Michael Urban
Summary
Innovative marketing leader with 15+ years of experience designing and delivering exceptional marketing campaigns, content, and collateral based on established and innovative strategies. Results-oriented and collaborative professional bringing expertise in brand management and storytelling through creative writing and content development. Detail-oriented, attentive and decisive leader.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Marketing
Fresh Ideas Food Service Management
04.2020 - Current
- A contract food service management company serving nearly 50 accounts across 13 states.
- Responsible for all aspects of the company's marketing and communications strategy serving clients in the college and university market as well as senior living, K-12 schools and corporate accounts.
- Lead a team of graphic designers and digital communicators to achieve our marketing and communications objectives.
- Coordinated with creative team to generate dynamic marketing content and communication tools for promotional campaigns.
- Devised marketing plans using digital strategies, print advertising, and word of mouth tactics.
- Work closely with all corporate departments including sales, human resources, finance, and unit operators to communicate effectively with each customer segment as well as build brand awareness.
Founder + Owner
Love Your Craft Holdings
06.2014 - 08.2021
- The holding company for Harold's Doughnuts, a scratch bakery in Columbia, Missouri.
- Built Harold's from scratch, realizing 2,251% revenue growth from 2014 through 2019.
- Developed strong partnerships with other businesses to allow for collaboration and more significant opportunities for growth.
- Responsible for all operational and growth strategies and tactics including management, hiring, procurement, marketing, and sales.
- Developed the Harold's brand and identity including the company's logo, website, e-commerce store, and customer acquisition strategy.
- Executed all digital customer communication which attracted tens of thousands of customers and nearly 30,000 followers and subscribers on social media and email.
Director of Platform Management
MBS Direct
03.2013 - 05.2014
- An online bookstore platform serving hundreds of colleges and universities.
- Led the company's software development team.
- Responsible for overseeing the build-out and deployment of MBS Direct's "e-reader" platform which is used at hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the United States.
- Developed strategic initiatives with the company's leadership team which helped lead to new partnerships in the higher education market.
Director of Marketing & Business Development
Idea Works
06.2011 - 03.2013
- A software company specializing in machine learning and automated text analysis.
- Directed the company's marketing and business development for two software products.
- Worked closely with software engineers to coordinate development objectives with sales and marketing goals.
- Led the development of a software product called Globalpoint that collected and analyzed unstructured content from social media to detect consumer and voter sentiment.
Vice President of Research
Pure Marketing & Media
04.2009 - 06.2011
- A startup marketing and communications firm serving small and large businesses, political campaigns, and non-profit organizations.
- Built and led the firm's marketing research division.
- Directed and designed all of Pure's research initiatives including in-depth interviews, focus groups, phone and in-person surveys, and more.
- Collaborated with the firm's creative team to test concepts and campaigns prior to customer deployment.
Political Associate
John Hancock & Associates
06.2005 - 04.2009
- A political and corporate consulting firm serving Fortune 500 clients and local, statewide and national political campaigns and causes.
- Designed and managed the firm's public opinion research projects.
- Started a subscription based survey product called the "Missouri Pulse Poll" where campaigns, trade associations and other interest groups purchased individual questions to test in a bi-weekly statewide survey.
- Served as a political operative on several local and statewide campaigns including the 2008 Missouri gubernatorial race.
Political Director
Catherine Hanaway for Secretary of State
05.2004 - 11.2004
- Led the campaign's political and grassroots operations in all of Missouri's 114 counties and the city of St. Louis.
- Responsible for leading political staff and statewide volunteers, enacting strategies and tactics that helped secure over 1.2 million votes for the candidate.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri05.2005
Skills
- Public Speaking
- Leadership
- Front-End Website Development
- Branding & Identity Development
- Marketing & Communications Strategy
- Public Opinion Analysis
- Social Media Communications
- Email Marketing
- Content Strategy
- CMS CRM Proficiency
- Writing for Customer Acquisition & Retention
Awards
Small Business of the Year Finalist, Columbia Chamber of Commerce, 2017
40 Under 40 Honoree, Columbia Business Times, 2016
Timeline
Director of Marketing
Fresh Ideas Food Service Management
04.2020 - Current
Founder + Owner
Love Your Craft Holdings
06.2014 - 08.2021
Director of Platform Management
MBS Direct
03.2013 - 05.2014
Director of Marketing & Business Development
Idea Works
06.2011 - 03.2013
Vice President of Research
Pure Marketing & Media
04.2009 - 06.2011
Political Associate
John Hancock & Associates
06.2005 - 04.2009
Political Director
Catherine Hanaway for Secretary of State
05.2004 - 11.2004
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Missouri
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