April H. Burghardt
Hoboken,NJ
Summary
Award-winning strategic communications professional and results-oriented, business-to-business tech marketer with extensive experience helping young companies make a big impact in a short period of time. Pioneering voice in the emerging quantum industry skilled at creating category-defining opportunities to drive brand awareness and position Quantum Xchange as an undisputed leader in quantum security. Demonstrated excellence in building integrated marketing communication campaigns that inform, educate, and convert audiences. Proven ability to think creatively and strategically, resulting in growth across all marketing disciplines, significantly surpassing assigned objectives and performance indicators year-over-year.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Quantum Xchange
09.2020 - Current
- Orchestrated a comprehensive brand repositioning, product relaunch, and corporate identity shift to coincide with introduction of new leadership team and new role as head of marketing
- In under four months, generated an 83% uptick in website traffic, improved organic search by 62%, and saw brand engagement skyrocket with a 700% increase in response rates
- Developed consistent, cohesive, and defendable messaging across all channels and touchpoints – PR, web, sales collateral, social media, thought leadership, email, events, digital advertising and demand generation
- Produced annual go-to-market plans that clearly outlined objectives, strategic programming, target audiences, success metrics, and budgetary spend
- Tracked performance against OKR framework and prepared quarterly analysis for leadership and board
- Aggressively managed top-of-funnel initiatives, implementing nurture campaigns that boosted new lead generation by 84%, brand engagement by 105%, and marketing qualified leads by 43% during tenure
- Collaborated with sales team to optimize marketing effectiveness by adopting marketing automation/CRM tools and operational best practices, growing sales conversions more than tenfold
- Drafted high-volume internal enablement and customer-facing content, thought-leadership assets, corporate decks, white papers, blog posts, press releases, eBooks, solution briefs, explainer videos and data sheets, extending market reach and increasing downloads by 65%
- Collaborated with industry partners including Cisco, Fortinet, Thales, and Warpcom to identify joint opportunities to raise awareness and drive customer acquisition globally
- Helped produce the second most watched webinar by Thales’s audience for all of 2021
- Fostered a data-driven culture within the Go-to-Market team, leveraging analytics to inform decisions and measure performance monthly
- Managed agency relationships to create a high-performing marketing and communications organization recognized for its excellence by PR Daily’s Content Marketing Awards 2004 finalist for Most Innovative Use of Content and Best Technology Campaign, and The Globee Awards 2022 Bronze Win for Best Communications or PR Project or Initiative of the Year.
VP Corporate Communications
Quantum Xchange
01.2018 - 09.2020
- Developed initial PR strategy and messaging framework for company launch in June 2018
- Enhanced Quantum Xchange’s brand awareness and reputation through strategic communications initiatives across various channels and platforms, securing more than 50 pieces of earned media coverage year-over-year
- Facilitated executive visibility and speakers’ bureau end-to-end, including RFP submissions, presentation development, and script writing – securing placement at such sought-after events as: MIT Future Compute, Mobile World Congress, South-by-Southwest, and a regional TED Talk
- Identified and amplified high-impact stories highlighting Quantum Xchange’s solutions and technologies appearing in Business Insider, Fast Company, Fortune, MIT Technology Review, The New York Times, Scientific American, and more
- Cemented Quantum Xchange’s category leadership by securing third-party validation via high-profile award wins: Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2020, SXSW Innovation Awards 2019, numerous Cybersecurity Excellence awards, and invite to World Economic Forum’s prestigious Global Innovators community
- Worked closely with CEO and CMO to align communications initiatives with business objectives to drive customer engagement, competitiveness and growth, culminating in a $13.5M Series A round of funding.
