Melissa Kinckle

Manage a portfolio of 8 enterprise high-tech clients within Gartner's High Tech Consulting practice, overseeing business development and client engagement strategies to drive consistent revenue growth.

• Consistently exceed sales targets by identifying emerging business opportunities and delivering tailored, client-centric solutions that aligned with client needs.
• Built and sustained strategic relationships with key decision-makers, establishing Gartner as a trusted partner within the high-tech sector.
• Strengthened client loyalty through proactive communication, timely project delivery, and exceptional service quality, contributing to high client retention rates.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of Gartner's product offerings, enabling accurate and persuasive presentations during sales pitches and negotiations.
• Expanded client base by implementing targeted marketing strategies and cultivating long-term relationships, leading to increased market penetration.
• Led successful consulting engagements that fostered repeat business and generated positive client referrals, enhancing the practice's reputation.
• Secured high-value contracts through effective negotiation, resulting in profitable partnerships that drove sustained growth for the business.
• Mentor junior consultants, fostering a collaborative team environment and contributing to enhanced team performance and service delivery.
• Streamlined internal communication channels, promoting teamwork and alignment on shared objectives across the consulting practice.
• Directed recruitment initiatives to attract and onboard top talent, building a highly skilled workforce capable of exceeding client expectations.

Led Marketing Technology initiatives across 40 markets for Slalom's Global Business Advisory practice, overseeing a team of MarTech consultants and managing vendor partnerships and client engagements.

• Successfully negotiated client contracts and developed new business opportunities, contributing to significant revenue growth for the practice.
• Developed strategies and generated sales opportunities that drove $5MM in annual revenue, supporting sustained growth for the business.
• Directed teams to define, strategize, and implement comprehensive marketing technology and digital strategies that aligned with client objectives.
• Consistently delivered high-quality service to clients, fostering strong relationships and securing future business opportunities.
• Integrated technology solutions with business operations to address client challenges, focusing on customer strategy, marketing technology, personalization, and customer data.
• Acted as Accountable Executive or Engagement Lead for large-scale marketing technology projects, digital transformations, and customer experience initiatives.
• Led engagements that included developing integrated roadmaps and implementing advanced MarTech solutions such as Salesforce, Adobe, Customer Data Platforms (CDPs), and AWS products.
• Contributed to team growth by recruiting, hiring, and training new team members, building a skilled workforce aligned with the practice's goals.

Developed and executed go-to-market strategies and defined product offerings and technical capabilities for the Chicago market within the Customer Experience, Digital, and Marketing Technology space.

• Collaborated with client leadership to create tailored solutions that aligned with clients' specific business, technology, and marketing objectives.
• Presented comprehensive cost-benefit and ROI analyses to business leaders, informing project planning and driving strategic decision-making.
• Advised business leaders on processes, sales, marketing, digital technologies, and operating models to optimize performance and enhance digital capabilities.
• Provided strategic leadership to clients, guiding them in developing future project roadmaps and effective strategic plans.
• Assessed individual client needs and made targeted project recommendations to resolve specific business challenges, delivering high-impact results.
• Cultivated new client relationships, generating $5MM in new business annually and achieving a 100% client retention rate through a consultative approach.
• Led cross-functional teams to design and deliver seamless project plans and presentations, ensuring high-quality client engagements.
• Recommended tailored product solutions based on client needs, aligning with budgets and timelines to maximize client satisfaction and value.
• Served as Accountable Executive or Engagement Lead for large-scale digital transformations and customer experience projects, overseeing marketing technology implementations.
• Directed engagements involving Salesforce, Adobe, Segment, and AWS, from strategy through implementation, ensuring alignment with client goals and successful project outcomes.

Delivered Digital and Marketing Technology product consultation for VENN's Beta Launch, aligning marketing, data, and technology strategies to drive measurable success.

