cost savings of $5,000.  

Ø      Design customized strategic niche marketing plans for a wide variety of service industries.

Ø      Develop and manage high performance marketing teams for tactical implementation of branding, media placement, graphic design, printing, direct mail, website management, and e-commerce initiatives.   

  Ø    Public Relations efforts have appeared in St. Louis Business Journal, St. Louis Post Dispatch,
St. Charles Business Record, St. Louis Small Business Monthly, Card Player TV, Legal Nurse Resource, Bluff Magazine, HoldemRadio.com and more. 

Ø      Developed marketing strategy with record breaking ROI of 1,000 percent.

Ø      Increased annual sales by 100% (2005-2006).

AET Medical                                      
Sales & Marketing Director                                                                 2003

Start-up Tele-Nursing/Tele-Training division providing on-line healthcare for school districts and physician education for pharmaceutical companies.

Ø      Developed initial corporate positioning and branding.

Ø      Developed cost-effective start-up marketing plan at a cost savings of $12,000.

Ø      Implemented sales model by hiring, training, and mentoring sales team.

Ø      Successfully negotiated collaborative partnership with Sprint USA.

Ø      Designed and presented sales presentations to K-12 School Superintendents nationally.

Ø      Developed sales tracking system to monitor results.

Ø      Responsible for three direct reports.

Success Center Inc.                            
President, Marketing & Operations                                         1997 - 2002

Start-up professional self-help center focusing on productivity improvement, stress relief, phobia elimination, and related problems utilizing techniques such as NLP, bio-feed-in and guided imagery.

Ø      Developed and implemented complete marketing and corporate branding campaign to launch new company concept, including design and development of marketing collateral materials, negotiation of media buys, budget development, and community outreach.

Ø      Achieved profitability within 24 months.

Ø      Largest self-help center within the St. Louis Bi-State area.

Ø      Operational duties included full P&L responsibility, Human Resources, staff training & development, facilities management, and overall supervision of eight staff members. 

Ø      Progressive increase in annual sales up to $325,000.

LifePulse Community Blood Bank     
Marketing Coordinator                                                            1996 - 1997

Pre-operational/Start-up community blood bank designed to meet the immediate blood needs in Missouri and Illinois.

Ø      Established corporate brand and positioning by developing effective marketing materials.

Ø      Developed Blood Donor Incentive Programs to encourage repeat blood donations.

Ø      Promoted new company concept through cold calling and presentations made to Human Resources Executives.

Ø      Designed Marketing Coordinator training program.

National-Louis University                  
Enrollment Counselor                                                             1992 - 1996

University extension program offering Bachelor and Master Degree completion programs to adult students.

Ø      Developed in-house marketing plans to recruit students for graduate and undergraduate programs.

Ø      Delivered sales presentations to individual prospective students as well as group presentations to educational departments, corporate employee groups, and teachers. 

Ø      Consistent close rate of 55-60%.

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Ø      Guest Lecturer - St. Louis University, St. Louis Community College, and Small Business Administration.

Ø      Developed & presented Start-Up/Step-Up entrepreneurial marketing training programs for Grace Hill Settlement House (2003, 2004, and 2005). 

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Management ▪ National-Louis University – St. Louis, MO

Graduate Studies ▪ National-Louis University – St. Louis, MO  

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Co-Founder and Executive Director - Sales Professionals Association  

Program Committee Co-Chairwoman - NAWBO