MELODY BARKSDALE
Entertainment Executive
Buffalo,NY
Summary
Entertainment executive with proven track record of driving successful projects and elevating creative initiatives. Strong expertise in strategic planning, contract negotiations, and talent management. Excellent at fostering team collaboration and delivering impactful results. Highly adaptable to evolving industry trends and organizational needs.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Teacher
Duval County Public School District
02.2020 - 05.2023
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators and parents to help students reach learning objectives.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Incorporated multiple types of teaching strategies into classroom.
- Encouraged creative thinking and motivated students by addressing individual strengths and weaknesses based on standardized testing results.
- Reviewed curriculum and devised alternate approaches to presenting lessons to increase student understanding.
- Held conferences with parents to address questions, discuss academic progress and encourage learning goals.
Customer Service Representative
Internal Revenue Service
10.2018 - 12.2019
- Successfully communicated individual taxpayers, their representatives, professional stakeholders, and other government officials
- Increased the effectiveness of telephone interviews with a wide range of individuals who had varying degrees of understanding, and provided a full explanation to specific inquiries that led to a 97% National call rating for the call center
- Responded with a 95% accuracy to a wide range of inquiries involving laws, rules, and regulations, each having different conditions, reporting requirements or other regulatory provisions; Regulations and policies subject to frequent legislative changes, amendments or precedent decisions that affect specific conditions
- Elicited sensitive, personal and financial information
- 95% accuracy in making determinations and using sound judgment concerning controversial matters in reporting the degree to which the individual understood their responsibilities
- 95% accuracy in developing, analyzing and evaluating information involving research of records and the nature of each inquiry
- Answered customer telephone calls promptly to avoid on-hold wait times.
- Maintained customer satisfaction with forward-thinking strategies focused on addressing customer needs and resolving concerns.
Customer Service Representative
U.S. Small Business Admin - Office Of Disaster Assistance
09.2017 - 10.2018
- Used excellent communication via phone and email with disaster victims advising them of availability of SBA disaster assistance and providing a general overview of benefits of disaster loan program
- Increased accuracy and problem-solving skills of customer service department to address telephone call inquiries, resolve problems and prepare documentation by helping hundreds of disaster victims submit applications for loans
- Used Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and various other computer systems to research customer inquiries, record call activity and complete necessary forms
- Navigated between multiple computer programs/systems simultaneously to locate pertinent information
- Portrayed a solid understanding of individual and business tax returns, financial statements, and mortgage documentation and explaining them to customers using simple language
Product Consultant
M&T Bank
04.2016 - 09.2016
- Increased company revenue by 20% over 5-month period by selling various retail commercial products
- Answered telephone inquiries on banking products including checking, savings, loans and lines of credit
- Increased contacts by phone and setting of appointments for relationship managers by 25% by using excellent communication and relationship skills
- Completed research on customer information to see if customer was eligible for products
- Calculated costs of products utilizing calculator and doing mathematical operations like percentages, addition, subtraction with 100% accuracy
- Increased profit of bank by processing loan and credit application information accurately and efficiently entering information into computer with 100% accuracy
- Applied highly effective selling skills while properly engaging and presenting solutions to customers.
- Facilitated inter-departmental communication to effectively provide customer support.
Telephone Sales Representative
One Touch Direct
11.2014 - 07.2015
- Mastery of customer service management systems and databases
- Wrote sales contracts for orders obtained and submitted orders for processing
- Communicated sales promotions to customers to grow average customer account size by 20%
- Explained product prices and packages as well as answered questions and addressed concerns of customers
- Overcame objections using friendly, persuasive strategies
- Achieved one-call sales with 50% of contacts.
- Guided customers through plan selection by explaining benefits, costs and restrictions of each option.
Insurance Sales Representative
Combined Insurance
02.2014 - 11.2014
- Maintained detailed records of customer information and policy sales
- Reviewed customer needs and financial means to determine appropriate policy offerings
- Stayed in touch with clients to assess changing demands and offer new solutions
- Communicated regularly with territory, regional and strategic managers for daily support and strategic planning for accounts
- Brought in 50 new accounts through successful networking strategies and promotional approaches
Teacher
Buffalo Board of Education
02.1998 - 04.2012
- Analyzed, designed, developed, implemented, and evaluated curriculum, instruction, training and skill development programs that led to a 20 point increase in student achievement on state regents exams
- Utilized problem-solving and mature listening skills to implement classroom management program
- Coordinated field trips, talent shows, academic and cultural programs, competitions and events for district
- Maintained professionalism and integrity when communicating with parents, students, and faculty
- Completed continuing education and in-service courses to keep up-to-date with new teaching methods and developments in education
- Recognized for extraordinary instructional design, leadership and teamwork skills that led to academic success and increased student attendance in school district
Global Talent Scout and A&R Representative
Wealth Nation Entertainment LLC
03.2017 - 03.2018
- Maintained ongoing communication with potential candidates, fostering long-term relationships for future opportunities.