• Developed and executed a strategic, cloud-based MarTech roadmap focused on data, compliance, digital marketing, and social media, enhancing VENN’s digital capabilities.
• Led the RFP and implementation processes and maintained subject matter expertise in platforms like Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Social, DMP, CRM, Google Tag Manager, and Analytics.
• Optimized SEO strategies for both short- and long-term campaigns, enhancing digital visibility and audience engagement.
• Implemented solutions across multiple channels, including email, SMS, websites, data privacy, analytics, and customer data, aligning with VENN's business goals.
• Designed and executed customer data strategies around acquisition, management, and compliance, leveraging market trends and regulatory insights.
• Gathered requirements, defined project scopes, allocated resources, and established timelines to ensure projects met or exceeded stakeholder expectations.
• Customized a digital and MarTech roadmap that aligned with VENN's objectives, budget, and anticipated ROI, driving scalable growth.
• Activated roadmap initiatives through structured project implementations aimed at achieving quantifiable results and maximizing ROI.
• Developed and enforced compliance protocols for TCPA, GDPR, CCPA, and CAN-SPAM, ensuring VENN’s digital properties adhered to regulatory standards.

Led technology strategy and business enablement for all marketing technologies, covering marketing, lead management, master data management, sales, and CRM as SVP.

• Managed the end-to-end process for technology capability mapping, including roadmaps, budgeting, vendor selection, contract negotiation, vendor management, and both in-house and outsourced implementations.
• Oversaw technology implementations in platforms such as Salesforce, Adobe, and Informatica, optimizing processes across multiple systems.
• Developed innovative, cost-saving solutions through ongoing research, effectively addressing existing challenges and introducing new efficiencies.
• Built a dedicated marketing technology team from the ground up, supporting three multi-million-dollar marketing technology initiatives.
• Delivered software demonstrations and organized focus groups with marketing business teams to gather insights and support continuous product development.
• Directed on-site and remote teams of up to 60 professionals across diverse IT projects, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Created comprehensive implementation plans that included cost-benefit and ROI analyses, securing buy-in from stakeholders.
• Procured necessary software, hardware, and infrastructure to meet program requirements, driving project success and operational efficiency.
• Translated executive vision into actionable technology strategies, aligning IT initiatives with broader business objectives to maximize impact.

Led Marketing Technology capabilities strategy in collaboration with Marketing for the implementation and optimization of Farmers.com and all marketing technologies and web properties at Farmers.

• Directed communication and financial planning with executive stakeholders, developed yearly strategic roadmaps, and managed vendor relationships and budgets to enhance branding and create world-class customer experiences on Farmers.com.
• Oversaw key applications including Farmers.com, Adobe Experience Manager, Adobe Test & Target, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce DMP, Farmers' Self-Service Portal, Acxiom, Liveramp, and Sprinkler.
• Expanded the marketing technology team from 3 to 90 within a year, scaling capabilities to support rapid growth.
• Managed three Agile teams (90 full-time employees, consultants, and contractors) focusing on user experience and technical product delivery for 24/7 web applications and 200 million emails annually.
• Oversaw a $12 million budget for Marketing IT projects, ensuring optimal allocation and successful delivery of strategic initiatives.
• Evaluated and analyzed marketing technology needs to improve strategies, optimize resources, and align with overall business objectives, resulting in a 25% annual increase in digital engagement.
• Drove IT application development, support, and system integration, supporting Farmers' digital transformation efforts and enhancing the user experience.
• Collaborated with overseas technical teams to implement and support application development projects, ensuring seamless operations across multiple time zones.
• Provided mentoring, training, and onboarding to contractors and staff, fostering a cohesive, high-performing team environment.
• Delivered 35 cross-functional, enterprise-wide projects annually, consistently meeting scope, budget, and timeline requirements, and aligning with the marketing vision and objectives.
• Maintained cutting-edge industry knowledge through ongoing education, training, and monitoring of industry trends and publications to drive innovation.

Served as Agile Product Director for multiple strategic technical products, including enterprise retail eCommerce, digital marketing applications, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce CRM, client service apps, and retail/B2B sales systems.

• Directed communication and financial planning with executive stakeholders, developed annual strategic initiative roadmaps, and managed vendor relationships and budgets to optimize branding and customer experience across digital channels.
• Led the development of a custom retail POS system utilizing cloud-based technologies (e.g., Force.com), completed within six months, resulting in reduced call center handling times and lowered cost per acquisition.
• Oversaw $350M in eCommerce transactions and $500M in retail POS transactions, managing all revenue-generating applications for the company.
• Managed a team of 13 professionals focused on business continuity, UI development, customer experience, and execution of strategic roadmap initiatives.
• Championed cross-product processes by leading public betas, tracking experimentation, gathering feedback, and refining product roadmaps to enhance product quality and user satisfaction.
• Collaborated closely with engineering teams to determine optimal implementation methods, develop schedules, and ensure smooth project execution.
• Advocated for early development of critical features to promptly identify and mitigate technical challenges, minimizing project risks.
• Executed comprehensive planning and application development for software projects, overseeing verification and risk management to ensure successful launches.
• Developed and communicated the IT strategic vision, driving key departmental objectives to support long-term business growth and innovation.

