Companies

Levelwing Media | Raising Cane's

UT Arlington | US Army

Levelwing Media

Full-service marketing agency with 60+ employees across 15 states and 2 countries and 2 office locations with 8-figure revenue. The agency serves clients in automotive aftermarket, automotive service, quick-serve restaurant and consumer packaged goods industries among others.

My Story at Levelwing

I started at Levelwing leading Creative operations, focusing on reducing department-level turnover, improving team efficiency, and streamlining project management processes. In this role, I decreased voluntary turnover by nearly 60%, built stronger trust between Creative and Accounts teams, and brought in new organic social clients while optimizing pricing and contracting processes to increase revenue. These successes led to my promotion to oversee operations across the entire agency. In this expanded role, I introduced learning and development programs to enhance management and retention, improved the employee lifecycle using Six Sigma methodologies, and strengthened communication to foster collaboration and break down silos.

Director of Operations

January 2023 - Present

Charleston, SC (Remote)

• Part of a high-performing leadership team responsible for 35+% YOY revenue growth

• Planned and led multiple agency-wide Summits aimed at upskilling internal talent, building team cohesion, improving overall team member retention and organizational buy-in.

• Led a team restructuring initiative to align skills with client needs, resulting in improved service delivery and 50%+ reduction in team member turnover.

• Developed and led an Emerging Leaders training program for junior leaders, training 14 team members in a year with 93% retention rate for graduates.

• Created a manager-focused Standards of Operation document, establishing check-in cadences and aligning multi-level leadership expectations with overall organizational strategy.

• Designed a strategic framework for the employee lifecycle standardizing the candidate experience, onboarding, in-position management, and separation processes to improve efficiency and ensure consistency for all employees.

• Developed a critical response communications framework to standardize organization-wide emergency communications.

Operational leader reporting to president/founder; managing Operations, IT, HR, and office management functions and leading organization-wide management and operational initiatives.

Additional Roles

Director of Creative Operations

August 2021 to December 2022

Raising Cane's

Raising Cane's is one of the fastest-growing quick-service restaurant chains in the U.S., achieving 10-figure annual sales, consistent double-digit year-over-year growth, and recognition as one of Glassdoor's Top 50 Best Places to Work. During my time at Raising Cane's we grew from 250 restaurants to over 600 and were recognized by numerous organizations, including Gartner for Excellence in Communications.

Senior Manager, Communications (Multimedia)

March 2018 to August 2021

Plano, TX

• Instrumental in executing internal communications functions that contributed to a +49% increase in Average Unit Volume (AUV) over five years.

• Sourced, hired, and managed 50+ vendors for over 150 projects internationally.

• Produced and managed logistics for 20+ operations-focused conferences in 10 states, resulting in a 20% increase in organizational revenue and achieving an all-time high employee satisfaction.

• Implemented a safety video campaign that led to a 60% reduction in workplace injuries, saving over $1,000,000 annually.

• Collaborated with Founder/Co-CEO and COO/Co-CEO to effectively tell the organizational story and inspire crew members through video and in-person speeches, contributing to multiple company culture recognitions by Glassdoor, Dallas Top Places to Work, and Gartner.

• Oversaw the production of 200+ video and photography projects annually, ensuring brand alignment and successful creative development across multiple departments.

• Part of team recognized by Gartner Communications for Global Excellence in Communications in 2021.

One of three Senior Managers reporting to the Senior Director of Communications supporting operational communications for 40K+ employees across 2 corporate offices and 500+ restaurants in 29 states and 5 countries with weekly support to CEO/COO.

My Story at Raising Cane's

I joined Raising Cane's by spearheading the transition of external video production to an in-house operation, delivering over $100K in annual savings and enhancing creative control within the first 3 months. In addition to leading multimedia production and live event coordination, I provided critical communication and logistical support to the Founder/Co-CEO and COO/Co-CEO, earning multiple commendations from leadership and culminating in a promotion to Senior Manager. During this time, I grew the team to three members and expanded our support beyond executive communications to include Training and Development, Marketing, and several other departments.

