ROB YAGID
Collinsville
Summary
I am an experienced and proven media and marketing executive who strategically leads brands and organizations through their purposeful evolution. Motivated by the modern marketing and advocacy landscape, I help develop teams that drive growth and influence through authentic storytelling and advanced data tactics, technology and creative exploration. With a coalition-building mindset, I'm committed to helping elevate organizations and nonprofits that share a deep commitment to community impact and environmental stewardship.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Vice President, Content
Active Interest Media
12.2023 - Current
- Manage and direct the operations of 17 premier media brands with over 60 staff generating $38M in annual revenues.
- Integrated a 40-year-old legacy media company with over 100 talented personnel across editorial, advertising, marketing and production into Active Interest Media within 3 months, aligning systems, workflows and stakeholders to maintain day-to-day business operations and performance.
- Reorganized staff to accelerate digital product experience, growing online learning portfolio above $1M annual contribution, scaled affiliate revenue operations, launched digital memberships and scaled in-person events to drive $600K of new revenue into the organization.
- Serve as member of central leadership team to build data pipelines to support marketing journeys, commerce initiatives and advertising. Product team for AIM IQ, an AI-enriched data engine that better tracks customer behavior and enhances customer profile data to drive hyper-targeted ad and marketing conversions.
Founding Executive Director
KEEP CRAFT ALIVE
10.2016 - Current
- Ignited industry-wide movement through social media. Built KeepCraftAlive.org and the Keep Craft Alive scholarship fund through SkillsUSA to support continued education and training for students of all backgrounds interested in pursuing careers in the building trades.
- Manage all multi-channel content and communications to support mission development, fundraising and corporate partnerships.
- Program received the Association of Magazine Media Imagination Award in the “Leadership” category and has funded nearly $300,000 in student scholarships to date.
Chief Content Officer
Taunton Press
06.2022 - 12.2023
- Managed the product development and content teams across the full portfolio of media brands, developing the product strategy, leading content and experience focus, and oversaw +$4M operating budget.
- Worked with the CEO, the board of directors and the company owners to strategically position the business for acquisition. Served as core stakeholder through the M&A process, developing the CIM, meeting and pitching with prospective buyers and ultimately managed the transition of the business and staff to new ownership.
- Developed, launched and operationalized new cross-brand learning platform to drive customer value and engagement. Generated $700K of new revenue within 18months of launch with +70% average product margin.
- Scaled marketing services and new business across brands by leveraging deep experience in executing content marketing programs for top tier advertising clients to drive brand awareness, leads and product adoption.
VP, Brand & Product Strategy
Taunton Press
10.2021 - 06.2022
- Managed the nexus of product, marketing and advertising to ensure each were aligned with overall corporate objectives. Was specifically responsible for taking theoretical strategy to practical application and implementation across brands and departments.
- Organized edit and advertising teams to develop renewed go to market strategy for ad product and programming.
Digital Media Coordinator
BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS
08.2018 - 10.2021
- Lead the strategic digital experience for the fastest growing public land and water advocacy organization in North America, managing paid and organic communications and grassroots advocacy planning and execution.
- Worked with coalition stakeholders to build and deliver digital advocacy campaigns that supported the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, delivered the full funding of the Land & Water Conservation Fund, and to help protect priority landscapes like the Boundary Waters, the Tongass National Forest, Alaska’s Bristol Bay and more.
- Launched and managed the "Field to Table" content initiative strengthening connections between food and wild landscapes across North America. Established sponsorship with Filson to amplify.
- Manage digital membership acquisition, merchandise promotional development and all paid advertising for headquarters and over 40 chapters across North America.
- Serve as digital media lead on interagency grant applications and program delivery, volunteer and staff media and marketing development and collaborative corporate partner programing.
Editorial Director
FINE HOMEBUILDING AND GREENBUILDINGADVISOR.COM
06.2015 - 08.2018
- Managed the day-to-day brand operations of print, digital and video staffs with an operating budget of $2M and led the digital transformation of legacy brands to modern media properties.
- Developed, pitched and delivered high-impact media programs and lead generation campaigns that drove consecutive years of double-digit growth in membership, subscriptions and advertising revenue. Tasked to present strategy to all departments and franchises for companywide adoption.
Executive Editor
FINE HOMEBUILDING
06.2014 - 06.2015
- Developed the full editorial schedule for print products and digital properties, maintained brand editorial standards and delivered multimedia content on time and on budget.
- Managed the editorial staff, art staff and editorial contributors across North America to deliver print content, digital exclusives and best in class video programing.
- Managed annual brand awards program and all associated print and digital content and communications.
- Served as Taunton special projects lead on “publishing for millennial target”.
Assistant, Associate, Senior and Design Editor
FINE HOMEBUILDING
07.2007 - 06.2014
- Developed the full editorial schedule for design related content for print and digital properties.
- Developed, launched and managed annual awards program and all print and digital assets.
- Produced sponsored design video series. 6M+ views through web and social channels.
- Photographed projects to be featured in print and digital formats and coordinated photo shoots with professional photographers on as needed basis.
- Honed expertise in technical journalism, working directly with industry experts to produce comprehensive how-to-features. Developed, launched and managed the technical building department, taking it from the readers least favorite in post-issue survey results to a top-rated department.
Education
B.A. - Journalism
Quinnipiac University
01.2005
Skills
- DIGITAL SKILLS: Advocacy Campaigns Lead Generation Tech Stack Development Email Management Organic & Paid Social Media Strategy & Management Print & Digital Editorial Management Fundraising Content Planning Data Organization
- CREATIVE & MARKETING SKILLS: Brand Development Digital Advertising Video & Audio Production Content Marketing Photography Web Design & Optimization E-Mail Marketing Influencer Marketing Audience Development Member Acquisition
- MANAGEMENT SKILLS: Coalition Coordination Corporate Partner Management Budget Management Development & Management Volunteer Training & Empowerment Mission Development Grassroots Activation Strategic Planning
Affiliations
- Chief Building Advisor, The Innermost House Foundation
- Imagination Awards Jury Member for Content, MPA The Association of Magazine Media
- SPP Awards Jury Member, American Institute of Architects
- National Championship Judging Panel, SkillsUSA
- Historic Commission, Collinsville, CT
Timeline
Senior Vice President, Content
Active Interest Media
12.2023 - Current
Chief Content Officer
Taunton Press
06.2022 - 12.2023
VP, Brand & Product Strategy
Taunton Press
10.2021 - 06.2022
Digital Media Coordinator
BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS
08.2018 - 10.2021
Founding Executive Director
KEEP CRAFT ALIVE
10.2016 - Current
Editorial Director
FINE HOMEBUILDING AND GREENBUILDINGADVISOR.COM
06.2015 - 08.2018
Executive Editor
FINE HOMEBUILDING
06.2014 - 06.2015
Assistant, Associate, Senior and Design Editor
FINE HOMEBUILDING
07.2007 - 06.2014
B.A. - Journalism
Quinnipiac University
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
- OUTDOOR LIFE MAGAZINE, TIME. INC.
- BACKCOUNTRY MAGAZINE, HEIGHT OF LAND PUBLISHING
- NEWS & CITIZEN, VERMONT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
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