• Consulting manager strategizing and delivering Sales, Marketing and Operational transformations to clients
• Responsible for managing executive relationships on projects and creating 3 month to 5 year roadmaps
• Managed client engagement for Sales & Marketing roadmap assessment that lead to $3.2 million project for practice
• Consulted with long-term, new and prospective customers to understand needs and propose ideal solutions
• Observed team member adherence to budgets, standards and regulations
• Implemented comprehensive needs assessment mechanisms to identify demand for products and services
• Documented research findings and prepared polished reports highlighting results and potential improvement strategies
• Assisted clients with requirements analysis, documentation, business analysis and logical data modeling

• Performed program and project management for enterprise implementations in the Financial Services, Corporate & Risk Management Insurance and Media space utilizing Salesforce.com
• Responsible for coordinating all company wide, global philanthropy efforts and internships
• Worked closely with team members to deliver project requirements, develop solutions and meet deadlines
• Improved operations by working with team members and customers to find workable solutions
• Produced status reports for customers and senior management
• Completed thorough risk assessments and deployed management and response strategies to prevent roadblocks
• Applied extensive expertise in System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies and Agile project management techniques to manage multiple project teams
• Kept project teams on-task with proactive control of budgets, schedules and scopes
• Inspired team members by fostering positive environment and boosting employee confidence
• Established key issues in need of resolution and project performance metrics to set planning objectives
• Oversaw budgets for project, tracked expenses and timelines and communicated with key stakeholders on milestones
• Provided strong program leadership to improve development and drive continuous improvement of project delivery process

• Director responsible for overall delivery of enterprise implementations in the Financial Services space
• Managed executive steering committees and C suite relationships
• Career coach and manager of business analysts
• Hired, trained and supervised consultants
• Provided scoping assistance and expertise to sales team
• Customized and implemented Salesforce.com CRM applications

• Project Manager and Sr Business Analyst for corporate sales and enterprise Salesforce.com implementations across various industries
• Specialized in relationship management & financial services best practices
• Collaborated with certified service partners for engagements within Northeast region
• Created functional specifications, BRDs and solution design documentation
• Responsible for curriculum development and training of administrators and end-users on Salesforce.com
• Successfully contributed to over 50 Salesforce.com completed implementations
• First American Consultant to work on an implementation in Thailand for Salesforce.com
• Created complex security documentation and was the only Security SME in Consulting for the Northeast Region

• Relationship Manager for 19 highly visible Premier Accounts
• Assisted with sales support, FAQs, product support and Salesforce.com best practices
• Engaged with client business owners to drive customer success and optimization of CRM application
• Analyze client's business needs in order to suggest best practices and assess future needs
• Data Management SME
• Project member tasked with identifying FAQs, enhancements, feature requests and suggestions for internal Product Management
• Consistently obtain a 9.2 average Customer Satisfaction score and 100% Premier Support renewal rate
• Member of internal interviewing committee and mentorship program
• Project Manager for Internal Incentives Program implementation and rollout

• Responsible for gathering business requirements, establishing business needs, business process modeling, documentation and working with the project team to successfully complete implementations for various COTS and Custom IT solutions
• Worked on Global implementations in Australia, the UK and Asia Pacific
• Top Clients Included Toyota Motor Sales, JD Power & Associates, Westfield Corp and DR Horton

• Assisted clients with needs assessments and features requests prior to software installations
• Responsible for training internal staff as well as executives, management, and business leaders at multinational advertising agencies on Production, Cost accounting, and Corporate accounting systems
• Created internal and external training materials for company's corporate accounting and production systems
• Coordinated agency pitch and objectives for latest accounting software
• Responsible for understanding advertising agencies' workflows and methodologies for production, cost accounting, and corporate accounting
• Relationship Manager for key West coast accounts including Wieden Kennedy and Saatchi & Saatchi LA
• Facilitated custom financial reporting as well as troubleshooting irreconcilable items within reports
• Liaison between Los Angeles and New York offices for accounting software and inter-company relationships