Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Sarah Craig

Sarah Craig

New York,NY

Summary

Marketing, communications and brand reputation executive with extensive experience in developing and implementing effective strategies resulting in measurable revenue growth and market expansion for global retail brands. Expertise in driving successful brand awareness, promotion through media channels. Relationship builder, grower, connector and trusted advisor with communications expertise.

Driven Business Development Executive with career history in multi-state distributed businesses and proven skill in hiring, developing and retaining high-performance teams. Motivating leader with strengths in building strategic relationships to support key business initiatives. Highly skilled in change management, management transition, and merger integration. Offering excellent interpersonal and communication skills and experience managing matrixed organizations.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience

Work History

01.2024 - Current
  • Cast as a background actor in a SAG film in 2024. Met producers/director- Worked on 5 films with a small independent production company. Roles included Locations, Art Department/Production Design/ Set Dresser, props, scriptwriting and background acting
  • Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.

01.2022 - 01.2023
  • Acting School at Theatre Squared in Fayetteville AR and the University of Arkansas. Cast as a background actor in a SAG film.

Non-Profit Volunteer Work

Pro Bono
01.2019 - 01.2023
  • Children’s Shelter NWA
  • Appleseeds
  • Social media
  • Video content strategy
  • Brainstorming
  • Fundraising

Director of Business Development

Supplypike Tech Software Company
05.2018 - 05.2019
  • Business Development for Supply Chain Software in Beta Testing
  • Identified and Developed Relationships with leadership in Consumer Packaged Goods companies who could integrate supply chain solution software

Social media and marketing advisor

Chi Omega PSI chapter at the University of Arkansas
01.2015 - 01.2019

Senior Director, Brand Reputation

Dentsu Aegis Network- formerly Mitchell Communications Group
05.2017 - 05.2018
  • Lead new business initiatives and brand strategy with multiple clients
  • Key Accomplishments:
  • Developed and executed strategic, integrated communications plans on behalf of Walmart, Sam’s Club
  • Facilitated brainstorms, focus groups, client meetings with Walmart Executives
  • Educated Walmart Store and Regional Managers Media Training across the country
  • Led brand launches and store openings in new markets through integrated marketing across brand and program verticals inclusive of paid, earned and owned initiatives.
  • Developed and presented marketing/PR campaign proposals.
  • Pitched and won new business.

Senior Director, Hyper- Local Activation

05.2016 - 05.2017
  • Directed the Walmart store openings U. S. and remodel account. Drove public relations and marketing strategy. Presented custom store strategy Walmart marketing, and named as Walmart marketing’s strategic partner.
  • Key Accomplishments:
  • Developed custom Walmart store opening program for 25 stores in markets with high competitive threat indexes. Custom stores outperformed regular Walmart store openings by 17%, resulting from marketing strategy
  • Pitched and executed idea of Walmart store manager appearances on local news segments and social media to drive trial, awareness, traffic and sales. Per in- store survey. 50% of people heard about the store opening on local news segments during broadcast or saw the segment on Facebook.
  • Organically grew Walmart marketing account for agency 13% over 6 months through established relationships and new business. Led marketing creative projects, including Walmart Neighborhood Market creative refresh work.
  • Walmart food truck activation. Brainstormed Food truck that traveled to new markets and cities with high Competitive threat indexes for grassroots marketing

Director, Hyper-Local Activation, Walmart Grand Openings

04.2014 - 05.2016
  • Developed public relations strategy and marketing initiatives for over 400 Walmart store openings based on customer research and insights. Implemented community activations to open small format stores.
  • Key Accomplishments:
  • Led agency team, supported and strategized with Walmart marketing clients on new formats and market entry. Helped launch Walmart Pickup
  • Identified a business need for customer service training at Walmart stores. Created a program called “Live IT.” Secured budget from Walmart marketing team and trained 1,500 Walmart associates in 23 stores across the U.S. in 8 weeks.
  • Connected cross functional teams and piloted a program called “Live Better Local” which highlighted non-profits in the community with a new store opening.

