Melissa Bang
Edina,MN
Summary
Knowledgeable Program Director with proven history of leading high-performing teams and executing strategic initiatives that drive organizational growth. Successfully directed cross-functional projects that resulted in significant process improvements and operational efficiencies. Demonstrated leadership and communication skills in fostering collaborative environments and delivering impactful results. Experienced with strategic planning and project management. Utilizes leadership skills to drive team performance and operational excellence. Track record of delivering high-impact results through innovative problem-solving and effective communication.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, ECommerce & Digital Marketing
The Kinetic Group
Anoka
04.2022 - Current
- Lead a team managing the enhancement, growth and strategy for (5) ammunition brands and (2) apps. Including front and back-end implementations, consumer personas, CRM + CDP implementation and enhancements to provide retail data, drive .com growth and understand consumer behavior
- Drive a consumer first acquisition and retention approach including the implementation of digital marketing, email marketing and CDP tools to establish a 1:1 personalized experience for our consumers
- Spearheaded and implemented an innovative 3-year strategic blueprint for eComm strategy - KPIs: drive efficiencies; drive segmentation, cut costs; provide personalization and migrate to a cohesive plan for the eComm ammo unit
Director, ECommerce & Digital Marketing
Rapala VMC
Minnetonka
05.2018 - 04.2022
- Led the US Rapala.com business managing over 9 brands, and 13k sku's, positioning them as a thought leader in the fishing category. Including website enhancements, marketing programs & yearly strategies to drive .com revenue growth
- Developed consumer personas for Rapala.com to identify growth, traffic, and loyalty opportunities, while pushing this data and knowledge out to retail to grow the category
- Led and managed global website overhaul, to include new platform implementation with the goal of driving ROI+; Global efficiencies; and leveraged new global consumer personas
Target Team Account Director
Epsilon - Catapult Marketing
03.2017 - 05.2018
- Lead multi-client Target Team - developed client specific annual strategic marketing, digital and merchandising plans; financial, analytical and measurement management, as well as participated in numerous RFP and AOR new business development
- Lead Ocean Spray account including defining and establishing the shopper marketing function at Ocean Spray with senior leadership
- Grew account from $25k to over $450k
- Lead digital innovation and planning across total engagement
- Lead the Johnson & Johnson account including developing and executing strategic annual plan, JBPs, cross-category sell-in, partnership and identifying white space opportunities for financial growth - click to brick
- Specific emphasis on beauty reinventions at Target
- Position the agency for growth including sell-in of incremental opportunities and co-lead RFPs for new business
Target Team Account Supervisor & Management Supervisor
Epsilon - Catapult Marketing
03.2012 - 03.2017
- Responsible for the daily management and execution of shopper marketing programs from initiation through execution for the Johnson & Johnson, Crayola, Gerber, Keurig, and Mars Chocolate accounts at Target
- Implemented and grew the shopper marketing discipline at Crayola with Target leading to full year branded beacon endcap, incremental funding, and total aisle reinvention
- Led innovative digital and breakthrough merchandising initiatives
- Grew the Johnson & Johnson Target business by >750% via first ever multi divisional and functional working team to establish and grow their award-winning (industry and retailer multiple divisional and category vendor-of-the-year awards) BIC shopper marketing function
- Led annual planning process, with significant influence of each client's businesses by creating an expert credible and reputable industry and category voice, providing ongoing recommendations to business plans, and 'acting' in the client's role including the management and definition of multi-million-dollar budgets
Account Manager
JMC Retail Group / Pin Jang
05.2010 - 03.2012
- Led and managed Target account for US based six vendors
- Included quarterly line reviews, forecasts, packaging, and ad hoc account management selling responsibilities
- Led the design assist process with our design team and PD&D for the trend run at Target including sourcing, factory management, process development, line reviews and sell-in
- Manage flatware and pantry accounts for Target including item submissions, line reviews, VITs/VTAs, forecasts, orders, and packaging
- Continually working with Target and vendors to improve our speed to market and how we can do things better and faster
International Sales Manager
Asia Sales & Marketing
05.2010 - 03.2012
- Manage product specification information collection, including pricing, forecast, and margin calculations
- Assist in marketing plan development, including store shops, and creating marketing collateral to be presented to customers
- Primary contact between Asia Sales and Marketing and their two factories based in China
- Managed the Home Depot Product Line Review in Shenzhen, China including set up, negotiations and sales presentations, and ensured effective execution of set up with the factories
- Developed new Marketing collateral for our trees and lights, by creating customer surveys and using the results to develop new marketing plans to speak to the Home Depot consumer
Senior Merchandise Specialist
Target Corporation
01.2006 - 12.2009
- Liaison between Target Corporation and vendors ensuring the successful submission of item set ups, cost changes, and advertising submissions
- Implemented Best Methods processes for Coca-Cola's vendor income collection, promotional submissions, and cost changes reducing the amount of workload for Coca-Cola vendors by 40 hours per year per vendor
- Rolled out Data Sync (the electronic submission of cost changes) to Coca-Cola, reducing the number of chargebacks to Target by 70%
- Process was subsequently rolled out to other vendors across the company because of its success
Education
Management - undefined
Gustavus Adolphus College
01.2005
Skills
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
Timeline
Director, ECommerce & Digital Marketing
The Kinetic Group
04.2022 - Current
Director, ECommerce & Digital Marketing
Rapala VMC
05.2018 - 04.2022
Target Team Account Director
Epsilon - Catapult Marketing
03.2017 - 05.2018
Target Team Account Supervisor & Management Supervisor
Epsilon - Catapult Marketing
03.2012 - 03.2017
Account Manager
JMC Retail Group / Pin Jang
05.2010 - 03.2012
International Sales Manager
Asia Sales & Marketing
05.2010 - 03.2012
Senior Merchandise Specialist
Target Corporation
01.2006 - 12.2009
Management - undefined
Gustavus Adolphus College
Awards recognition
Numerous Vendor of the Year awards - Target Corp., Rising Star - Epsilon., Industry awards: 2 Effie's, 3 Webby, 1 Reggie, #1 Shopper Commerce Agency by the HUB, #1 Agency of the Year, Ad Age (2012-18)
Industry leadership
Presented at Path to Purchase Institute Shopper Marketing EXPO Conference with clients, Fall 2018
Websites, Portfolios, Profiles
www.rebelcitizencompany.com