Unmute this video.
This narrated presentation was delivered internally to the CEO, CSO, CMO, and Managing Directors to request remote scaling.
It resulted in immediate approval as well as the successful hiring of a California-based advisor and a Mexico City manager.
The video was fully scripted, narrated, and produced by Samuel Colman using stock video and pre-AI editing techniques.
Audio Credit: “Ain’t Nothing Wrong with That” – Robert Randolph and the Family Band (used for internal demonstration purposes only)
Embracing Espinoza:
An Art Community Welcomes a Family.
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 Embracing Bloomington 7 |  |
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This presentation was created as an early idea piece laying the groundwork for what would ultimately become Samuel's work with the International Art Project.
Developed prior to the Espinoza family’s relocation to Bloomington, IN, this initiative explored how Jonathan Espinoza and his family story could be thoughtfully integrated into Bloomington’s community and cultural fabric in impactful ways.
The deck consists of:
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A overview of Jonathan Espinoza’s artistic journey.
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Visual concepts linking his work to Bloomington’s identity.
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Ideas for community engagement across arts and education.
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A framework for gallery positioning and cultural storytelling.
The Espinoza family has since relocated to Bloomington, where they have established a residence, are assimilating to local culture, and where Jonathan is featured as an artist in a newly opened gallery.
Case Studies:
Foundation & People Systems
Tools & Automation
Strategic Growth & Market Positioning
Partnerships & Expansion
Creative Ventures & Brand Architecture
Legacy & Community Impact
CASE STUDY 01:
Case Study: Salesloft Pilot & Implementation
Rolling out a major platform across three brands without a playbook. How a custom CRM engagement strategy streamlined outreach, boosted performance, and became the benchmark for outbound teams. Project Focus: Tools & Systems Integration, Campaign Clarity, CRM Optimization Location: Chicago, IL My Role: Strategic Implementer and Team Lead Context: At a $45M consulting firm working closely with private equity-backed portfolio companies, outbound outreach was inconsistent, unstructured, and difficult to scale. With multiple brands operating independently, the organization needed a unified approach to sales engagement that could create repeatable success across the board. Challenge: -Identify and implement a sales engagement platform that could scale with teams across three distinct brands. Bring structure to daily outbound tasks without disrupting existing workflows. -Align CRM and sales execution to ensure consistent, measurable outreach with no existing precedent or playbook. Approach: Empowered Leadership -Was entrusted to lead the full platform selection and implementation process, bridging strategy and execution. Pilot & Certification -Conducted a rigorous evaluation and selected SalesLoft as the best fit. -Became a Level 2 Certified Admin to personally configure and launch the system across brands. Vendor Selection -Championed Salesloft to senior leadership, articulating its advantages and securing buy-in across departments. Systemization & Standardization -Authored all email templates and cadences for team-wide adoption. -Established a unified outreach framework built on trackable results and consistent brand voice. -Trained sales reps to adopt a systematic, metrics-first mindset, improving both performance and morale. Cross-Functional Collaboration -Worked closely with the firm’s data analyst to ensure segmentation, lead tracking, and reporting aligned with Salesforce CRM and broader marketing strategy. Operational Rollout -Integrated SalesLoft into onboarding and daily workflows. -Created scripting, cadences, and real-time dashboards for new reps to succeed from day one. Result: -Deployed SalesLoft across three business units in record time with full team adoption. -Created measurable gains in outreach consistency, productivity, and response rates. -Transformed onboarding by giving new hires a plug-and-play engagement system. -Strengthened reporting visibility and pipeline momentum across multiple brands. Why This Matters: A well-implemented tool becomes more than software—it becomes a cultural shift. This rollout helped redefine how teams approached outreach, accountability, and scalable growth. What began as a tech implementation became a cornerstone of the company’s go-to-market rhythm.
CASE STUDY 02:
Case Study: Building a High-Output Internship Program
No program. No playbook. Just results. How launching an outbound-focused internship became a blueprint for scalable growth and talent discovery. Project Focus: People Systems, Sales Training, Scalable Team Development Location: Chicago, IL (Downtown & Suburbs) My Role: Manager, Program Architect, and Department Strategist Context: The division had no existing internship framework, and cold outreach efforts were falling flat due to inconsistent training and unclear expectations. With pressure to increase output and scale talent, we needed a repeatable model that could deliver results fast. Challenge: -Create an internship program from scratch in a results-driven environment. Equip interns to make 80+ calls per day within two weeks of onboarding. -Align internal leaders and systems to support high-volume outbound activity. Approach: Bootcamp Design -Created a two-week outbound training bootcamp focused on CRM fluency and sales process fundamentals. -Built call scripts, tone coaching, and objection handling drills. Technology Integration -Piloted CRMs, ZoomInfo, SalesLoft, and Salesforce in a low-risk intern environment. -Linked tools with measurable KPIs and reporting dashboards. Performance Culture -Established daily benchmarks, team rituals, and call-and-response systems. -Celebrated wins while instilling metrics-first accountability. Cohort Management Recruited, onboarded, and managed two cohorts of 5+ interns. -Delivered personalized coaching and clear pathways to promotion. Result: -Interns achieved 80+ calls per day and generated leads that fueled a $280,000 sales month. -Two standout interns were later recognized—one as Elmhurst University’s Student of the Year. -Program was adopted as a model across other departments. -Was invited to co-lead additional training company-wide. Why This Matters: When you treat interns like pros, they deliver like pros. This program proved that scalable systems and cultural momentum can outperform experience alone. It reshaped how the firm viewed early talent and internal training.
CASE STUDY 03:
Case Study: CRM Rollout Across Three Business Units
Three teams. Three approaches. One solution. This CRM rollout brought clarity, consistency, and campaign visibility across a fragmented sales ecosystem. Project Focus: CRM Implementation, Systems Integration, Team Alignment Location: Chicago, IL My Role: Strategic Implementer and Team Trainer Context: Three business units operated in silos, each with their own partial CRM setups and no unified tracking. Sales efforts were disjointed, leadership lacked visibility, and reps had no central place for execution. Challenge: -Consolidate CRM usage across all three business units. Provide leadership with clear campaign insights and conversion data. -Improve rep adoption and ease of use through streamlined workflows. Approach: CRM Selection & Setup -Evaluated platforms and confirmed SalesLoft as the right fit. -Aligned dashboards and workflow automations to each team’s needs. Workflow Optimization -Created custom tagging systems and campaign calendars. -Built cadences for consistent follow-up and account touchpoints. Training & Adoption -Led onboarding sessions across departments. -Used quick wins to drive momentum and early success stories. Data Visibility -Synced reporting across platforms and surfaced pipeline health metrics. -Enabled cross-team collaboration and campaign clarity. Result: -CRM usage became standardized across all brands. -Leadership gained visibility into rep activity and campaign results. -Dormant accounts were reactivated through coordinated outreach. -Reps adopted the system quickly due to workflow ease and visible wins. Why This Matters: CRM tools only work when teams use them. By focusing on user adoption and campaign clarity, we turned scattered systems into a shared source of truth. It paved the way for future cross-brand initiatives and stronger data-backed decisions.
CASE STUDY 04:
Case Study: Dashboard & SaaS Implementation for Sales Enablement
A clearer view of what works. This dashboard project gave leaders real-time insights into conversion metrics, sales performance, and retention strategy. Project Focus: Data Strategy, SaaS Integration, Sales Optimization Location: Chicago, IL My Role: SaaS Strategist and Reporting Consultant Context: Sales managers and leadership were making decisions in the dark. Reporting was manual, delayed, and unclear. We needed to bring clarity, speed, and structure to how the team accessed performance data. Challenge: -Lack of real-time dashboards and daily visibility. -Unclear lead source tracking and conversion metrics. -Disconnected systems between sales activity and pipeline impact. Approach: Salesforce Dashboards -Co-created custom dashboards aligned to key sales KPIs. -Trained managers on daily usage and team coaching. SaaS Integration -Connected SalesLoft activity data to Salesforce pipeline metrics. -Introduced layered filters to analyze deal velocity and touchpoint effectiveness. SQL Analysis -Used SQL queries to segment customer behavior and upsell likelihood. -Provided leadership with custom reporting on retention trends. Training & Coaching -Held walkthroughs for managers on how to interpret and act on data quickly. -Linked dashboards to daily huddles and performance reviews. Result: -Lead response time improved and coaching became data-driven. -12% lift in upsell opportunities and more accurate forecasts. -Daily team accountability increased through visibility. -Company closed a record revenue month with better tactical clarity. Why This Matters: Dashboards don’t just track performance—they drive it. This project turned data from an afterthought into an everyday advantage.
CASE STUDY 05:
Case Study: the-Street Artist Connection – National Mural Team Recruit
A sidewalk conversation. A national connection. How one live mural turned into a future-facing partnership with commercial potential. Project Focus: Strategic Networking, Talent Discovery Location: Santa Monica, CA My Role: Frontline Outreach & Vetting Context: Finding muralists capable of national commercial execution is rare—and most talent discovery happens online. But sometimes the best opportunities are analog. This one started on a sidewalk. Challenge: -Make meaningful connections with commercial-scale muralists outside traditional channels. -Build rapport without interrupting active work. -Understand commercial media pipeline and creative process. Approach: Live Outreach -Approached working muralist on site with curiosity and respect. -Introduced our interest in mural representation and partnerships. Qualification -Learned that the artist was part of a national media brand’s mural execution team. -Asked strategic questions about timeline, scope, and agency involvement. Future Alignment -Offered to stay in touch for collaboration or partnership opportunities. -Documented insight on process, crew size, and project cadence. Result: -Connection made with a national mural execution team. Insight gained into agency-led media mural logistics. -Relationship opened for future vetting, partnership, or referrals. Why This Matters: Not all recruiting starts online. The best partners often emerge in the real world—if you’re willing to stop, ask, and listen.
CASE STUDY 06:
Case Study: Artist Representation Strategy for Muralists & Feature Creators
From pricing to positioning, we sat down with muralists across the country to build a fair, scalable model for representation—grounded in artist trust and client transparency. Project Focus: Artist Strategy, Pricing Systems, Representation Development Location: Multiple Cities (Austin, Chicago, NYC, more) My Role: Lead Strategist and Artist Advocate Context: To launch a gallery and mural representation model, we needed more than talent—we needed understanding. Many muralists face inconsistent pricing, unclear contracts, and a lack of long-term support. Our goal was to fix that. Challenge: -Understand what muralists actually need from a rep or gallery relationship. Build a scalable pricing system that accounts for size, complexity, and social use. Ensure creative freedom and client clarity could coexist. Approach: Artist Listening Sessions -Held one-on-one interviews with muralists from different cities and backgrounds. -Asked about client pain points, project timelines, pricing inconsistencies, and artistic goals. Model & Framework Design -Outlined key gaps in existing agency models—like lack of transparency and cultural misalignment. -Created a draft structure for a representation model built on trust and clear communication. Pricing System Development -Built tiered pricing by square footage, revision rounds, and production complexity. -Created optional add-ons for social media rights, timelapse videos, and commercial application. Result: -Developed a pricing and representation model now used with featured gallery artists. -Gained clarity on what artists value most in project partnerships. -Laid the foundation for scalable, artist-first collaboration. Why This Matters: Artists deserve advocates who understand the business. This work helped us build a model rooted in fairness, clarity, and mutual respect.
CASE STUDY 07:
Case Study: Strategic Realignment of Niche Vehicle Dealer.
Focus: Market Positioning, Brand Development, GTM Strategy Location: National (Chicago HQ) My Role: Acting CDO & Brand Strategist How I helped a niche vehicle company evolve into a premium brand through CRM tools, positioning, and rapid-fire marketing wins. The Challenge: -The company lacked CRM infrastructure and consistent lead follow-up. -Brand perception was unclear—neither fully wholesale nor luxury retail. -The team needed both systems and momentum to compete at a higher level. Our Approach: -Implemented a mobile-friendly CRM to centralize contacts, notes, and outreach. -Created the company’s first outbound sales campaign and social contact workflow. -Secured a jumbotron placement and banner sponsorship at a national event in under 3 weeks. -Aligned sales and marketing language with a unified value proposition. The Results: -CRM was fully deployed across devices and teams within one month. -Sales and sponsorship alignment positioned the brand as a premium lifestyle dealer. -Marketing assets and visual identity clarified the customer experience. -Laid the groundwork for future financing, showroom, and national partnerships. Why It Matters: Every growing business reaches a moment where it must decide who it is and who it serves. This project helped make that decision—and built the runway for what’s next.