Additional Roles

Producer, Communications (Multimedia)

March 2016 to March 2018

The University of Texas at Arlington

UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. During my time at UT Arlington, the university experienced significant growth, becoming one of the fastest-growing public universities in Texas, achieving record-high enrollment, expanding research expenditures, and earning recognition as a top-tier research institution.

Director, Marketing Communications (Multimedia)

November 2012 to March 2016

Arlington, TX

• Expanded the multimedia team from 2 full-time equivalents (FTE) and 2 part-time employees (PTE) to 5 FTE and 4 PTE over two years recognized with multiple awards.

• Led team to produce over 500 photography assignments and 250 video shoots for campus publications, web and social media usage, managing more than 1,000 non-professional talent across 500+ unique locations.

• Spearheaded multimedia content strategy and execution across multiple channels, ensuring brand consistency and alignment with organizational objectives.

• Managed technical direction and logistical planning for 70 live events, delivering 700+ video assets and graphics while ensuring effective message delivery for audiences of up to 5,000 attendees.

• Acted as departmental account manager leading project intake and management among organizational clients, production teams, and external vendors to achieve strategic brand messaging goals.

• Team recognized for excellence in production with numerous Council for Advancement of Secondary Education (CASE) and both Telly Bronze and Silver awards.

One of four director-level leaders reporting to the Associate Vice President of Marketing overseeing a team of 9 employees with monthly interaction with university leadership. Marketing Communications functioned as an in-house agency supporting the three main revenue driving functions of the university: student enrollment, alumni development and legislative appropriations.

Assistant Director, Marketing Communications (Multimedia)

August 2011 to November 2012

Content Producer, Marketing Communications (Multimedia)

May 2010 to August 2011

My Story at UT Arlington

I joined UT Arlington as a part-time freelance producer, where I quickly demonstrated my ability to deliver results and collaborate effectively with leadership. Within 2.5 years, I was promoted to Director of the department, a role in which I partnered with the Vice Presidents of Communications and AVP of Marketing to develop and execute a strategic vision that aligned with the long-term goals of the Marketing Communications team and the university. This growth reflected my dedication to fostering innovation, building strong relationships, and driving impactful initiatives.

Additional Roles

US Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Officers lead mission success through strategic planning, effective resource management, and execution of large-scale operations that support national defense and community resilience. Officers receive extensive training in engineering principles, project management, leadership, and logistics to excel in both military and civilian applications.

Operations Officer (Operations Director Equivalent)

August 2008 to February 2010

Various International Locations

Directed daily operations and missions for a 25-member team at a combat outpost, including advising and training Iraqi Border Enforcement personnel. Focused on fostering operational efficiency, enhancing border security strategies, and building strong cross-cultural partnerships to achieve mission objectives.

Executive Officer (Deputy Director Equivalent)

January 2008 to August 2008

Served as second-in-command for a 100-member organization, overseeing $30M in assets. Drove improvements in operational readiness, ensured compliance with safety standards, and managed risk at training sites, resulting in enhanced efficiency and mission success.

My Story in the US Army

During my four and half years in the Army, I was selected for and successfully completed four of the military’s most rigorous training programs, each with pass rates as low as 20%, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and leadership under pressure. I led over 30 Soldiers in both Korea and the U.S., gaining valuable leadership experience. After training in counter-insurgency tactics, I deployed to Iraq, where I provided critical training to the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement and oversaw operations at a combat outpost, further honing my ability to lead in high-stakes environments.

Platoon Leader (Operations Manager Equivalent)

February 2007 to January 2008

Led a 30-person unit, driving the team's operational readiness and overseeing the logistical coordination of up to 25 vehicles valued at over $26M. Focused on fostering accountability, optimizing operational efficiency, and ensuring compliance with safety and risk management standards. My leadership helped maintain high performance across the team, supporting mission success in complex environments.

Human Resources Manager

July 2006 to February 2007

Led a 5-person team of HR specialists in the review and auditing of 17 reporting units’ personnel strength reports for 10K+ soldiers across three installations optimizing HR reporting.