Independent PR Consultant
GAB Data
05.2011 - 01.2018
- Worked with high-growth startups as their PR entry point, bringing senior-level counsel and day-to-day execution across programs: analyst relations, awards, content creation, company/product launches, media outreach, media training, message development, news hijacking/POV, press release development, share of voice, social media, speaking, and thought leadership
- Managed agency search and RFP process, helping clients successfully navigate inflection points and prepare for the next phase of company growth
- Clients included: Brown University’s Executive Masters in Cybersecurity, Conductor, Datrium (acquired by VMware), Retail Systems Inc
- (acquired by Circana), Security Compass, Sonatype, Terbium Labs (acquired by Deloitte), Triumfant (acquired by Threat Connect) and Virtru.
Senior Vice President
Articulate Communications
03.2009 - 05.2011
- First employee hired, contributing to the company ranking 22nd among tech agencies nationwide by the Jack O’Dwyer’s Newsletter (March 2006) within first two years of business
- Provided senior leadership and strategic oversight to drive account programs forward, ensuring metrics were achieved and client expectations exceeded
- Built and mentored high-performing, award-winning account teams and staff of 15
- Active participant in agency operations including capital projects, hiring/staffing decisions, agency marketing efforts, and professional development
- Responsible for the daily management of more than $80,000 in monthly revenues
- Notable clients included: DataDirect Technologies (acquired by Progress Software), DataSynapse (acquired by TIBCO), and Thor Technologies (acquired by Oracle).
PR Director, Enterprise Data Solutions
Progress Software
09.2007 - 02.2009
- Skilled media relations practitioner, increasing media coverage by 325% in the first year and maintaining a 25% increase in coverage year-over-year
- Drove executive visibility programming and thought leadership initiatives for Enterprise Data Solutions group (formerly DataDirect Technologies) Instrumental in ensuring post-acquisition message consistency and brand integrity over multiple channels and communication touchpoints
- Named a Key Contributor every year of employment.
Senior Account Executive/Account Executive
FitzGerald Communications
01.2000 - 04.2002
- Managed daily account activity and budgetary spend for such clients as Micro Focus and PwC Consulting
- Provided high-level strategic counsel on announcement strategy and press/analyst relations
- Spearheaded customer reference programs and speakers’ bureau
- Drafted news announcements, press-kit materials, public relations plans and pitches
- Fostered ongoing relationships with top-tier business and trade press
- Active in the daily professional development of junior staff
- Secured industry analyst briefings and subsequent coverage in research reports.
Account Executive/Assistant Account Executive
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
12.1997 - 01.2000
- Provided support to Schering-Plough account staff and Claritin team
- Conducted daily client and competitive monitoring and maintained media highlight report and compilation reel
- Handled incoming media inquiries and worked with target media outlets on story development and product reviews
- Coordinated reference notations and editing of press materials based on FDA guidelines and feedback
- Acted as primary contact for all third-party vendors.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology/Legal Studies
Bucknell University
05.1997
Skills
- Analyst & Influencer Relations
- Budget/Account Management
- Content Creation & Sales Enablement
- Corporate/Product Launches
- Data-Driven Marketing Analysis
- Digital Marketing
- Earned Media
- Event Management
- Innovative Campaign Development
- Internal/External Communications
- Lead Generation & Conversion Optimization
- Performance Metrics & ROI Analysis
- Strategic Brand Management
Etcetera
2023-24, Foundations of Leadership Certificate, Strategic Branding and Public Relations Certificate, Provisional On the Move 2003, Class of 1997 annual talent grant recipient for Bucknell Women’s Swimming (Division 1), Burbank High School Athletics Hall of Fame
Timeline
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Quantum Xchange
09.2020 - Current
VP Corporate Communications
Quantum Xchange
01.2018 - 09.2020
Independent PR Consultant
GAB Data
05.2011 - 01.2018
Senior Vice President
Articulate Communications
03.2009 - 05.2011
PR Director, Enterprise Data Solutions
Progress Software
09.2007 - 02.2009
Senior Account Executive/Account Executive
FitzGerald Communications
01.2000 - 04.2002
Account Executive/Assistant Account Executive
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
12.1997 - 01.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology/Legal Studies
Bucknell University
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