Susan Saltwell

After suffering severe business loss during COVID, I was hired to overhaul the account service function transforming it into the best performing team in Elevation Marketing history within two years.

• Developed highly disciplined account service team trained in results driven creative marketing, client problem solving and relationship building and account profitability and financial management.
• Staff retention improved to 100% in year two vs. 95% turnover rate year one.
• Client retention improved to 80% year two vs. 30% year one.
• Organic revenue from existing client base continues to grow over 483% year over year through innovative marketing initiatives and programs focused on solving client business problems.

Elevated the client partnerships increasing revenue and retention rates by developing a culture of creativity to inspire innovative thinking, strategic discipline and empowered teams. Responsible for C-level relationships, client financial management and contracts and year over year revenue growth.

• Created strategic planning and brand practice when acquired by a digital agency to add incremental services, revenue and build creative reputation.
• Crafted a business plan for private equity client that increased their business opportunity from $691M to the category leader at $2.3B.
• Doubled work with a leading global food company from 6 to 13 brands through integrated brand strategy and world class creative campaigns.
• Brought in over $1M in incremental revenue from previous client relationships in year one.
• Developed disciplined high performing teams and processes in strategy, branding and integrated marketing.

Business development and strategy consulting for emerging brand strategy firm.

Provided strategic direction across all agency clients and new business efforts.

• Launched Kraft’s first global health & wellness, sustainability effort to use sustainable materials, free trade ingredients and health benefits across all product lines.
• Repositioned Vi (formerly Classic Residence by Hyatt) as national brand, creating their first digital strategy and footprint. Response rates up 72%, qualified leads up 300% and highest occupancy rates in 6 years.
• Restaged world class Children’s Memorial Hospital as Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. After two years, awareness as Lurie Children’s was up 56%, quality care reputation up 11%.
• Launched first social media program for luxury brand Canyon Ranch. Entire year’s plan paid for itself with 46 new international bookings in first 60 days.
• Created first social influencer campaign for two national CPG brands over delivering target influencers.

Responsible for strategic planning, new business development and client service for a startup ad agency with one initial client, ATA Airlines.

• Grew agency revenue over 400% in 4 years.
• Transformed ATA brand from leisure only to business airline.
• Repositioned Rotary International as a vibrant, relevant global service organization. Resulting PSA campaign,
  Humanity in Motion, consistently ranked in top 2% of all PSA airings in U.S.

Other Career Highlights

• Youngest CMO for specialty food agency Noble & Associates managing $40 million across two offices for small emerging companies and branded powerhouses like Tyson, Kraft, Keebler, Pillsbury and The American Dairy Association.
• Created first global consumer brand for Shure microphones by introducing professional quality sound to new younger consumer audience. After launching their first branded consumer effort in Rolling Stone, worked with some of their top endorsers including Christina Aguilera, Wyclef Jean, Juanes and LeAnn Rimes.
• Served as adjunct marketing professor at Columbia College teaching
  Creativity in Marketing and senior capstone class
  How to Develop a Marketing Plan.