Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

I am a resourceful and tech savvy professional and consultant with experience in marketing, advertising, public relations, social media, and project management.

I currently work as a B2B Marketing Manager for a boutique integrated marketing firm in Chicago – KLS Edition. In my position at KLS Edition, I have assumed many roles and responsibilities including, but not limited to, management of the complete redesign of three company websites in the past 9 months; rollout and management of the sites using Drupal, a content management system (CMS); coordination of conference sponsorships and trade show exhibits; and development and execution of public relations and marketing campaigns across multiple business units.

Prior to working at KLS Edition, I spent time working as a social media consultant, interned for Interweave Press, and I worked as an Associate Product Manager for a rapidly growing affiliate marketing company.

In June, 2010, I completed a Master of Arts in Public Relations & Advertising from DePaul University. I also have a BA in Fashion Merchandising with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship.

In my free time, I am working on a few projects: (1)Applying my knowledge to help college grads and young professionals develop their personal online brands; (2) Assisting a friend with the development of her integrated consulting business; and (3) Launching EnlivenChicago.com - an online magazine for Chicago women.

I enjoy knitting, blogging, reading and cooking. As a knitwear designer, several of my designs are being published in an upcoming book to be release by Malabrigo Yarn Company in late 2010.

I’m also a food blogger who loves trying new restaurants and experimental cooking. Check out my blog, Bree Eats Chicago.

Most weekends you’ll find me ambling around Chicago with my soul-mate of almost nine years, Joshua.

Work History

• KLS Edition, LLC
• Marketing Manager
• June 2009 to Present

• Interweave Press
• e-Media Intern
• June 2009 to August 2009

• Self-Employed
• Social Media Consultant
• April 2009 to June 2009

• I briefly worked as a social media consultant for a small Chicago PR agency. The project I assisted with was a website developed to enhance brand awareness of a consumer packaged goods product that was experiencing stagnant sales for several consecutive years.

  Brand outreach was achieved using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

• Infra-Strategy
• Associate Product Manager
• September 2008 to November 2008

• While working at Infra-Strategy, my role was varied and encompassed multiple aspects of product management and social media marketing. I was hired to assist in marketing a Facebook application that the company was developing.

  While interfacing with top-level employees, I wrote proposals for new potential projects. I also initiated an employee-authored internal blog for company communications.

• KLS Edition, LLC
• Marketing Assistant
• September 2007 to September 2008

• My duties included: office administration; copywriting; direct mail marketing; market research; Salesforce database administration; event coordination; vendor management; etc.

  I coordinated tours, and wrote the copy for the related tour brochure, for the LES US/Canada 2008 Meeting in Chicago.

  I also worked to create a prototype card game highlighting concept cars. This project included market research, copywriting, and coordination with printers and graphic designers.

Education

• DePaul University
• MA, Public Relations & Advertising
• 2008 - 2010

• Coursework in advertising, public relations, qualitative & quantitative research, speech writing, copywriting, integrated campaigns, research methods, consumer insights, graphic design, communication law, etc.

• University of Akron
• BA, Fashion Merchandising, Entrepreneurship, Marketing
• 2002 - 2006

• Coursework in marketing, sales, entrepreneurship, purchasing, new venture creation, negotiations, fashion merchandising, textiles, business & finance.

  Activities and Societies: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key Honor Society, Student Fashion Association, Students in Free Enterprise