CASE STUDY 08:
Case Study: Expo Activation and Prospecting Strategy Across Multiple Talent Brands
Designed a live prospecting and team deployment system for expo activations across three brands — turning foot traffic into qualified leads for Lab Talent, Messina Talent, and Consulting. Short Explanation: -Designed and executed an in-person prospecting and visibility strategy at major industry expos, successfully representing three distinct brands — Lab Talent, Messina Talent, and Messina Consulting — through coordinated team deployment, pre-event targeting, and live engagement systems. Context: -Messina Group operated three vertically integrated service lines: Lab Talent (scientific), Messina Talent (corporate/technical), and Messina Consulting (advisory and solutions). -The company sponsored and attended large-scale industry expos with a strong need to convert visibility into real pipeline. Challenge: -Represent three distinct brands with different value propositions at one event — while appearing unified. -Train and deploy a team capable of live prospecting, qualification, and pipeline development in a fast-paced event environment. -Ensure every interaction led to clean handoffs and trackable follow-ups. Approach: Pre-Event Strategy: -Developed call-and-response brand language for each vertical that emphasized clarity, confidence, and rapport. -Trained team members on “intentional movement” — how to read booth energy, interrupt gracefully, and maximize curiosity-driven interaction. -Created a warm lead tier system, business card tracking rhythm, and field-level qualifying questions. Booth Experience & Team Deployment: -Rotated team members between brand personas depending on the flow of the event, allowing flexible representation. -Developed real-time signal systems (nods, hand-offs, debrief signals) for internal coordination without breaking prospect immersion. -Rehearsed soft invites, booth approach angles, and how to pivot between talent verticals without losing brand consistency. Post-Event Conversion: -Leads were categorized in a structured follow-up cadence by vertical and urgency. Built a shared intake tracker and automated initial outreach templates for post-expo momentum. -Conducted recap sessions immediately after the event to preserve lead context and reassign appropriately. Results: -Dozens of qualified leads funneled into each vertical’s CRM pipeline. -Several near-immediate placements and consulting discussions initiated within a week of the event. -Established a repeatable in-person event model with clear playbooks and measurement tools.
CASE STUDY 09:
Case Study: Strategic Content Packages for Real Estate & Auto Dealers
Developed a full content strategy and outbound sales system targeting real estate developers and auto dealers, laying the groundwork for long-term partnerships. Context: -Business was looking to monetize a skilled video production resource through outbound campaigns. -Target audiences included auto dealerships, real estate developers, and construction groups in need of content services. Challenge: - Create content offerings and a consultative sales approach that would resonate with decision-makers in two different—but complementary—industries. - Package services in a way that felt premium, repeatable, and easy to understand. Approach: - Built a structured service menu with pricing, deliverables, and custom add-ons for each sector. -Created a five-step sales system, including call scripts, objection handling, and follow-up sequence templates. -Conducted prospecting outreach to local CEOs, developers, and dealer groups using a custom intake and pitch process. - Partnered internally to align service delivery expectations with production capabilities. Results: -Delivered a market-ready playbook with strategic structure and materials. -Laid the foundation for outbound campaigns and high-end content partnerships. -Positioned the offering to scale across verticals without compromising personalization.
CASE STUDY 10:
Case Study: Early-Stage Market Validation for a Residential Social App
A lightweight social coordination tool was developed to enhance community engagement in residential spaces. This phase focused on validating the concept by running targeted pilot programs in 1–3 luxury apartment complexes. The goal: determine whether residents truly crave low-pressure ways to connect with neighbors through casual meetups like basketball games or board game nights. Challenge: -Determine if resident demand exists beyond student environments. -Establish a repeatable outreach and follow-up system for B2B sales. -Identify decision-makers in residential complexes without relying on internal communication platforms. Strategy -Created a structured sales cadence and outreach script aimed at property decision-makers. -Used AI-driven tools to generate lead lists of high-amenity properties across cities like Nashville, Austin, Chicago, and Miami. -Built a day-by-day follow-up flow incorporating email, phone, and LinkedIn messaging. -Explored parallel channels such as Craigslist gigs, lead marketplaces, and warm intros to find cost-effective acquisition paths. Execution: -Personally conducted 20–30 outbound calls with a consistent cadence: Call → Email → Follow-up Call → LinkedIn → Close. -Balanced confidence in the platform with room for honest learning and curiosity. Identified that resident engagement often hinges on internal community leaders—social, religious, or volunteer-based—pointing toward future focus on “champion creation.” Insights -Cold outreach in property management often requires 5+ touchpoints per prospect. -General Managers are hesitant but responsive to respectful persistence. -Referral incentives (like Amazon gift cards) are best used to reward success, not close deals. Position them as gratitude, not bribery. Next Steps: -Secure 1–3 pilot communities and refine the platform based on real usage. -Explore niche community hubs like churches or local clubs to test pre-existing social glue. -Once validated, scale with trained reps or affiliate partners using the proven cadence and language.
CASE STUDY 11:
Case Study: Social Coordination MVP
Advise and collaborate on the early rollout of a lightweight social tool designed to reduce friction in organizing casual hangouts with friends and local crews. The goal was to simplify engagement while keeping the branding fun, youthful, and emotionally clear. Approach: -Partnered directly with the creator to refine homepage flow, core messaging, and brand clarity. -Flagged unclear wordplay and helped reposition the “homies” theme to feel both relevant and intentional. -Pushed for clarity over cleverness: adjusted CTA language (“receive simple text invites”) and removed overly soft phrasing to increase resonance. -Helped shape the user journey from homepage scroll to final signup by consolidating duplicated CTAs and improving content pacing. -Encouraged the use of real-world examples (“Frisbee tonight at 7pm…”) to show instead of tell. -Recommended launching just one version at a time and shelving apartment messaging to reduce confusion and test social virality with a clean message. -Suggested animation and content enhancements (e.g., GIFs, carousel images) to bring energy to an otherwise beta-feeling design. Result: The site now presents a tighter user journey, with copy and layout that better reflect the intended vibe. Visual hierarchy and homepage flow are improved, setting the stage for the first wave of organic and paid social experiments. The team is moving forward with a one-track brand test and early viral push focused solely on the casual group hangout experience.
CASE STUDY 12:
Case Study: Coaching a Manager Through Compensation Messaging
Guided a mid-level leader through delivering a sensitive pay update driven by regulatory change. manager needed to communicate an immediate salary increase to a direct report, triggered not by merit but by a federal update to minimum salary requirements for exempt employees. The manager felt conflicted, unsure how to deliver the message without sounding disingenuous or creating false expectations. I provided real-time coaching to clarify the manager's role: deliver the facts, avoid overexplaining legal nuances, and stay focused on what the employee values—security and growth. Helped reframe the conversation around stability: "Your current responsibilities now qualify you for a base salary of $44K, effective immediately." Reinforced how to redirect detailed or legal questions to HR while maintaining trust and composure as the supervisor. The manager delivered the update cleanly, preserved team trust, and kept the promotion conversation in motion without confusion.
CASE STUDY 13:
Case Study: Artist Collaboration Discovery – Chicago, IL
In an exploratory conversation with a multidisciplinary artist based in Chicago, we uncovered a compelling alignment of public art ambition, brand-readiness, and strong communication skill. This artist brought a unique dual background in theater and visual art, which has informed both her technical execution and her ability to serve as the face of a project. Process: The conversation served as both a rapport-building moment and an opportunity to identify real-world application of her work across private commissions, public installations, and branded activations. Her resume includes high-visibility work for international brands and regional cultural institutions, completed under tight deadlines and with complex client oversight. We explored her current workload cadence, material preferences, flexibility in scale and creative direction, and long-term brand goals. The artist demonstrated a rare balance of creative intuition and business acumen, further supported by her investment in professional coaching and pursuit of strategic partnerships. Key Themes Uncovered: Strong mural execution background (5+ private interiors) Commission adaptability with clear client consultation process High-profile collaborations including national fashion and food brands Desire to scale up into public-facing and corporate art relationships Exceptional on-site presence and live art potential Willingness to travel and collaborate within team environments Outcome: This session helped qualify the artist for inclusion in future mural rosters, live-art activations, and community-facing installations. Her alignment with mission-driven art, professionalism in execution, and natural charisma position her as a strong candidate for both high-impact public pieces and private commissions requiring a human face. Next Steps: Ongoing conversations will focus on shortlisting opportunities in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Florida markets. A coffee meeting is planned to further align priorities and introduce specific project briefs.
CASE STUDY 14:
Case Study:Advising the Launch of a Human-Centered Social Coordination Platform
Category: Strategic Innovation & Platform Testing Role: Strategic Advisor to Founder & CEO | Messaging Architect | Outreach Lead Project Type: Product Validation | Go-to-Market Strategy | Brand Development Overview I advised the creator and CEO of a new social coordination platform designed to reduce the friction of planning casual group activities. Whether for residents in apartment complexes or friend groups organizing pickup basketball or game nights, the tool centers on low-pressure engagement: pulsing group interest, allowing upvotes on activities, and minimizing the responsibility of a single initiator. My Role: -Served as an early strategic advisor to the founder Helped frame and differentiate dual go-to-market paths: business-to-consumer (friend groups) and business-to-business (apartment communities) Led development of early sales collateral, including flyers, email outreach, and phone scripts -Co-developed the platform’s “pulse check” model—enabling casual, opt-in social coordination -Provided field testing support through live events and weekly engagement experiments Challenges: -Unclear Product-Market Fit: Interest existed, but consistent event turnout remained low Coordination Bottlenecks: -Most social groups rely on one organizer, leading to burnout B2B Access Issues: -Gatekeepers at apartment complexes stalled contact with decision-makers -Unclear Feature Set: The value of things like white-labeling, flexible coordination, and minimal planning lift was not obvious at first glance Strategic Solutions: Pulse-Driven Design: -Helped implement a lightweight interest system where users “upvote” activities before committing Flexible Initiation: -Advised on decentralizing event planning by letting any user trigger a potential hangout Sales Approach Revamp: -Suggested reframing early outreach to assume buy-in—offering plug-and-play pilot kits for apartment staff Audience Split: - Differentiated two clear customer types: B2B: Property teams needing resident engagement tools B2C: Friends wanting to spend more time together with less hassle Results: -Contacted 10+ apartment properties, resulting in 3 pilot conversations -Ran ongoing live tests through weekly basketball meetups with measurable opt-in behavior -Enhanced sales and email engagement through personalized collateral and clearer framing -Provided long-term strategic direction on refining product scope and messaging split Key Takeaway: Sometimes the goal isn’t to make people show up—it’s to give them a reason to raise their hand. By shifting focus from planning to pulse-checking, this tool became more than a scheduling app. It became a low-pressure, high-signal way for groups to reconnect on their terms.
CASE STUDY 15:
Case Study: Digital Infrastructure Transition & Workspace Deactivation
Full-Scale Migration: Domain Transfer, Platform Consolidation, and System Streamlining Overview: Led a full digital transition for a creative organization seeking to consolidate platforms, eliminate legacy systems, and simplify its operational footprint. The scope included domain migration from Wix to Squarespace, seamless handoff of all DNS records, and a full deactivation of an outdated Google Workspace tied to a now-defunct admin account. Objectives: -Migrate the domain to a new platform without service interruption Sunset unused email infrastructure while maintaining email integrity -Prevent redundant billing and security exposure from inactive systems Execution: -Orchestrated the complete domain transfer, including registrar coordination, DNS record configuration, and propagation monitoring -Ensured a zero-downtime transition with full alignment across web, email, and backend services -Handled the deactivation of the existing Google Workspace account despite inactive admin credentials, working directly with Google to confirm domain ownership and initiate account termination -Audited and updated MX records to ensure clean and uninterrupted email flow post-migration Outcome: ✅ Domain successfully migrated and live on new platform ✅ Legacy email and admin systems fully shut down ✅ No billing continuation or technical liabilities ✅ Infrastructure positioned for long-term simplicity and scalability Strategic Impact: -This project exemplifies my ability to manage high-stakes digital transitions — balancing technical detail with strategic oversight to ensure clean migrations, eliminate operational risk, and future-proof digital assets.