Account Supervisor, HLA, Walmart Grand Openings

01.2013 - 04.2014
  • Planned, developed, public relations strategy based on research and insights. Presented Walmart store opening public relations strategy to Walmart team. Pitched and won new business with new clients.
  • Key Accomplishments:
  • Secured new business opportunity with Walmart to media train all new store managers at Walmart home office. Taught new store manager media training and developed talking points for store managers. Staffed media open houses and message trained Walmart executives.
  • Secured business with Walmart, planned and executed a Duck Dynasty Satellite media tour.
  • Cracker Barrel retail team lead for New Unit Openings.

Account Manager, HLA, Walmart Grand Openings

01.2012 - 01.2013
  • Collaborated with Walmart media directors and managed public relations for Walmart store openings in contentious markets on the west coast. Drafted press releases and conducted media outreach on behalf of Walmart. Facilitated meetings with cross-functional Walmart teams at home office.
  • Key Accomplishments:
  • Mined Walmart associates stories to humanize the brand. Pushed out through earned, paid and owned channels. Concepted and directed Facebook videos.
  • Traveled to and supported 15 TV commercial shoots in local Walmart stores across the United States.

Account Executive, HLA, Sam’s Club/ Walmart

01.2011 - 01.2012
  • Project managed and led marketing and public relations initiatives for Sam’s Club account, and Walmart.
  • Key Accomplishments:
  • Led Sam’s Club’s initiatives–KCBS with Troy Black and Simply delicious meals with celebrity chefs.
  • Conducted media outreach for Walmart campaigns, and facilitated media inquiries.

PR Specialist, Walmart Holiday and Remodels

11.2010 - 01.2011
  • Worked as a project employee with Mitchell during Walmart’s holiday brand campaign.
  • Key Accomplishments:
  • Proactive media outreach. Secured earned media placements, then hired full time.

Assistant Manager in Volunteer and Visitor Services for Clinton Foundation

Clinton Presidential Center
10.2008 - 08.2010

Registered Client Associate and Marketing Coordinator for client team, serving high net worth clients

Merrill Lynch, Private Client Services
07.1997 - 01.2003

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Communication

University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

Skills

  • Client service expertise
  • Team leadership
  • Creative strategy development
  • Media relations expertise
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Brand development strategy
  • Strategic business development
  • Client/Agency Leison
  • Meeting facilitator
  • Social media strategy development
  • Effective written communication
  • Collaborative team engagement

Timeline

01.2024 - Current

01.2022 - 01.2023

Non-Profit Volunteer Work

Pro Bono
01.2019 - 01.2023

Director of Business Development

Supplypike Tech Software Company
05.2018 - 05.2019

Senior Director, Brand Reputation

Dentsu Aegis Network- formerly Mitchell Communications Group
05.2017 - 05.2018

Senior Director, Hyper- Local Activation

05.2016 - 05.2017

Social media and marketing advisor

Chi Omega PSI chapter at the University of Arkansas
01.2015 - 01.2019

Director, Hyper-Local Activation, Walmart Grand Openings

04.2014 - 05.2016

Account Supervisor, HLA, Walmart Grand Openings

01.2013 - 04.2014

Account Manager, HLA, Walmart Grand Openings

01.2012 - 01.2013

Account Executive, HLA, Sam’s Club/ Walmart

01.2011 - 01.2012

PR Specialist, Walmart Holiday and Remodels

11.2010 - 01.2011

Assistant Manager in Volunteer and Visitor Services for Clinton Foundation

Clinton Presidential Center
10.2008 - 08.2010

Registered Client Associate and Marketing Coordinator for client team, serving high net worth clients

Merrill Lynch, Private Client Services
07.1997 - 01.2003

Bachelor of Arts - Communication

University of Arkansas

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Sarah Craig