- Boosted employer branding efforts through participation in external events and maintaining an active online presence across relevant platforms.
- Negotiated favorable contract terms for artists by leveraging industry knowledge and strong negotiation skills.
- Fostered positive relationships with external partners such as radio stations, streaming services, and concert promoters to expand visibility for signed artists.
- Negotiated contracts and terms with agents and talent by attending meetings and creating deals.
- Organized and attended industry events for talent and client promotion.
- Implemented innovative scouting techniques for discovering new talent, resulting in a diverse roster of artists.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to develop unique promotional campaigns, raising the profiles of signed artists.
- Supported artist goals with corresponding action plans and timelines.
- Confirmed smooth operations between clients and talent by acting as liaison.
- Implemented and developed marketing plans to promote clients and increase visibility.
Case Manager
Melody Barksdale, Every Woman Opportunity Center
08.1997 - 02.1998
- Managed Welfare to Work Program
- Used strong oral communication skills to recruit at-risk young adult participants while giving presentations to public about services and programs available
- Analyzed, designed, developed, implemented, and evaluated a job curriculum for participants
- Networked with other agencies, institutions and organizations in Western New York to share information and gain knowledge that would help improve program
- Utilized strong interpersonal skills in identifying and maintaining key relationships with community/professional sources.
Pupil Services Assistant
Niagara Falls Board of Education
07.1989 - 06.1995
- Coordinated a career advisement program for at-risk youth that led to a 50% increase in students seeking help with career decisions and college application
- Coordinated and managed the peer tutoring program for at-risk youth that led to 20% increase in student achievement on test scores
- Managed student data records and inputted the information into computer
- Coordinated and supervised student groups, internships and activities
- Managed summer school registration, counseled at-risk students on personal, emotional and academic issues
- Collaborated with parents, students, teachers, administrators to provide services to students to ensure academic, social, and personal success.
Education
Master of Science - Entertainment Business
Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL09.2013
Teacher Certification Program - Social Studies Teacher Education
Daemen College
Amherst, NY12.1992
Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal Studies
Kelley Business Institute
Niagara Falls, NY12.1990
Master of Education - Educational Administration
State University of New York
Buffalo, NY06.1989
Bachelor of Arts - Legal Studies
State University of New York
Buffalo, NY 09.1984 - 06.1987
Skills
Creative vision
Digital media
Content development
Talent acquisition
Partnership development
Talent management
Budgeting and finance
Contract negotiation
Marketing strategy
Advertising campaigns
Distribution channels
Creative direction
Marketing and promotion
Customer service
Strategic planning
Project management
Media relations
Professionalism
Team leadership
Attention to detail
Quote
You will recognize your own path when you come upon it because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need.
Sara Teasdale
Certification
- Secondary Education Certificate - NY State Department of Education.
- Paralegal Certification - New York State Office of Proprietary Education
Timeline
Teacher
Duval County Public School District
02.2020 - 05.2023
Customer Service Representative
Internal Revenue Service
10.2018 - 12.2019
Customer Service Representative
U.S. Small Business Admin - Office Of Disaster Assistance
09.2017 - 10.2018
Global Talent Scout and A&R Representative
Wealth Nation Entertainment LLC
03.2017 - 03.2018
Product Consultant
M&T Bank
04.2016 - 09.2016
Telephone Sales Representative
One Touch Direct
11.2014 - 07.2015
Insurance Sales Representative
Combined Insurance
02.2014 - 11.2014
Teacher
Buffalo Board of Education
02.1998 - 04.2012
Case Manager
Melody Barksdale, Every Woman Opportunity Center
08.1997 - 02.1998
Pupil Services Assistant
Niagara Falls Board of Education
07.1989 - 06.1995
Bachelor of Arts - Legal Studies
State University of New York
09.1984 - 06.1987
Master of Science - Entertainment Business
Full Sail University
Teacher Certification Program - Social Studies Teacher Education
Daemen College
Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal Studies
Kelley Business Institute
Master of Education - Educational Administration
State University of New York
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