CASE STUDY 16:
Case Study: Discovering Best Practices for a World-Class Gallery
How one in-depth session with a seasoned gallerist helped shape our vision for a gallery and international nonprofit. The Challenge:: -As we began laying the groundwork for both a nonprofit art initiative and an elite contemporary gallery, we knew we needed to understand more than just curating and sales—we needed to master operations, client experience, inventory systems, and the nuances of high-end art presentation. To fill in the gaps, we scheduled an immersive in-person discovery session with a long-standing gallerist who had quietly built a successful 15+ year practice with a focus on elevated yet approachable art sales. Our Approach: -This session was about listening, not pitching. Over the course of nearly two hours, we walked the physical space, reviewed inventory storage and framing operations, discussed pricing philosophies, and explored what separates a truly exceptional gallery from a forgettable one. Key topics included: Positioning the gallery experience as concierge-level service Structuring international art sales around donor engagement Rotating artwork and exhibit layouts to encourage repeat visitors Establishing limited edition runs with strategic framing partnerships Building a “viewing room” experience for private collectors Understanding the expectations and etiquette of elite art fairs Avoiding common pitfalls like overstock, underplanning, and artist imbalance The discussion spanned everything from wall height and lighting choices to community perception and the tension between exclusivity and accessibility. The Results: This conversation directly informed our gallery model. Several strategic decisions were shaped in real time, including: A gallery layout that supports both public exhibits and private donor events A print and framing strategy with local and scalable referral partners A renewed emphasis on rotating inventory and planning exhibits 12–18 months in advance A clear path to preparing for elite art fairs like Art Miami through phased participation Operational tweaks to increase readiness for hosting, curating, and closing high-value art sales Cultural positioning that honors the grassroots nature of our mission while elevating the art experience This session gave us more than insights—it gave us an operating lens. It clarified what it takes to not just display art, but to create a sustainable, reputable, and desirable gallery experience from the inside out.
CASE STUDY 17:
CASE STUDY: The Vault Begins – Logistics & Launch of a Legacy Collection
The first move in preserving a creative legacy is often logistical. This case study outlines the initial acquisition, transport, and public debut of more than two dozen original works by a late American painter whose archive exceeds 4,000 pieces and whose first curated haul is estimated at over $100,000. Project Focus: Fine Art Logistics, Gallery Coordination, Legacy Preparation Location: Private Collection (North Suburbs, IL) → Gallery Showcase (Bloomington, IN) Role: Curatorial Advisor, Logistics Coordinator, Legacy Strategist Context: A significant archive of original paintings—spanning figurative works, emotional landscapes, and themes of connection and love—required formal introduction to the public. The artist, known for a philosophy described as “abstract emotionalism,” left behind a prolific body of work and a vision for using art to support future generations. Challenge: Coordinate the selection and safe transfer of original works from a private residential collection to a regional gallery setting. Curate a diverse, emotionally resonant initial grouping for debut exhibition. Create the operational foundation for long-term storytelling, sales, and preservation. Prepare the works to enter a broader ecosystem of collectors, patrons, and cause-aligned partners. Approach: Facilitated an initial acquisition agreement based on trust, shared values, and good faith. Curated over 28 original pieces for initial release, representing key thematic categories: figuratives, landscapes, and symbolic works. Managed secure transportation from private collection to gallery venue using known and trusted resources. Coordinated with the exhibiting gallery to position the pieces for high visibility during a public art walk event. Developed the framework for an evolving “vault” experience to house and manage the broader collection over time. Result: The works were formally introduced in a gallery setting for the first time in years, with high-quality curation and secure handling. The initial haul—estimated at over $100,000 in value—was positioned for long-term circulation through collector partnerships. Narrative development efforts began to connect the artist’s personal story with a future-facing philanthropic mission. Infrastructure planning is underway for digital vault access, scholarship messaging, and long-term community engagement. Why This Matters: Demonstrates that preserving artistic legacies requires equal parts logistics, trust, and vision. Reinforces the value of structured acquisition and curation strategies when working with large private collections. Establishes a repeatable model for future impact-based art vaults under the same banner.
CASE STUDY 18:
Case Study: Financing Strategy for Non-Commercial, High-Dollar Hobby Vehicles
Consulted with lenders and developed creative financing strategies for high-end hobby vehicles that fell outside standard loan approval models. Context: -At a specialty dealership offering high-end trucks and unique, custom vehicles, a surprising obstacle emerged: many of the buyers — although financially well-qualified — couldn’t secure financing because the vehicles didn’t meet commercial use standards or fit into traditional loan categories. Challenge: -Most lenders were open to financing if the vehicle was for business use. But these trucks were often lifestyle purchases — lifted, customized, or collector-grade — and the buyers, while wealthy, didn’t align with the underwriting models of standard banks. The vehicles didn’t fit into a box. Approach: Reframed the Challenge: -This wasn’t about credit risk — it was about how these assets were perceived. Consulted with Regional Lenders: -Actively reached out to banks, credit unions, and private lenders to consult on what was blocking approvals and how to present vehicles in a way that made sense for underwriting. Positioned the vehicles based on real market demand and asset strength, not just outdated valuation models. Created Personal Loan Pathways: -Helped shift the financing conversation from “vehicle loan” to personal asset-backed lending, when appropriate. Built a short list of lenders willing to look at these purchases with a more flexible lens. Internal Deal Structuring: -Flagged high-likelihood financing issues early, giving the sales team time to reposition deals. -Created simple intake language and process suggestions to improve lender confidence without overcomplicating the buyer experience. Result: -Recovered and closed deals that would’ve otherwise stalled or been lost. Helped high-net-worth buyers secure vehicles they couldn’t traditionally finance. -Built a foundational system for financing unusual, high-ticket, non-commercial vehicle sales — making the dealership more competitive in its niche.
CASE STUDY 19:
Case Study: Brand Architecture and Strategy
Advised the creator and CEO of a new social coordination platform designed to reduce the friction of planning casual group activities. Whether for residents in apartment complexes or friend groups organizing pickup basketball or game nights, the tool centers on low-pressure engagement: pulsing group interest, allowing upvotes on activities, and minimizing the responsibility of a single initiator. Category: Strategic Innovation & Platform Testing Role: Strategic Advisor to Founder & CEO | Messaging Architect | Outreach Lead Project Type: Product Validation | Go-to-Market Strategy | Brand Development My Role Served as an early strategic advisor to the founder Helped frame and differentiate dual go-to-market paths: business-to-consumer (friend groups) and business-to-business (apartment communities) Led development of early sales collateral, including flyers, email outreach, and phone scripts Co-developed the platform’s “pulse check” model—enabling casual, opt-in social coordination Provided field testing support through live events and weekly engagement experiments Challenges Unclear Product-Market Fit: Interest existed, but consistent event turnout remained low Coordination Bottlenecks: Most social groups rely on one organizer, leading to burnout B2B Access Issues: Gatekeepers at apartment complexes stalled contact with decision-makers Unclear Feature Set: The value of things like white-labeling, flexible coordination, and minimal planning lift was not obvious at first glance Strategic Solutions Pulse-Driven Design: Helped implement a lightweight interest system where users “upvote” activities before committing Flexible Initiation: Advised on decentralizing event planning by letting any user trigger a potential hangout Sales Approach Revamp: Suggested reframing early outreach to assume buy-in—offering plug-and-play pilot kits for apartment staff Audience Split: Differentiated two clear customer types: B2B: Property teams needing resident engagement tools B2C: Friends wanting to spend more time together with less hassle Results Contacted 10+ apartment properties, resulting in 3 pilot conversations Ran ongoing live tests through weekly basketball meetups with measurable opt-in behavior Enhanced sales and email engagement through personalized collateral and clearer framing Provided long-term strategic direction on refining product scope and messaging split Key Takeaway Sometimes the goal isn’t to make people show up—it’s to give them a reason to raise their hand. By shifting focus from planning to pulse-checking, this tool became more than a scheduling app. It became a low-pressure, high-signal way for groups to reconnect on their terms.
CASE STUDY 20:
Case Study: High Performance Team
Created a new outbound sales role, hired five team members, and launched them on the same day—establishing a scalable, high-volume lead generation engine. Context: -A $45M consulting firm, I was asked to build a new outbound sales team from scratch to support talent outreach and lead generation efforts. Challenge: -Establish a full outbound team making 80+ calls per day without any pre-existing structure, playbook, or role definition. Approach: -Created the job structure and recruitment process from scratch. -Synchronized all new hires to start on the same day, creating early camaraderie and momentum. -Led a high-energy onboarding program built around CRM, cold outreach training, and daily KPIs. -Emphasized a metrics-first, community-based performance culture. Result: -The team consistently hit call goals and contributed to a marked increase in weekly pipeline activity. The approach became a blueprint for future team scaling. -The role became institutionalized as a core part of our outbound process.
CASE STUDY 21:
Case Study: Creating Market-Specific Identities for a $45M Firm
Developed and launched three distinct talent brands under a consulting firm umbrella, crafting positioning, messaging, and digital presence in close partnership with leadership. Context: -A $45M consulting firm needed to spin off and launch multiple distinct brands under a single operational umbrella — each with a unique target market. Challenge: -Develop differentiated brand identities while maintaining alignment with the firm’s broader mission and capabilities. Approach: -Partnered closely with the CSO and Managing Director to define brand pillars and target audiences. -Named and positioned three distinct divisions across financial, engineering, and lab-focused verticals. Built cohesive messaging and narrative structures for each brand. -Oversaw the design and launch of separate websites optimized for inbound lead capture and intake. Result: -Each brand launched with clear market differentiation, strong -internal buy-in, and a custom digital footprint. -Site traffic and inbound lead conversion improved. -The firm was better equipped to speak directly to different buyer personas under one parent strategy.
CASE STUDY 22:
Case Study: IT Service Desk Org Design
Supported the talent and consulting teams in designing a full IT service desk structure for a national trade association, contributing to candidate fit and long-term retention. Context: -A major national trade association needed to build a high-functioning internal IT service desk, supporting hundreds of affiliate users. Challenge: They lacked the structure, process clarity, and recruiting bandwidth to do it alone. Approach: -Partnered with internal talent and consulting leads to evaluate role types and ideal candidate profiles. -Supported the creation of job descriptions and culture-fit criteria. -Contributed to the evaluation and refinement of the team structure in line with business goals. Result: -The client built a fully staffed, top-tier IT service desk with -100% retention. Internal satisfaction scores hit all-time highs. -The team was set up for long-term success with a structure and feedback loop we helped co-create.
CASE STUDY 23:
Case Study: Brand, Website, and CRM Consultation for an Established Vehicle Dealer
Consulted on brand, website, chatbot, and CRM strategy for an established dealer, helping evolve its digital presence without losing its legacy. Context: With over 15 years of success and an active online presence, the company had built a loyal customer base and strong reputation in the high-end vehicle market. As the business entered its next chapter, I was asked to consult on how to enhance its brand presentation, web functionality, and customer experience — without compromising its original identity. Challenge: Help refine and elevate the brand’s digital presence while preserving its legacy. The scope included reviewing the existing website, suggesting improvements, and integrating new tools like a chatbot and CRM workflows — all with an emphasis on keeping the customer experience smooth and scalable. Approach: Strategic Brand & Website Audit: Partnered with a creative collaborator to assess the site’s tone, flow, and messaging. Created a full brand dossier and site strategy document, outlining recommended content, design adjustments, and audience segmentation improvements. Provided respectful feedback that built on the company’s established voice and values. Chatbot Implementation & Script Creation: Led the development of a site-based chatbot, writing the full conversation script to guide users through common buyer, seller, and financing scenarios. Integrated the chatbot touchpoints into a broader CRM flow, ensuring leads were properly categorized and followed up. CRM Alignment & Process Integration: Consulted on how to sync chatbot interactions and form submissions with the CRM system to maintain clean records and improve response time. Helped connect brand strategy with backend organization — aligning messaging, automation, and internal tracking. Result: Delivered a respectful, strategic update to the company’s digital presence — including copy, tone, and structure improvements. Successfully implemented a chatbot with clear, guided customer interactions. Strengthened the connection between front-end branding and back-end operations through CRM integration, laying the groundwork for long-term scale and lead quality.
CASE STUDY 24:
Case Study: ERP/ PSA Modernization Strategy
Helped evaluate and roadmap a new ERP/PSA system for a PE-backed firm with legacy tools—improving visibility, billing speed, and organizational scalability. Context: A PE-backed advisory firm relied on a WordPress-based homegrown system with disconnected spreadsheets and outdated tools. They needed a path forward. Challenge: -Their PSA/ERP system couldn’t scale. It was harming cash flow, creating compliance risks, and slowing down the business. Approach: -Participated in internal strategic roadmapping with enterprise and business architects. -Helped document current-state issues and identify future-state functional requirements. Mapped business pain points to operational goals for the PE sponsor group. -Evaluated product options aligned with their services-based workflow. Result: -The client received a clear modernization strategy to consolidate systems and improve time capture, billing speed, and data integrity. -The roadmap was projected to boost cash flow by 30%, increase billable hours by 3–5%, and eliminate custom dev costs.
