Ellie Kim
Chicago,IL
Summary
Strategic marketing and brand management leader with 15 years of B2B and B2C experience with global brands. Expertise in luxury hospitality, lifestyle content marketing, and design-centric storytelling. Proven ability to elevate the brand experience at every touchpoint, execute multi-channel campaigns, foster partnerships, and drive engagement. Service-oriented through nonprofit leadership with a focus on the built environment and cultural enrichment.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Brand Management
Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet
06.2021 - 10.2024
- Established brand consistency across all channels by collaborating with internal stakeholders and external partners.
- Strengthened brand positioning by conducting regular competitor analysis and adjusting strategy accordingly.
- Optimized marketing budgets for maximum return on investment, reallocating resources as needed based on performance metrics.
- Managed cross-functional teams for the launch of new products, ensuring timely delivery and market success.
- Implemented innovative promotional strategies that resulted in increased sales and market share growth.
- Evaluated the effectiveness of marketing initiatives by tracking KPIs, making data-driven decisions to optimize future campaigns.
- Increased customer engagement through content release on digital platforms resulting in 3-year engagement increases of 71% through email, 35% on social, and 20% for web traffic.
- Elevated brand awareness by developing and executing targeted marketing campaigns.
- Developed strategic partnerships to enhance brand visibility and drive business growth.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, vendors and industry influencers to create positive brand experiences.
- Facilitated communication between creative teams, ensuring alignment on project goals and deliverables.
Marketing Manager and Senior Associate
PIERRE-YVES ROCHON, INC. (PYR)
07.2015 - 06.2022
- Oversee marketing communications, PR, and sales for a luxury hospitality interior design firm (part of Perkins&Will, the2nd largest U.S
- Architecture firm)
- Work with senior management and design leadership in Chicago, Paris, and Shanghai offices to win and promote five-star hotels, restaurants, and luxury residential projects worldwide
- Led global marketing efforts that helped secure $30.5 million in new sales over5½ years with industry-leading luxury brands such as Waldorf Astoria, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Fairmont, Mandarin Oriental, and Michelin-starred restaurants
- Expanded international project opportunities by serving as key liaison and brand advocate with clients in the Middle East, China, and Europe
- Launched new Chinese PR program and managed external agency to support first-ever business development effort in Asia-Pacific region resulting in $4M in new sales
- Partnered with Managing Director to create and manage $595K annual marketing budget
- Involved in every aspect of project life cycle from client acquisition through grand opening
- Wrote original copy for all digital and print collateral, worked with French and Mandarin translators; coordinated press interviews, media events, and educational seminars
- Standardized international marketing practices with time-saving proposal templates and client presentation materials
- Led the design and launch of new company website with web development agency
- Independently launched company Instagram account attracting7,000+ organic followers
- Led the creative direction for company videos, overseeing film production agency
- Led the creation of animated marketing videos for a luxury penthouse in Miami, overseeing graphic design agency and3D animation agency
- Managed international media requests and attended press events, ensuring visibility in outlets such as Architectural Digest, Interior Design, Hospitality Design, NYT, WSJ, Forbes
- Assisted hotel operators and their PR agencies with grand opening marketing campaigns
- Promoted to Associate in2017, Promoted to Senior Associate in2020
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Gerflor USA
05.2014 - 07.2015
- Recruited to help grow the U.S
- Subsidiary of a $1 billion European flooring manufacturer with3,000 global employees, through B2B marketing targeting American commercial interiors
- First marcom employee under U.S
- Marketing Director and CEO, helped manage part of a $2M marketing budget and contributed to20% sales growth in one year
- Collaborated with external marketing agency and PR agency to launch new flooring product lines and manage the first print and digital paid advertising campaigns in U.S
- Generated500 new qualified leads through special events and sweepstakes
- Employee of the Month, March2015
SENIOR MARKETING COORDINATOR
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
01.2012 - 05.2014
- Created business proposals and client presentations to help win new work for the10th largest U.S
- Architecture/urban planning firm, emphasizing sustainability and innovation
- Worked with senior principals, architects and urban planners to create unique value propositions for clients in education, government, healthcare, and commercial sectors
- Tracked new leads in weekly reports and worked within a team of6 marketers to manage written/graphic collateral, update templates, and submit for major industry awards
- Coordinated complex bilingual design competition books for large scale architecture and planning projects in South Korea and China, helping expand the firm’s reputation in Asia
- Promoted from Marketing Coordinator in2013
INDEPENDENT MARKETING CONTRACTOR
Rockskip (marketing agency)
11.2011 - 01.2012
- Created branded design elements for Western Union world HQ and investor relations HQ
- Helped plan Motorola MOTOTACTV smartwatch product launch and popup event marketing
SENIOR EDITORIAL RESEARCHER
Green Building & Design Magazine
08.2009 - 06.2011
- Researched and developed editorial content for every bimonthly issue of newly launched B2B magazine promoting sustainability in the design and construction industry
- Conducted interviews and provided direction to writers, photographers; Generated leads for advertising revenue directly resulting in $250,000 total ad sales booked by sales team
- Promoted from Editorial Researcher in2010
HOSPITALITY INTERIOR DESIGNER
The Gettys Group
09.2007 - 10.2008
- Helped create interior design concept boards, color & material palettes, AutoCAD floor plans, elevations, and3D renderings under supervision of senior designers
- Worked on hotel and resort projects in St
- Louis, Costa Rica, Abu Dhabi, and Manila
Education
Bachelor of Science - School of Hotel Administration
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Ithaca, NYInternational Studies -
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
Middlebury, VTSkills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Business Suite
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Agency Management
- Brand Strategy
- Content Development
- Email Marketing
- Copywriting
- Social Media Strategy
- Influencer Marketing
- Partnership Development
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
Certification
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
- Accelerated Marketing Leadership Program, Completion June 2025
- Strategies that Build Winning Brands, Completion January 2025
Nonprofit Leadership
Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Midwest Chapter
Board of Directors, 2017-Present
- Board member advocating for historic buildings and the advancement of the classical arts through practice and education.
- Launched first-ever Young Professionals group to attract a younger demographic; plan and execute 6-8 events per year (educational tours, seminars, workshops) on $10,000 annual budget.
Habitat for Humanity Chicago
Marketing Committee Chair, Women Build Team Captain, 2013-2020
- Formed and led a new marketing committee and collaborated with staff to refresh brand guidelines, photo standards, execute seasonal/winter building campaigns, make social media content recommendations, and support new website development.
- Generated fresh content by coordinating partner family interviews, storytelling pieces, and photography.
- Strengthened local visibility by helping develop new branded signage for home construction sites.
- Led a team of 12 for annual Women Build event, resulting in $20,000 fundraised towards a collective $275,000 with all teams.
Timeline
Director of Brand Management
Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet
06.2021 - 10.2024
Marketing Manager and Senior Associate
PIERRE-YVES ROCHON, INC. (PYR)
07.2015 - 06.2022
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Gerflor USA
05.2014 - 07.2015
SENIOR MARKETING COORDINATOR
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
01.2012 - 05.2014
INDEPENDENT MARKETING CONTRACTOR
Rockskip (marketing agency)
11.2011 - 01.2012
SENIOR EDITORIAL RESEARCHER
Green Building & Design Magazine
08.2009 - 06.2011
HOSPITALITY INTERIOR DESIGNER
The Gettys Group
09.2007 - 10.2008
Bachelor of Science - School of Hotel Administration
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
International Studies -
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
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