CASE STUDY 25:
Case Study: Brand Strategy & Market Positioning for a Natural Wellness Venture
Helped transform a natural remedy idea into an investor-ready brand with clear messaging, supply chain strategy, and go-to-market planning. Short Explanation: Guided the early-stage development of a wellness product line focused on natural immune and allergy support — from concept validation and brand identity to packaging strategy, pitch prep, and funding pathways. Context: -The founder had a promising idea for a natural remedy product aimed at supporting immune health and combating seasonal allergies. -He needed guidance turning the concept into a viable consumer product while navigating branding, supply chain strategy, and investor readiness. Challenge: -Create a brand system and narrative that would resonate in a crowded natural wellness space. -Identify pathways to production, packaging, and distribution with minimal upfront capital. -Prepare the founder for investor conversations and potential expo opportunities. Approach: Brand Strategy: -Developed naming, tone, and visual identity options with a focus on clean, modern wellness aesthetics. -Crafted key brand messaging pillars rooted in transparency, effectiveness, and natural integrity. Product & Packaging: -Explored sourcing partners, for contract manufacturing. Outlined packaging needs (label compliance, consumer trust indicators, shelf appeal). -Advised on small-batch production vs. scalable fulfillment planning. Investor & Expo Preparation: -Refined pitch narrative and go-to-market roadmap. -Helped prepare for conversations with investor/consultant. -Recommended industry events. Founder Coaching: -Positioned the founder as the passionate, informed face of the product. -Outlined next steps for pre-orders, testing, customer testimonials, and influencer strategy. Results: -Brand narrative and product concept refined toward a polished investor-ready strategy. -Founder gained clarity on funding options, production partners, and next-stage moves. -Strategic coaching established a roadmap from concept to early launch phase.
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Case Study: Task Management System for a Fast-Paced, Multi-Channel Business
Designed and implemented a flexible task management system that brought clarity, accountability, and speed to a fast-moving business. Context: In a growing operation with multiple moving parts — including sales, sourcing, marketing, and shop logistics — responsibilities were stacking up and communication was mostly happening through calls, texts, or side conversations. The result was delays, missed follow-ups, and a general sense of disorganization that didn’t reflect the quality of the work being done. Challenge: Introduce a task management system that could help the team stay accountable and move faster — without feeling like extra work. It needed to be flexible, easy to update on mobile, and built to reflect how the business actually operates. Approach: Platform Selection & Setup: After evaluating several tools, I selected a task system that could handle team-wide visibility, real-time updates, and role-based boards. The tool was chosen for its clean layout, drag-and-drop usability, and lightweight mobile interface. System Design: Built custom boards to track sourcing assignments, outreach, internal deadlines, marketing content, and shop tasks. Used statuses, due dates, tags, and notes to make ownership and blockers immediately clear. Organized tasks by project type and urgency, keeping it easy to read at a glance. Cultural Integration: Rolled it out in a way that felt supportive, not controlling — focused on clarity, momentum, and shared ownership. Kept training short and example-based, allowing the team to adapt without pressure. Encouraged quick comments and updates instead of long meetings or follow-up loops. Cross-Team Flexibility: The system was designed to handle both frontline tasks and leadership visibility, making it a hub for daily operations as well as long-range planning. Result: Replaced scattered communication with a simple, shared system of action. Made it easier for everyone to know what was in motion and what needed follow-up. Created breathing room and improved execution without adding red tape or micromanagement.
CASE STUDY 27:
Case Study: CRM Implementation & Process Architecture
Built and launched a fully customized CRM in under three weeks, turning a scattered sales process into a structured, trackable system. Context: At a $20 million-a-year vehicle sales company, there was no centralized system for tracking customers, sourcing opportunities, or managing follow-ups. Day-to-day workflows were scattered across texts, notes, and individual habits — and nothing was unified or trackable. Challenge: Build a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system that could organize the business across sourcing, sales, financing, and follow-up — while being compatible with Mac computers, mobile devices, and a hybrid work style. The decision had to be made fast, with implementation completed in less than a month. Approach: Three-Week Selection Process: Piloted several top tools, including monday.com, Apollo, and Pipedrive, evaluating each for mobile use, ease of adoption, and native compatibility with Mac systems. System Design: - Created clear, customized pipelines for buyers, sellers, vehicle sourcing, financing, and follow-up. - Built in tags, urgency markers, and custom fields that matched our real process — from VIN numbers to financing conversations. - Designed everything to be intuitive and actionable, with no wasted clicks. Team Rollout: - Trained the team through hands-on walkthroughs. - Introduced a shared language around pipeline stages, task ownership, and customer notes. - Set up live dashboards and clear workflows to guide daily priorities. Result: -Launched a fully functional, Mac-compatible CRM system in under three weeks. - Created a central hub for all lead activity, deal tracking, and task assignment. - Gave leadership full visibility into the sales pipeline for the first time. - Laid the foundation for the company’s first outbound customer contact campaign — a structured pursuit of new business that hadn’t been attempted before.
CASE STUDY 28:
Case Study: Securing Exclusive Partnership Rights
A $20 million-a-year revenue company specializing in high-end vehicle sales sought to elevate its brand visibility within niche markets. -Partnering with the Quarter Horse Association for their major event in Columbus, Ohio, in late summer was a prime opportunity. Challenge: -Establish a high-impact partnership in a short timeframe, maximizing exposure while negotiating beyond standard sponsorship terms. Approach: Rapid Engagement: -Secured the partnership after just two days of prospecting, quickly aligning with the association’s needs and our brand goals. Negotiation Mastery: -Achieved special banner rights and a jumbotron reel opportunity. Creative Solution: -Negotiated a jumbotron reel with double the typical runtime and the flexibility to update content as often as needed. Result: -Achieved a highly visible presence at the Columbus event, enhancing brand recognition. -Demonstrated negotiation skills and strategic thinking with a swift turnaround. -Set a precedent for future high-value partnerships.
CASE STUDY 29:
Case Study: Coaching a Bodybuilding Competitor into Higher Education
Coached a personal trainer and bodybuilder through a successful transition into higher education, leading to a long-term role as an Events Specialist. Context: - A client sought guidance during her transition from personal training and bodybuilding into a full-time campus-based role. - Though naturally charismatic and driven, she lacked formal experience navigating professional interviews and organizational dynamics. Challenge: - Prepare her to stand out as a capable and trustworthy Events Specialist despite limited conventional work history. - Build confidence, interview fluency, and a narrative that framed her athletic discipline as workplace value. Approach: - Provided hands-on coaching through structured mock interviews and live feedback. - Helped develop a professional narrative that framed her competitive discipline as a strength in coordination, scheduling, and stakeholder communication. - Advised on interpersonal cues, tone, and how to align her responses with the university’s culture and values. Results: - She was hired into the Events Specialist role at a major university. - She successfully held the position for over two years, demonstrating leadership and strong relationship management. - The experience validated her ability to thrive in structured environments beyond fitness.
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Case Study: Anonymous Brand Creation & Monetization Strategy
Helped develop and launch a fictional character brand with complete anonymity — creating the persona, visual identity, e-commerce backend, and long-term monetization strategy. Context: - A client approached with the desire to build a fictional character online while maintaining total anonymity from their real identity. - The goal was to create a profitable brand presence without any trace to their personal life. Challenge: - Balance fiction, privacy, functionality, and monetization — all without revealing any personal details. - Create systems that could support revenue growth and brand integrity long-term. Approach: - Developed the character dossier, tone, visual language, and persona backstory. - Created a brand identity and aesthetic aligned with the fictional voice. - Built the website, payment systems, fulfillment strategy, and drop-ship flow. - Continued to advise on content, positioning, and product extensions on a performance-based consulting agreement. Results: - Brand successfully launched and built a niche, loyal customer base. - Creator retained total anonymity while generating profit. - Business continues to grow with minimal overhead and outsourced fulfillment.
CASE STUDY 31:
Case Study: Anonymized Brand Activation for Underutilized Commercial Space
Built a brand-first marketing concept that drove visibility, foot traffic, and intrigue to underutilized commercial properties—without requiring an active venue. Context: - A vacant space in a downtown corridor presented an opportunity to experiment with mystery-driven branding and passive activation. - The concept needed to generate attention and leads for both events and long-term tenant interest. Challenge: - Create a compelling public-facing identity without explaining the brand or hosting events. - Turn empty space into a lead magnet for foot traffic, interest, and community engagement. Approach: - Designed a full brand system using red and black visuals, vintage aesthetics, and QR-only signage. - Created an air of exclusivity and controlled curiosity that encouraged scanning and word-of-mouth spread. - Drove visitors to a website and lead collection system that doubled as a rental funnel. - Offered foot traffic and exposure as added value to partnering landlords. Results: - Brand signage alone attracted interest, leading to a full-time tenant for the space. - Created a reusable framework that could be applied to other underutilized properties. - The venue was not required for success — proof that identity and intrigue alone can drive conversion.
CASE STUDY 32:
Case Study: Payment Systems Overhaul for a Historic Stone Supplier
Consulted on the overhaul of a legacy payment infrastructure, reducing costs by 25% and implementing online systems for long-term financial efficiency. Context: - A well-established stone supplier was operating on outdated manual billing and check-based systems. - Recent acquisition by a parent firm highlighted the need for modernization and cost-cutting. Challenge: - Implement online portals, improve credit card processing, and create a more modern, trackable system. - Reduce overall transaction fees and increase cash flow transparency. Approach: - Audited the existing payment system and identified inefficiencies. - Implemented secure online billing portals and integrated credit card acceptance. - Negotiated new processing terms to reduce transaction fees. - Built internal usage guides and workflows for staff adoption. Results: - Reduced payment processing costs by 25%. - Improved speed of cash flow, user convenience, and backend reporting. - The relationship evolved into long-term financial consulting support.
CASE STUDY 33:
Case Study: Strategic Partnerships to Expand Market Reach
Created high-impact brand partnerships with aligned organizations and events, building visibility and goodwill through fast, strategic outreach. Context: At a $20 million-a-year high-performance vehicle company, there was a clear opportunity to elevate the brand by aligning with organizations that catered to potential customers and community influencers — but no partnership structure or process had been established yet. Challenge: -Create a new path to visibility by building relationships and sponsorships that were both authentic and strategic. The goal was to increase exposure and credibility with target audiences, without relying on traditional marketing channels. Approach: Prospecting Framework: - Developed a rapid vetting process to identify organizations and events that matched the brand’s customer base — prioritizing regional events, lifestyle associations, and industry-adjacent groups. Outreach & Negotiation: -Personally initiated contact with key decision-makers across multiple organizations. -Approached each one not just with a pitch, but with a sense of what we could co-create or enhance together. Execution & Activation: -Negotiated banner placements, video loops, tabling rights, and premium positioning at live events. In some cases, secured flexible terms — like extended video airtime or the ability to change promotional materials throughout the season. Worked fast: -One key partnership was secured the day before the event, after just two days of outreach. Relationship Building: -Focused not just on one-off exposure, but on long-term goodwill and repeatable models that could be used for future partnerships. Result: - Gained direct access to large, aligned audiences with minimal spend. - Created repeatable models for activating sponsorships and community visibility. - Reinforced the brand's presence not just as a vehicle dealer, but as an active player in the lifestyle, sport, and enthusiast spaces its customers care about.
CASE STUDY 34:
Case Study: Coaching a Career Transition into an Associate Director Role
Worked closely with a driven, recently graduated MBA to refine her job search strategy, elevate her professional presence, and ultimately help her land an Associate Director position in higher education. Context: - A recent MBA graduate with prior experience managing sales teams was struggling to transition into a more purpose-driven role. - Despite strong qualifications, she wasn’t receiving responses to job applications and was growing frustrated with the lack of traction. Challenge: - Build a repeatable job search rhythm that combined outreach strategy with clarity of intent. - Shape her interview presence and professional voice in a way that aligned with her new industry goals. - Sustain energy and confidence over the course of an intensive search process. Approach: - Held weekly coaching sessions that focused on interview psychology, presentation clarity, and professional self-concept. - Created frameworks to help her identify ideal teams, define cultural fit, and pursue roles that aligned with her long-term goals. - Tracked over 120 applications while refining her narrative, adjusting her outreach style, and building momentum through each iteration. Results: - She secured her ideal position as Associate Director at a major university. - Over five years later, she continues to thrive in the role and remains aligned with the institution’s mission and culture. - The process left her with a sustainable foundation for long-term career navigation and future leadership opportunities.
CASE STUDY 35:
Case Study: Sales Infrastructure That Sparked Inc. 5000 Recognition – Year One
What does it take to make the list? Relocation, ground-up recruiting, and high-velocity growth. We were recruited to launch a new office—and helped build a national campaign engine. Project Focus: Office Launch, Sales Infrastructure, National Recruiting Strategy Location: Chicago, IL (Relocated Launch Office) + National Recruiting Scope My Role: Office Builder, Foundational Recruiter, and Commission System Architect Context: A lean, high-potential energy firm sought to expand beyond residential door-to-door sales into commercial B2B. Leadership recruited us specifically for our ability to build scalable sales teams and Inc. 5000-worthy systems from the ground up. Challenge: Launch the company's first-ever B2B office in a brand-new market. Recruit, relocate, and train a team capable of high-volume performance. Build the systems, branding, and compensation structures from an independent office model. Establish a national recruiting channel to scale residential and commercial campaigns nationwide. Approach: Personally recruited and moved a high-potential team from out of state to Chicago. Developed all branding, onboarding, and internal systems to support the new office model. Created scalable compensation and commission frameworks in collaboration with stakeholders. Oversaw rapid team growth—from 5 reps to over 30 in just 3 months. Established a repeatable national recruiting and intake model that supported every new market launch that followed. Result: The company earned its first-ever placement on the Inc. 5000 list, with a 618% growth rate over three years. The Chicago B2B office became the foundational proof point for future commercial expansion. National recruiting systems seeded growth across multiple regional offices. The playbooks and comp systems built during this period went on to define the company’s entire campaign model. Why This Matters: Showcases how real leadership starts with taking the leap—new city, new market, no excuses. Proves that infrastructure, recruiting, and compensation design are inseparable from rapid growth. This work was the springboard for multiple years of national recognition and expansion.
CASE STUDY 36:
Case Study: Outbound Systems That Drove Triple-Digit Growth
We were recruited after proving our ability to build scalable teams. Then we built the outbound and recruiting systems that fueled over 800% growth and earned Inc. 5000 recognition. Project Focus: Sales Enablement, Outbound Process, CRM Infrastructure Location: Chicago, IL HQ + National Markets My Role: Sales Systems Architect and Recruiting Lead Context: Following our success launching a high-growth sales office that earned Inc. 5000 status, we were brought in to architect the next phase of national expansion. This company had high-volume potential but lacked structured systems, scalable recruiting, and consistent sales execution. Challenge: Build a national recruiting engine to fill multiple verticals. Create repeatable sales playbooks and outbound messaging cadences. Implement systems to support both residential and commercial sales teams. Align lead flow and sales process across multiple departments. Approach: Recruited and developed foundational teams across sales, ops, and inside support. Authored custom outbound scripts, objection handling frameworks, and onboarding guides. Worked cross-functionally to ensure CRM and lead management systems supported rapid scale. Introduced weekly accountability rhythms and rep performance tracking that tied into leadership KPIs. Result: The company earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list in 2017, with an 821% growth rate over three years. Sales systems became the internal benchmark across departments. The outbound program improved lead conversion and created a culture of structured success. These systems served as the launchpad for expanded services and future verticals. Why This Matters: Reinforces how sales execution and CRM alignment create sustainable momentum. Demonstrates how thoughtful onboarding and scripting unlock team performance. Proves that high growth is rarely an accident—it’s built on intention and process.
CASE STUDY 37:
Case Study: Channel-Driven Growth & Green Energy Sales Enablement for Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Company
As a Channel Partner and strategist, we helped scale a clean energy firm into the Inc. 500. Our work expanded rep toolkits, introduced solar incentives, and fueled over 1,500% growth. Project Focus: Channel Expansion, Sales Enablement, Green Energy Integration Location: Chicago HQ + National Expansion My Role: Channel Partner, Sales System Strategist, and Talent Architect Context: A fast-rising clean energy firm had the engineering and project pipeline to grow—but needed help building a scalable sales structure. Leadership brought us in as proven channel partners to help design a national recruiting engine, expand rep capabilities, and align messaging around energy incentives and green tech. Challenge: -Launch scalable sales infrastructure to support national project demand. -Add solar and sustainability offerings to reps’ existing product mix. -Build a recruiting and onboarding system for consultants in technical and municipal sectors. -Align field activity with emerging tax credits, rebates, and solar incentives. Approach: -Operated as strategic channel partners while helping develop a talent pipeline across verticals. -Trained sales reps to speak fluently about solar programs, tax incentives, and LED retrofits. -Built onboarding frameworks and vertical-specific sales processes tailored to each energy offering. -Reinforced product knowledge with updated sales decks, outreach scripts, and performance goals. Result: -The company secured a place on the Inc. 500 list in 2017 with a 1,537% three-year growth rate. -Sales reps transitioned from single-solution sellers to consultative partners offering full energy strategies. -The infrastructure supported contracts across commercial, nonprofit, and public-sector verticals. -The firm continued its Inc. 5000 momentum in subsequent years, gaining national sustainability recognition. Why This Matters: Shows that meaningful growth comes not just from new markets—but better-trained reps. Reinforces the importance of aligning sales infrastructure with evolving energy policy. Demonstrates how channel partnerships and enablement can fast-track national recognition.
CASE STUDY 38:
Case Study: Salesforce Lightning Pilot Implementation
Brought in to test and implement Salesforce Lightning six months before its company-wide rollout, I served as the sole pilot user—training others, liaising with leadership, and shaping the system’s long-term deployment. Focus: CRM System Test & Implementation – Salesforce Lightning Location: Chicago, IL (Multi-office, hybrid environment) My Role: Salesforce Lightning Pilot Lead, Systems Trainer, CRM Advisor Context: The company had long operated on Salesforce Classic but was evaluating a transition to Salesforce Lightning—a more modern, flexible CRM interface offering enhanced reporting, automation, and UI. I was specifically hired and tasked with adopting Salesforce Lightning as a lone pilot before it was released to the rest of the company. My role required hands-on use of the new system while reporting directly to the CEO and senior leadership on system performance, rollout viability, and long-term integration strategy. Challenge: -Become fluent in a new version of Salesforce while the rest of the company remained on the legacy system. -Validate Lightning’s features across multiple departments, each with distinct workflows and reporting needs. -Identify potential friction points, UI gaps, and opportunities for streamlining daily tasks before a full migration. -Build trust and authority as the internal point person despite being a new hire. Approach; -Immersed in the Lightning environment from day one, using it as my exclusive platform for all CRM activity. Liaised with sales, recruiting, and operations teams to gather use cases and translate Classic workflows into Lightning functionality. -Codevelop custom dashboards and reporting tools that mirrored leadership KPIs and department-specific metrics. -Created and shared internal training content, tutorials, and live walkthroughs to introduce others to the system before migration. -Regularly met with executive leadership to review findings, offer migration strategy, and flag key improvement areas. Result -Served as the internal benchmark for Salesforce Lightning adoption, enabling a frictionless rollout across the company. -Created dashboards and workflows that became the foundation for multiple departments post-launch. -Reported and resolved dozens of usability and performance concerns prior to company-wide exposure. -Played a pivotal role in accelerating digital adoption, with full transition completed in under 60 days once approved. Why This Matters: -Early-stage CRM pilots done right can make or break digital transitions. By embedding myself in the Lightning system and guiding others through its strengths and quirks, I helped position the company for operational growth and smarter data visibility. Strategic CRM adaptation isn’t just about tech—it’s about building internal trust, clear training systems, and scalable implementation frameworks. This case delivered on all three.
CASE STUDY 39:
Case Study: Structuring & Launching a Creative Venture in NYC
Partnered with the founder of a creative startup to build the structural, brand, and outreach foundation for a New York-based venture — leading team formation, audience engagement, and digital presence. Context: - A creative initiative based in New York was entering its formative stage with a clear vision but no established infrastructure, identity, or outreach systems. - The founder sought support in building out brand messaging, recruiting a launch team, creating a digital presence, and hosting early public events. Challenge: - Shape the venture’s positioning and service clarity. - Build systems for team recruitment and audience outreach. - Help translate a founder-led concept into a strong, collaborative brand with long-term viability. Approach: - Collaborated on building a clear leadership persona and guiding internal culture. - Wrote outreach scripts, team invitations, and internal communication tools. - Developed messaging and targeting for early attendee engagement. - Shaped the brand identity, tone, and visual elements across digital and physical spaces. Results: - Launched with a cohesive leadership identity and visual presence. - Recruited a team and launched successful first-round events. - Built a brand that continues to attract creative collaborators and clients.
CASE STUDY 40:
Case Study: Small Claims Evidence Preparation
Delivered a full digital evidence package and in-person training within 24 hours to support an 80-year-old claimant preparing for small claims court. Context: -An 80-year-old homeowner filed a small claims lawsuit after a mini split system was improperly installed, resulting in property damage and safety concerns. Challenge: -Consolidate scattered digital evidence and equip someone with limited technical experience to present it live in court—on a tight 24-hour timeline. Approach: -Compiled and organized all materials onto two separate flash drives, in accordance with Indiana small claims court documentation requirements. -Structured and rehearsed a clear narrative flow for courtroom delivery. -Reviewed, labeled, and timestamped all key audio and video files to allow for quick reference during the hearing. -Installed and configured playback software and tools on the claimant’s personal laptop. -Provided in-person training on using the laptop, flash drives, and media tools to ensure confidence during the live presentation. -Conducted a mock run-through and post-evaluation session to reinforce timing and presentation flow. Result: -The entire package was delivered within 24 hours, meeting all court requirements and technical needs. -The claimant confidently managed their in-court presentation and received positive feedback on clarity and organization. -The accelerated delivery and hands-on support helped reduce stress and improve courtroom effectiveness.
CASE STUDY 41:
Case Study: Field Sales System Adoption & Multi-Office Scaling
Project Focus: Field Enablement, Proprietary Tech Rollout, National Office Expansion Location: Multiple U.S. Cities Role: Rep → Office Owner → Strategist Context: An independent sales network representing Fortune 500 clients required scalable onboarding and data processes across hundreds of offices and thousands of representatives. Field teams were tasked with high-volume face-to-face B2B outreach, entering sensitive customer information through a proprietary portal connected to a Salesforce back end. Challenge: Collect sensitive customer data securely while meeting aggressive daily performance targets. Train new representatives to adopt a complex system while minimizing data-entry errors. Standardize workflows as new offices launched across multiple regions. Approach: Transitioned from frontline representative to office owner, introducing structured onboarding and training programs. Provided feedback to refine the proprietary portal, improving usability and aligning front-end activity with back-end reporting. Replicated best practices across new market launches, ensuring adoption consistency and leadership visibility. Result: Increased system adoption rates and reduced data-entry errors across multiple cohorts. Opened and managed a new office that achieved consistent sales performance. Supported office launches in multiple U.S. cities, improving scalability and reporting accuracy. Why This Matters: Scaling face-to-face sales requires more than volume. This initiative connected field-level execution with back-end visibility, creating repeatable systems that enabled growth across a national office network.
CASE STUDY 42:
Case Study: Mentorship & Workforce Readiness Programs
Project Focus: Talent Development, Career Readiness, Employer Engagement Location: Chicago, IL & Bloomington, IN Role: Panelist, Mentor, Employer Representative Context: Career preparation programs at universities required employer engagement to bridge the gap between academic study and real-world workforce expectations. Engagement spanned pre- and post-COVID environments, including in-person events, hybrid sessions, and virtual mentoring. Challenge: Provide students with practical insight into professional behavior and career readiness. Translate employer hiring practices into clear guidance for new graduates. Adapt programming to the changing job market across remote, hybrid, and in-person work. Approach: Served on employer panels, answering student questions on workplace behavior, job search strategies, and professional growth. Participated in career fairs across multiple universities, providing live feedback on resumes and interview readiness. Mentored interns and graduates, offering structured guidance for job placement and early career navigation. Result: Supported dozens of students and graduates in securing roles across industries. Strengthened university-employer relationships through consistent engagement. Developed a repeatable mentoring framework linking academic preparation to workforce success. Why This Matters: Enablement extends beyond sales teams. By mentoring and preparing new professionals, these programs applied the same principles of structure, clarity, and accountability to talent pipelines at scale.
CASE STUDY 43:
Case Study: Compliance & Secure Data Handling in Field Sales
Project Focus: Data Integrity, Compliance, Process Standardization Location: Multiple U.S. Cities Role: Field Representative → Office Strategist Context: A large-scale sales network representing Fortune 500 clients required field representatives to process sensitive customer data, including qualifying information necessary for business plan enrollment and promotional offers. With hundreds of offices operating across the U.S. and thousands of representatives in the field, consistency and compliance were critical. Challenge: Collect sensitive customer information securely in high-volume, face-to-face sales environments. Ensure accuracy and compliance despite varied field conditions. Provide leadership with confidence that field-level activity aligned with enterprise data standards. Approach: Utilized a proprietary front-end portal, designed to connect securely with a Salesforce back end. Introduced standardized intake practices that emphasized data accuracy, verification, and compliance. Delivered structured onboarding to new representatives, integrating data-handling best practices into daily workflows. Partnered with leadership to refine system features, ensuring front-line usability aligned with compliance requirements. Result: Reduced data-entry errors across multiple office launches and training cohorts. Improved leadership confidence in reporting accuracy and compliance visibility. Enabled faster qualification and onboarding of business customers, supporting revenue growth. Why This Matters: In face-to-face sales, trust and compliance are as critical as closing the deal. This initiative demonstrated how secure, standardized processes can balance customer experience with enterprise-level requirements—creating a foundation for both performance and protection.
CASE STUDY 44:
Case Study: National Expansion Playbook for Field Sales Offices
Project Focus: Office Launch, Process Replication, Scalable Training Location: Multiple U.S. Markets Role: Office Builder & Expansion Strategist Context: A distributed sales network required consistent replication of high-performing field offices across multiple regions. With each office operating as an independent entity, success depended on creating systems that could be repeated quickly without sacrificing quality, compliance, or culture. Challenge: Launch new offices under aggressive timelines while maintaining consistent sales performance. Standardize onboarding and daily workflows across diverse markets. Build cohesion between offices while preserving local flexibility. Approach: Opened a new regional office and established core onboarding, training, and performance frameworks. Documented best practices into structured playbooks for recruiting, onboarding, and sales execution. Deployed experienced leaders to support new market launches, ensuring early stability and cultural alignment. Established feedback systems to capture lessons learned and refine processes for subsequent openings. Result: Successfully launched offices in multiple markets, achieving performance benchmarks within weeks of opening. Replicated structured onboarding systems that reduced ramp time for new representatives. Created cultural consistency and operational discipline across a distributed network. Why This Matters: Scaling sales organizations requires more than new markets—it requires repeatable models that balance structure with adaptability. This playbook provided the framework for consistent office launches, accelerating growth while preserving accountability and cohesion.
CASE STUDY 45:
Case Study: Technology Feedback Loop Between Field and Back Office
Project Focus: System Optimization, Adoption Strategy, User Experience Alignment Location: Multi-Office, U.S. Role: Field Strategist & System Contributor Context: A proprietary portal was deployed across a nationwide sales network to capture field data and manage customer enrollment. While the back end leveraged Salesforce for reporting and compliance, the rep-facing system was developed in real time, often creating usability challenges for high-volume sales teams. Challenge: Reconcile the gap between front-line usability and back-end compliance requirements. Drive adoption of a system still in development without disrupting daily sales quotas. Ensure field feedback informed long-term scalability of the technology. Approach: Provided structured, real-time feedback from field operations to developers and leadership. Identified pain points in user flow and recommended adjustments to improve accuracy and speed. Built training sequences that aligned system updates with onboarding and daily workflows. Supported implementation across multiple office launches, ensuring consistent usage. Result: Increased system adoption rates through usability improvements and training integration. Reduced reporting discrepancies between field-entered data and Salesforce dashboards. Improved rep efficiency, enabling leadership to scale the system across hundreds of offices with confidence. Why This Matters: Digital adoption succeeds when front-line experience informs system design. By creating a feedback loop between representatives and developers, this initiative aligned technology with real-world execution—transforming a developing tool into a scalable, trusted system.
CASE STUDY 46:
Case Study: Leveraging University Partnerships to Fund Early Talent Programs
Project Focus: Workforce Development, University Engagement, Funding Strategy Location: Illinois – Business & Higher Education Collaboration Role: Program Architect & Partnership Strategist Context: An internship program was launched to create high-output opportunities for students while providing measurable business outcomes. While the program delivered immediate value, sustaining growth required additional funding and stronger institutional alignment. Challenge: Identify external funding sources to offset the cost of scaling internship programs. Build trust with universities and align program outcomes with institutional goals. Ensure the model supported both student development and business performance. Approach: Researched workforce initiatives at regional universities, uncovering funding channels designed to strengthen student career pathways. Built relationships with university program leads, aligning internship outcomes with student success metrics. Structured reporting that demonstrated how interns were trained, mentored, and contributing to organizational performance. Applied retroactive funding mechanisms to secure reimbursement for intern salaries, reducing overall program cost. Result: Secured funding that retroactively covered 50% of intern salaries for the duration of their placements. Expanded program sustainability, allowing multiple cohorts of students to participate. Strengthened ties with universities by aligning business needs with student workforce development goals. Why This Matters: This initiative demonstrated the ability to connect business performance with academic partnerships. By identifying and activating underutilized funding, the program unlocked resources that benefited students, reduced costs for the business, and reinforced long-term university collaboration.
CASE STUDY 47:
Case Study: Strategic Preparation & Engagement at the Indiana University Presidents Circle
Project Focus: Recognition Frameworks, Situational Awareness, Alumni & Community Engagement Location: Bloomington, IN Role: Strategic Plus-One & Community Participant* Context: The Indiana University Presidents Circle honors and celebrates those who make significant contributions to the university community. Attending as an honorary plus-one for an inductee in 2024 marked one of the first major initiatives after recently being recruited back to Bloomington and re-engaging with Indiana University, my alma mater. The experience offered both personal meaning and professional insight into IU’s culture of recognition, belonging, and alumni engagement. Challenge: Prepare the inductee to navigate a formal, high-visibility recognition event with confidence and professionalism. Engage fully in the community aspect of the event while observing IU’s approach to recognition and culture. Document leadership interactions in a way that was effective yet non-intrusive, preserving authenticity. Approach: Provided situational awareness coaching for the inductee, covering dress code, introductions, and event etiquette. Developed a short-story playbook for conversations to ensure confident, concise positioning during networking. Networked with IU leadership, alumni, and community members, reconnecting with familiar faces and forging new relationships. Observed and discreetly documented the inductee’s interactions with Indiana University President Pamela Whitten, providing a tangible record of the recognition moment. Reflected on how these recognition frameworks at the alumni/donor level can be applied to student success, faculty engagement, and broader institutional culture. Result: The inductee entered the event prepared, confident, and well-positioned to engage with university leadership and peers. A lasting professional and community network was expanded through both new introductions and reconnections. Leadership interactions, including with President Whitten, were successfully documented without disrupting the natural flow of the event. Personal insight was gained into IU’s recognition culture, reinforcing both professional interest and personal passion for contributing to the institution’s ongoing success. Why This Matters: This experience was more than a single event — it was a personal milestone and a professional lens into how IU fosters belonging, loyalty, and pride through recognition. Preparing someone for success in such a setting, engaging deeply with IU’s leadership and community, and reflecting on transferable strategies demonstrates passion for both the institution and the opportunity to strengthen its culture. Recognition, when done well, doesn’t just celebrate achievement — it builds identity and connection, the same outcomes central to student success and institutional growth.
CASE STUDY 48:
Case Study: Preparing for the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry Annual Awards Gala
Project Focus: University Representation, Event Preparation, Executive Coaching, Strategic Networking Location: Elmhurst, IL Role: Plus One, Mentor & Strategic Advisor Context: The Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry Annual Awards Gala is a flagship community event, gathering leaders across business, education, and civic life. Attendance in 2024 (105th Annual Gala) marked the introduction of a new chamber member representing Elmhurst University’s Career Center. Attending as her plus one, preparation focused on ensuring that her debut as a chamber participant reflected confidence, clarity, and readiness to represent both herself and her institution. By the following year at the 106th Gala in 2025, she had grown into an impactful and recognized member of the chamber community. Challenge: Support a first-time chamber inductee in representing her university within a high-visibility, multi-stakeholder event. Prepare for diverse networking settings, from small groups to one-on-one introductions. Ensure alignment between personal story, institutional role, and chamber expectations. Translate the gala experience into long-term credibility and relationships within the community. Approach: Advance Preparation: Two weeks of structured coaching, including role-play and situational mapping. Talking Points & Story: Developed concise narratives that linked individual strengths with university mission and student success. Situational Awareness: Outlined chamber hierarchy, award sequences, and networking etiquette specific to the gala. Group Presence Coaching: Prepared for speaking fluidly in groups of up to six, as well as focused one-on-one exchanges. Follow-Up Planning: Built a structured outreach system for maintaining new chamber relationships. Result: At the 105th Gala (2024), the new chamber member delivered a polished introduction, engaging confidently with civic leaders, business executives, and university stakeholders. Networking was executed seamlessly, balancing institutional representation with approachable conversation. Post-event follow-up strengthened university visibility and professional credibility within the chamber. By the 106th Gala (2025), her presence had evolved: no longer a newcomer, but a respected chamber member with clear impact and active participation. Why This Matters: University representation in civic and business spaces helps bridge institutional goals with community leadership. Strategic preparation ensured that this chamber debut was not only confident but also aligned with higher education values. This mirrors the principles of student success and professional enablement: confidence built through preparation, clarity, and follow-through.
CASE STUDY 49:
Case Study: Volunteering with Feed My Starving Children
Project Focus: Community Engagement, Team Building, Social Impact, Digital Presence Strategy Location: Chicagoland, IL Role: Team Participant & Organizer Context: Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is dedicated to addressing child hunger worldwide by partnering with organizations that provide long-term support to vulnerable communities. Participation in their meal-packing program created an opportunity to combine service, teamwork, and measurable impact for children in need. Challenge: Contribute meaningfully to a fast-paced volunteer environment. Foster teamwork while balancing efficiency and accuracy in meal packing. Translate a few hours of service into long-term impact for children across the globe. Approach: Joined a group of community volunteers, collaborating on assembly-line meal preparation. Coordinated team rhythm to maximize efficiency in box completion. Balanced energy, pace, and morale to keep the group motivated and focused throughout the session. Result: 79 boxes packed, equating to 17,064 meals. Enough food prepared to feed 47 children for an entire year. Reinforced the importance of teamwork and service, with each participant contributing to a tangible, life-changing outcome. Positioned the organization for a communications pivot: the visibility and positivity of this event supported a transition into a more people-first social media and LinkedIn presence. The impact and story resonance led to executive approval for launching a new Instagram channel, managed collaboratively by a strategist and a team of creative interns, further amplifying community engagement. Why This Matters: Service projects remind teams that leadership and enablement extend beyond professional goals. Working side by side with community members to provide food for children underscores the value of humility, collaboration, and purpose-driven action. By linking service to storytelling and digital engagement, the effort extended its reach—strengthening culture, inspiring broader audiences, and creating new channels for community connection.
CASE STUDY 50:
Case Study: IU-Aligned Donor Pathways & Digital Giving Strategy
Project Focus: University Partnerships, Donor Experience Design, Digital Giving Enablement Location: Indianapolis, IN (Collaboration with IU Stakeholders) Role: Strategic Advisor & Connector Context: Mission-driven organizations often rely on outdated or fragmented donation systems that create friction for potential donors. To address this gap, a collaboration was initiated with development leadership tied to Indiana University — aligning digital giving practices with donor expectations for transparency, simplicity, and trust. Challenge: Identify secure, university-aligned systems for collecting donations online. Balance ease of use for donors with institutional compliance and reporting standards. Provide leadership with practical insight into how giving flows could be embedded directly into an existing website without diminishing the story. Approach: Partnered with a development officer with expertise in IU Foundation and higher education advancement. Researched and evaluated best practices for donor pathways, focusing on user experience, mobile access, and stewardship messaging. Outlined technical and strategic options for leadership, including integration with CRM and donor management systems. Positioned digital giving not only as a financial transaction, but as a relational extension of mission storytelling. Result: Delivered a roadmap for streamlined donor collection through the organization’s website. Clarified compliance and workflow considerations, strengthening confidence in implementation. Positioned the nonprofit to expand its donor base by aligning practices with higher education and foundation standards. Reinforced long-term connections between nonprofit leadership and IU development professionals, creating a bridge for future collaboration. Why This Matters: Philanthropy depends on more than goodwill — it depends on trust and accessibility. By aligning nonprofit donor pathways with IU-style development practices, this project demonstrated how thoughtful infrastructure supports both mission delivery and institutional credibility. It reflects a broader principle critical to student success and higher education advancement: empowering people to act on their commitments by making participation simple, secure, and meaningful.
CASE STUDY 51:
Case Study: Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce Networking & Representation
Project Focus: Business Development, Professional Networking, Community Representation Location: Lakeview East, Chicago, IL Role: Front Office Manager & Chamber Representative Context: As manager of a First Data Independent Sales Office in Chicago, responsibilities extended beyond daily operations and technical support to include public representation at community business forums. The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce weekly luncheon became a consistent environment for engaging with a diverse cross-section of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and corporate professionals. Participation spanned three years, marking the office’s first sustained presence in a structured networking environment. Challenge: Represent the office professionally in a high-visibility, community-facing setting. Translate complex payment processing and POS solutions into approachable language for varied audiences. Build credibility as a young professional among established business leaders. Convert community engagement into client-facing opportunities including proposals and merchant service agreements. Approach: Attended weekly luncheons, actively networking through one-on-one conversations, group discussions, and elevator speeches. Educated local business owners on payment technology, point-of-sale systems, and compliance requirements. Led a formal Chamber presentation on the history of the office, introducing services and value propositions in a client-facing context for the first time. Applied structured follow-up to meetings, setting proposals and demos that aligned community introductions with tangible sales opportunities. Maintained professional consistency across diverse networking environments, learning and practicing etiquette, business storytelling, and long-term relationship-building. Result: Generated consistent sales conversations and proposals from Chamber participation, directly supporting the office’s merchant services growth. Positioned the office as a trusted community presence, raising visibility across a highly diverse Lakeview East business community. Delivered a successful group presentation, strengthening confidence in public-facing and client-facing engagements. Gained practical experience in networking systems from introductions to follow-up that later informed approaches to sales enablement, community relations, and higher education partnerships. Why This Matters: Community representation is more than showing up. It requires translating technical expertise into approachable value, engaging authentically with diverse stakeholders, and sustaining credibility through follow-up. This experience demonstrated how consistent presence in a community setting can drive both business results and personal growth, building a foundation for leadership in sales enablement, alumni engagement, and student success initiatives.
CASE STUDY 52:
Case Study: Fortune 500 Commercial Field Campaign
Project Focus: Territory Penetration, Compliance-Driven Sales, Peer Training Location: Chicago, IL (multi-office campaign, 90 representatives) Role: Frontline Representative & Peer Trainer Context: In 2013–2014, a Fortune 500 commercial campaign operated across multiple offices in Chicago, combining 90 representatives into one of the largest high-volume sales environments in the region. The opportunity required strict background checks, adherence to compliance standards, and leadership approval of all sales pitches and frameworks. This structure ensured both integrity and consistency while enabling aggressive growth. National leadership frequently conducted site visits to amplify performance and drive campaigns to the top of national rankings. Among them, a senior strategist played a formative role, guiding presentation style, proposal structure, and training methods. His mentorship was instrumental in shaping a disciplined, professional approach that influenced future interests in strategy, enablement, and campaign design. Challenge: Deliver 25–80 business presentations daily in competitive commercial corridors, balancing compliance with urgency and volume. Close one to ten accounts per day while sustaining professional credibility in diverse environments. Stand out among more than 500 national representatives in weekly performance rankings. Train peers in real time without compromising personal output, ensuring office-wide adoption of best practices. Support retraining efforts in external offices while continuing to perform at the highest levels in Chicago. Approach: Executed structured five-step conversations that balanced clarity, professionalism, and urgency, ensuring compliance while driving outcomes. Modeled best practices drawn from national leadership coaching, refining proposal style and delivery to match top-performing offices. Led in-field training for groups of up to five peers, providing live demonstrations, debriefs, and feedback loops. Maintained a polished, consistent professional presence, reinforcing credibility at each stage of the sales cycle. Participated in retraining initiatives in additional offices, contributing to the hiring and initial coaching of future managers. Result: Achieved recognition as the number-one representative nationally during peak performance weeks among an estimated 500+ peers. Set territory records while maintaining top-tier output in one of the most competitive campaigns in the country. Consistently earned between $200 and $4,000 daily, depending on volume and contract mix. Expanded office capabilities through peer training and retraining contributions, directly influencing the pipeline of future managers. Gained formative mentorship from senior leadership, laying the groundwork for a career trajectory into strategy, team building, enablement, and campaign creation. Why This Matters: This campaign combined the rigor of Fortune 500 compliance with the intensity of high-volume field sales. Performing at a national level, while simultaneously training peers and learning under senior leadership, provided both tactical sales mastery and a foundation for future strategic work. The experience demonstrated that when compliance, discipline, and mentorship intersect, they create not only immediate sales results but also long-term professional growth in enablement and leadership.
CASE STUDY 53:
Case Study: Connecting Regional Creative Employer to DePaul University Career Center
Center Project Focus: University Partnerships, Employer Engagement, Arts & Creative Industries Representation* Location: Chicago, IL (DePaul University Career Center)* Role: Strategic Connector & Logistics Coordinator* Context: In March 2020, at a career fair hosted by the DePaul University Career Center, an opportunity was arranged for a regional creative employer to engage with students seeking careers in arts, entertainment, and creative industries. Challenge: Source an arts-sector employer able to participate in a competitive university career fair environment. Manage logistics so the employer had full presence: booth setup, travel, lodging, and stakeholder introductions. Ensure the employer’s presentation resonated with students, was professionally delivered, and provided meaningful networking. Approach: Identified and recruited a regional art gallery to participate as an employer at the fair. Coordinated travel and hotel accommodations for the gallery’s representative. Oversaw booth design & setup to ensure a polished and engaging presentation. Facilitated introductions between gallery representative, DePaul University Career Center staff, and students. Advised on messaging & presentation style tailored to creative and arts students. Result: The employer successfully represented at the career fair, interacting with a variety of ambitious DePaul students. Meaningful connections were made, expanding students' exposure to creative industry career paths. Enhanced visibility for both the employer and the DePaul University Career Center in linking academia and arts industry opportunities. Why This Matters: Strong university-employer partnerships open doors for students to see career paths beyond traditional local options. By facilitating logistics, ensuring professional representation, and creating authentic introductions, this project strengthened creative industry access and reinforced the role of the DePaul University Career Center as a connector between regional arts employers and student talent.
CASE STUDY 54:
Case Study: Establishing a Strategic Ally in Indiana University Graduate and Business Leadership
photo courtesy: VisitBloomington.com
Project Focus: Indiana University, Educational Leadership, Enterprise Growth, Strategic Relationship Building Location: Bloomington, IN – Indiana University Role: Connector & Emerging Partner Context: The meeting was with a leader whose career bridges academia, entrepreneurship, and Fortune 500 enterprise leadership. His journey includes serving as Director of Graduate Programs at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, where he taught graduate courses emphasizing experiential learning, and later co-founding Hoosier Home Health, a provider of in-home healthcare and supportive services. Prior to entrepreneurship, his executive roles at Citibank and American Express saw him managing global technology and operations across dozens of countries, directing thousands of employees, and working directly with international regulators. He also guided early-stage ventures as COO of Chalklabs, led the South Central Small Business Development Center, and supported entrepreneurs through incubation and lending facilities. His portfolio reflects a rare blend of academic, entrepreneurial, and corporate impact. Challenge: Engage authentically with a professional whose career spans boardrooms, classrooms, and startup ventures. Establish trust and credibility while presenting frameworks designed for leadership, storytelling, and strategic growth. Balance respect for his accomplishments with openness to building a genuine, forward-looking relationship. Approach: Entered the conversation fully prepared, drawing on his career history to identify shared values: mentorship, enterprise building, and scalable leadership. Structured the exchange as a dialogue, allowing space for reflection on his experiences while introducing strategies rooted in enablement, brand storytelling, and talent growth. Emphasized curiosity and alignment rather than formality, honoring the diversity of his career while building rapport. Positioned the relationship as an allyship—one that connects consulting initiatives with a figure who embodies enterprise growth and educational influence. Result: A new ally was established whose career represents both lived success and transferable wisdom. The exchange reinforced confidence in consulting frameworks by validating them against his lived experience at both institutional and global scales. Opened the door to ongoing collaboration, mentorship, and credibility-building for future opportunities. Why This Matters: Meeting with a leader of this caliber is more than a networking moment—it is the creation of a partnership rooted in respect and shared purpose. His career demonstrates the power of building enterprises, guiding students, and shaping institutions. The connection provided both inspiration and tangible alignment, reinforcing the value of forging alliances with figures who embody excellence across corporate, entrepreneurial, and academic domains.
CASE STUDY 55:
Case Study: Rotary Toast Participation & Community Storytelling
Project Focus: Community Engagement, Allyship, Legacy Recognition, Indiana University Location: Bloomington, IN – Ivy Tech Shreve Hall Role: Guest Participant & Storytelling Connector Context: Each year, Bloomington’s three Rotary Clubs co-host the Rotary Toast, honoring local leaders who embody the spirit of “service above self.” In 2024, the honoree was Doug Bauder, recognized for his decades of leadership at Indiana University’s LGBTQ+ Culture Center and his lifetime of advocacy for equity, education, and the arts. Doug selected the Quarryland Men’s Chorus as his beneficiary charity, further tying the evening to Bloomington’s cultural life. Challenge: Attend as a guest in a way that honored the formality of Rotary tradition while also using the event as a lens to reflect on how recognition and storytelling frameworks shape community culture. For someone not a Rotary member, the challenge was to engage authentically without overstating affiliation. Approach: Participated as an invited guest, observing the rhythms and expectations of Rotary recognition events. Engaged with honoree storytelling and its ties to higher education, inclusivity, and civic pride. Built new professional and community connections with IU alumni, civic leaders, and cultural advocates present at the event. Reflected on Doug’s story as a model of how recognition sustains culture — connecting personal journeys to institutional change. Result: Strengthened ties to Bloomington’s community leadership ecosystem, with touchpoints across Rotary, IU, and local arts organizations. Gained insight into recognition as a leadership tool — seeing how a single honoree’s story can mobilize community support and reinforce institutional values. Expanded professional network through event-based participation, establishing meaningful conversations rooted in shared respect for service and inclusion. Why This Matters: Participation in civic events, even as a guest, provides critical perspective on how universities, nonprofits, and community groups intersect. Honoring Doug Bauder illuminated how storytelling and recognition can build lasting cultural infrastructure — lessons directly applicable to roles in student success, alumni engagement, and community partnership strategy.
CASE STUDY 56:
Case Study: Elmhurst University Career Center Collaboration
Project Focus: Employer Engagement, Career Readiness, Networking Programs Location: Elmhurst, IL Role: Employer Partner, Mentor, and Program Contributor Context: Through partnership with the Elmhurst University Career Center, this engagement built meaningful bridges between academic programming and employer needs. The collaboration focused on connecting students with real-world opportunities, supporting employer visibility on campus, and providing career readiness programming that helped students succeed in competitive markets. Challenge: Strengthen employer presence on campus while respecting university hiring guidelines. Expand student exposure to professional pathways across staffing, consulting, and creative industries. Provide mentorship and experiential opportunities that went beyond traditional recruiting. Approach: Negotiated pathways for employer participation in Elmhurst’s biannual Career Fair while aligning with institutional policies. Facilitated participation in networking and mock interview events, creating direct student–employer connections. Partnered with faculty and Career Center leadership to support the Academic Internship Program, placing students into meaningful employer roles. Served as a mentor and employer panelist, providing guidance on industry trends, interview preparation, and workplace readiness. Result: Established an active employer relationship that continues to support Elmhurst students. Opened new channels for employers to engage with student talent pipelines. Supported student readiness through panels, mock interviews, and internship placements. Strengthened university–employer alignment, demonstrating scalable ways to connect academic programs with workforce needs. Why It Matters: This collaboration exemplifies how universities and employers can work together to create meaningful bridges from classroom to career. For students, it provided real-time exposure to industry expectations and professional development. For employers, it created early access to emerging talent and opportunities to shape career readiness programming. For Elmhurst University, it reinforced the Career Center’s mission to prepare students for impact, positioning the institution as a connector between education and enterprise.
CASE STUDY 57:
Case Study: Rapid Response to a School Closure, K-8
Project Focus: Community Engagement, Educator Advocacy, Workforce Continuity Location: Prospect Heights, IL – Local School & Community Gatherings Role: Advisor, Connector & Program Facilitator Context: In 2025, a private K–8 school in Illinois abruptly announced it would not reopen for the following academic year due to funding challenges. The closure left staff, families, and students in shock, with little warning or preparation. A veteran 5th-grade teacher (with a history in 3rd grade and preschool education), the school’s music teacher, and its office administrator were among those whose roles disappeared overnight. For the students and families, the announcement meant disrupted learning pathways and sudden uncertainty. Challenge: How to respond quickly to a school closure that displaced educators and left families without a clear plan. The priority was to support staff in their career transitions, stabilize students’ educational needs, and maintain community trust and continuity — all without the structure or resources of an existing institution. Approach: Partnered directly with displaced educators and administrative staff to understand immediate professional and financial needs. Designed tutoring opportunities and short-term community programming to sustain student learning during the transition. Facilitated open conversations with families and students at local meetups to preserve trust, provide encouragement, and align on practical next steps. Assisted educators in securing new positions before the start of the next school year, including advising on placement and salary negotiations to ensure sustainable outcomes. Result: Three displaced staff members transitioned into new education roles by fall, preserving their expertise within the field. Families gained access to tutoring and interim programming, reducing disruption for students. The broader school community experienced continuity in an otherwise destabilizing moment, maintaining confidence that educators were supported and students were prioritized. Why This Matters: This case demonstrates how rapid response, advocacy, and community engagement can transform disruption into opportunity. It highlights the ability to bring together educators, administrators, families, and community leaders around immediate solutions — blending leadership, program design, and negotiation skills to protect both livelihoods and learning.
CASE STUDY 58:
Case Study: Sales Process Architecture for Talent Advisory Firm
Project Focus: Sales Enablement Frameworks, CRM Automation, Process Optimization Location: Chicago, IL – Multi-Office Rollout Role: Process Designer & Enablement Strategist Context: A talent advisory group sought to modernize and scale its sales process. The business had evolved from a small team of new-start recruiters into a national-scale provider advising private equity portfolio companies. While the opportunity was substantial, the sales workflow lacked consistency, automation, and visibility into client engagement. Challenge: Create a unified sales process across dozens of advisors and business development reps. Standardize outreach, follow-up, and reporting without overwhelming individual contributors. Align CRM tools and automation with real-world behaviors of sales teams. Increase conversion by ensuring decision makers were quickly identified, engaged, and advanced. Approach: Codified the Sales Journey: Designed cadences for introductory outreach, action, nurture, and settled follow-up, ensuring each stage was clearly defined and repeatable. Embedded Automation: Leveraged CRM and SalesLoft automation to route contacts between cadences based on activity (meetings booked, inactivity windows, engagement grading). Defined High-Value Targeting: Built frameworks for identifying and prioritizing decision makers, mapping contact quality, and creating a scalable approach to “HVT” pursuits. Multi-Channel Engagement: Standardized use of email, phone, and LinkedIn/social touches while embedding personalization rules. Process Reporting: Designed Salesforce dashboards and reports to track overdue tasks, cadence progression, grade-based outcomes, and long-arc engagement pipelines. Team Enablement: Delivered training on cadence execution, grading contacts, and moving prospects between stages. Facilitated role clarity between talent advisors and business developers. Result: Sales process standardized across a multi-office, 80+ person team. Improved conversion velocity as prospects were moved from intro to engaged faster. Automation reduced manual error and ensured no prospects “slipped through the cracks.” Advisors gained clarity on prioritization, while leadership gained visibility into deal flow and rep performance. The program created a scalable, documented playbook that became the foundation for future enablement initiatives. Why This Matters: Sales organizations succeed when systems mirror real human behaviors while providing leaders with reliable reporting. This project demonstrated the ability to: Translate field realities into structured, automated workflows. Balance technology adoption with practical training for reps. Build frameworks that outlive individuals and support organizational scale. Clarity, automation, and coaching elevate both team efficiency and organizational outcomes.
CASE STUDY 59:
Case Study: Building a Unified Sales Communication System
Project Focus: Standardized Sales Frameworks, Confidence Building, Training Systemization Location: Chicago, IL Role: Process Designer & Training Facilitator Context: A newly appointed member of a private-equity-aligned talent advisory firm entered a leadership environment where multiple offices operated under differing interpretations of the same sales process. While the organization’s success depended on clear and repeatable client engagement, variability in pitch style, call flow, and terminology created inconsistent outcomes and eroded leadership confidence in scaling new hires. Challenge: To eliminate ambiguity across the sales team by introducing a unified roadmap and communication framework that could guide both new and experienced representatives through every stage of a client engagement. The challenge required balancing precision and flexibility—creating a system that standardized performance without stifling personality. Approach: A complete sales process roadmap was drafted in a single session after targeted observation of office operations and leader interactions. The framework emphasized a five-step conversation flow anchored by tested transition phrases and “money moments” proven to drive conversions. The roadmap was then translated into a straightforward, visual slide deck that illustrated the entire conversation sequence through flowchart logic—mapping each stage of the client dialogue and its potential outcomes. This clarity allowed leaders and new hires alike to see, at a glance, how each step connected to performance outcomes. The presentation was delivered directly to the firm’s CEO as a proof of initiative and leadership vision. The structure replaced ad hoc language with unified phrasing, confidence checkpoints, and scalable sequences for call control and objection handling. The approved roadmap became the foundation for a redesigned two-week boot camp training. It equipped new hires to adopt consistent, professional dialogue across calls and meetings and was later adapted for other business units within the firm’s multi-channel ecosystem. Result: The process roadmap was immediately adopted and integrated into training, becoming the foundation for the company’s onboarding and cross-training systems. Increased leadership confidence and operational cohesion across all offices. Standardized conversation structures improved client conversion rates and reduced ramp time for new representatives. The visual slide deck and flowchart format enabled rapid understanding and reuse across teams, ensuring alignment and scalability. Why This Matters: This project represents the intersection of communication design, operational psychology, and scalable enablement. By translating instinctual sales behaviors into teachable systems, and then visualizing those systems through a flowchart-based training deck, the framework transformed an informal culture into a replicable, performance-driven environment. The initiative not only aligned multiple offices under a shared playbook but also illustrated the power of proactive strategy and narrative structure in strengthening executive trust and organizational confidence.
CASE STUDY 60:
Case Study: Hybrid Workforce Design for a Multi-Office Talent Advisory Team
Project Focus: Workforce Enablement, Hybrid Scheduling, Performance Accountability Location: Chicago, IL – Downtown & O’Hare Offices Role: Team Lead & Systems Architect Context: As Messina Talent Advisors expanded its reach across two Chicago offices, leadership sought a way to sustain high performance while accommodating growing team diversity and commuting challenges. The existing in-person model created friction for productivity and morale, with teammates split between downtown and O’Hare-based locations. The task was to implement a flexible, measurable hybrid structure that preserved accountability and output while introducing earned remote privileges. Challenge: Develop a hybrid scheduling system that united teammates across separate offices without diluting team culture or performance discipline. The framework needed to balance independence and collaboration while preserving measurable success metrics across roles. Approach: A new hybrid scheduling framework was created and piloted with a four-person team operating across the two offices. The structure introduced: Scheduled rotation between the downtown and O’Hare offices to maintain cohesion and shared learning. Earned remote Fridays based on hitting individual and team key performance indicators. Full-time remote inclusion for one teammate whose success demonstrated the scalability of the system. Performance data, CRM engagement, and weekly team reviews were used to track compliance and outcomes. By pairing autonomy with accountability, the hybrid model reinforced trust between leadership and team members while ensuring consistent client delivery. The system was documented and rolled out as a repeatable framework—providing leadership with a model for scaling flexible work without loss of quality or control. Result: Increased productivity and engagement across both physical offices. Seamless communication and knowledge-sharing between hybrid and fully remote teammates. Remote privileges became a motivational tool, improving consistency and focus. Leadership confidence strengthened in the team’s ability to self-manage across multiple environments. Why This Matters: Hybrid models succeed only when built on clear systems of accountability and trust. This initiative demonstrated how thoughtful structure—rooted in metrics, transparency, and earned flexibility—can transform distributed teams into high-performing, self-regulating units. It also provided a scalable framework for future workforce design as the organization evolved toward national reach.
CASE STUDY 61:
Case Study: Framing Leadership Wins Through Internal Communications
Project Focus: Internal Storytelling, Leadership Messaging, Cultural Alignment Location: Chicago, IL Role: Communications Architect & Contributor Context: Within a rapidly evolving professional services organization, leadership sought to improve how team successes were communicated internally. While achievements were frequent, their impact often went unnoticed due to inconsistent storytelling and limited alignment between performance updates and leadership messaging. Challenge: To create an internal communication framework that celebrated accomplishments while reinforcing core leadership principles and organizational values. The initiative needed to inspire confidence, encourage peer recognition, and establish a consistent voice for internal newsletters and performance updates. Approach: Collected and curated recent team and individual wins across departments, then reframed the content through a leadership-centric lens—emphasizing accountability, growth, collaboration, and impact. Developed newsletter language rooted in clarity and optimism, highlighting both quantitative achievements and qualitative leadership moments. Each story was structured to model the tone of executive communication, connecting team success to broader organizational goals and reinforcing cultural cohesion. Result: Internal newsletters shifted from transactional updates to engaging leadership narratives. Increased employee engagement and recognition across multiple business units. Established a repeatable editorial framework for future internal communications. Strengthened leadership visibility and alignment around shared mission and values. Why This Matters: Storytelling is a leadership tool. By reframing team wins through intentional, values-driven language, internal communications can unify culture, reinforce priorities, and elevate morale. This initiative demonstrated how even modest structural shifts in messaging can create a more connected, motivated, and purpose-aligned workforce.
CASE STUDY 62:
Case Study: Culture Design Through Team Performance and Balance
Project Focus: Leadership Development, Team Culture, Performance Systemization Location: Chicago, IL Role: Team Lead & Training Architect Context: During the launch of a new Talent Advisory function within Messina Talent Advisors—an emerging brand under the Messina Group umbrella—a small team of four was assembled to pilot a new hybrid sales and advisory model. The team consisted of three new hires and one pre-trained intern, all participating in a two-week intensive boot camp designed to establish core processes, structure, and culture for this new business development function. Challenge: To introduce a culture that balanced accountability with autonomy while ensuring new hires internalized both the metrics and the mindset needed to succeed in a high-performance environment. The program required building trust, structure, and motivation within a newly formed team—while modeling the kind of flexibility that would later define the remote and event-based nature of the Talent Advisory role. Approach: Structured the two-week boot camp around daily goal cycles, pairing morning performance objectives with afternoon accountability goals to sustain engagement throughout the day. Leveraged Salesloft CRM tracking to monitor call volume, engagement quality, and live performance analytics, providing transparency and real-time coaching opportunities. When the team successfully met its morning objectives ahead of schedule, a short off-site break was introduced as a team-building and mindset exercise. The group walked to a nearby park, where an informal baseball catch session—led by one of the new team members, a former Division I pitcher—served as both a symbolic and literal act of connection. This structured flexibility reinforced the core principles being built into the team’s DNA: that mental recharge and peer connection were integral parts of high performance, not distractions from it. The group returned to the office to complete the day’s final goals, demonstrating renewed focus and cohesion. Result: Created an early team culture grounded in balance, trust, and mutual accountability. Increased morale and engagement across a team of new hires with diverse professional backgrounds. Achieved 100% goal attainment for the day and established a new motivational standard for future boot camps. Reinforced leadership philosophy: flexibility as a reward for precision, not a substitute for it. Delivered a replicable model for blending wellness, culture, and output tracking in hybrid team environments. Why This Matters: This case illustrates how modern leadership blends data with humanity. By connecting structured goals, live analytics, and wellness-driven autonomy, a new team culture was born—one that valued performance and people equally. This initiative became a model for sustainable motivation, proving that measurable output and mental clarity can coexist within a high-growth, high-performance environment.
