TRACI KARNS
Carmel,USA
Summary
Marketing & Communications Leader | Brand Builder | Events & Public Relations Strategist
Marketing & Communications Leader with 10+ years of experience developing and executing strategic marketing initiatives that drive brand growth, customer engagement, and business development. Proven success leading cross-functional teams, managing high-impact marketing campaigns, strengthening digital presence through SEO and AEO strategies, and supporting revenue growth through integrated communications, trade shows, events, and sales enablement initiatives. Recognized for building strong relationships with executive leadership, aligning marketing efforts with business objectives, and delivering measurable results across manufacturing, industrial, construction, and hospitality environments.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
FOUNDER & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Songbird Social House
Carmel, IN
02.2024 - Current
- Opened and now operate an upscale social house, turning the concept into a fully running venue with a team of 18.
- Shaped the brand, marketing, and entertainment strategy, while building steady awareness and consistent foot traffic.
- Led hiring, training, and team coordination while refining the guest experience across service, atmosphere, and events.
MARKETING MANAGER
Peerless Pump Company
Indianapolis, IN
05.2020 - 12.2024
- Led marketing direction and execution across multiple business divisions (water and fire), aligning branding, communications, and digital initiatives to strengthen overall market presence and consistency across channels.
- Directed end-to-end planning and execution of 30+ national and international trade shows annually, overseeing booth strategy, brand storytelling, logistics coordination, and on-site activation to maximize visibility and lead generation.
- Grew the company’s digital footprint by launching and scaling the corporate LinkedIn presence, building a niche industry audience to 11,000+ followers in just over a year through targeted content and engagement strategies.
- Spearheaded the development and launch of a new corporate website, alongside the creation of refreshed Corporate Visual Imaging guidelines to ensure a cohesive and modern brand identity across all touchpoints.
- Managed key milestone initiatives including the company’s 100-year anniversary celebration, which featured the publication of a commemorative book and integrated internal and external engagement programs.
- Championed internal culture initiatives and community service programs that enhanced employee engagement and reinforced the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.
- Played a key role in re-establishing domestic and international sales channels for the autonomous Peerless Pump unit, supporting business expansion and market re-entry efforts.
- Led the implementation of a new online Distributor Finder tool, improving customer accessibility, strengthening partner connectivity, and enhancing overall sales channel efficiency.
MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST
Mesa Industries Incorporated
Cincinnati, OH
01.2018 - 10.2019
- Contributed to executive-level strategic planning sessions with senior leadership, helping shape business development.
- Built and led content strategy across four divisions, tailoring messaging for audiences while producing original storytelling.
- Managed multi-channel content development and distribution through sponsors, certifications, and distributor networks (including WBENC and SAM), ensuring consistency across traditional and digital platforms, industry events, and trade shows.
- Owned integrated marketing communications planning and budgeting for four divisions, aligning campaigns and resources to business goals while coordinating co-branding initiatives, including logo creation, email campaigns, and advertising.
- Improved digital performance by collaborating on SEO initiatives that increased online store traffic by 25% within six months, while developing campaigns using Adobe Creative Suite, Constant Contact, MailChimp, and SurveyMonkey.
- Directed public relations efforts including press releases, newsletters, community events, and award submissions, strengthening brand reputation, and ensuring organizational excellence.
DIRECTOR OF CLIENT RELATIONS & MARKETING
Scheeler Financial
West Chester, OH
08.2017 - 12.2017
- Defined marketing goals and executed integrated strategies across digital and traditional channels while actively building and strengthening relationships with new and existing customers through prospecting, networking, and brand engagement.
- Elevated brand awareness through targeted marketing initiatives, while producing high-impact content and designing promotional materials using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign to ensure visually compelling messaging across platforms.
- Maintained CRM data accuracy and supported marketing operations by leveraging Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and CRM/CMS tools to streamline workflows and enhance the effectiveness of overall marketing programs.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT /PUBLIC RELATIONS
Power of Cincinnati Ohio
Cincinnati, OH
01.2016 - 08.2017
- Coordinated complex and fast-changing executive travel for the CEO, handling end-to-end pre-planning and logistics.
- Organized resources and on-site readiness for trade shows and career fairs while partnering with hiring managers.
- Supported full-cycle HR and employee experience functions by maintaining candidate records, acting as a primary contact for recruits, administering benefits and office perks, leading onboarding and exit interviews, and contributing to engagement and culture-building initiatives that strengthened morale across the organization.
MARKETING MANAGER/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Dugan & Meyers Construction Co.
Blue Ash, OH
- Designed and produced visual and written materials including organizational charts, schedules, proposals, award submissions, press releases, and promotional collateral to support marketing, communications, and business development.
- Executed RFQs and RFPs through detailed research, data compilation, documentation, and content development, utilizing attention to detail and ensuring competitive submissions for prospective engineering and public works projects.
- Developed and implemented integrated marketing initiatives, including global strategy for public works and engineering sectors, social media direction for the MEP industry, customer feedback surveys, and client-facing materials, while also representing the company at trade shows, career fairs, and public/community events.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Reading Rock, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
- Engaged directly with clients to clarify requirements and translate needs into detailed proposals and contracts, ensuring alignment between expectations and project scope.
- Streamlined project data management by accurately entering and maintaining records in FileMaker and Made2Manage, while coordinating scheduling, shipping, and invoicing to keep operations moving efficiently across departments.
- Strengthened cross-functional execution by acting as the central link between sales, manufacturing, and distribution, while handling sample processing, customer service, drawing requests, RFIs, and approval workflows to support faster turnaround and improved market responsiveness.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education, Special Education
Miami University
Oxford, OHSkills
- Marketing Strategy
- Digital Marketing
- Multi Channel Marketing
- Communication Strategy
- Performance Management
- Digital Communications
- Digital Strategy
- External Marketing
- Internal Communications
- Advertising
- Lead Generation
- Revenue Growth
- Business Development
- Marketing Plans
- Brand Standards
- Brand Alignment
- Event Management
- Corporate Events
- Exhibition Management
- Trade Show Management
- Customer Events
- Networking Events
- Venue Sourcing
- Destination Management
- On Site Execution
- Contract Negotiation
- Portfolio Management
- Budget Management
- Financial Tracking
- Accounts Payable
- Order Management
- Storytelling
- Brand Vision
- Industry Networking Development
- Field Communications
- Network Development
- Team Building
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Staff Development
- Operational Agility
- Stakeholder Management
- Collaboration
- Teamwork
- Problem-Solving
- Conflict Resolution
- Communication
- Consistency
- Accountability
- Salesforce
- Microsoft Word
- Excel
- Spreadsheets
- Smartsheet
- Adobe Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Mobile Apps)
- Constant Contact
- MailChimp
- SurveyMonkey
- WordPress
- Wix
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Workspace
Accomplishments
* Grew Peerless Pump's LinkedIn audience to 11,000+ followers
* Led development and launch of new corporate website and visual branding standards
* Directed 30+ national and international trade shows annually
* Managed communications for Peerless Pump's 100-Year Anniversary Celebration
* Founded and launched Songbird Social House, building a team of 18 employees
* Chaired Employee Activity Committee, leading company culture and community engagement initiatives
Timeline
FOUNDER & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Songbird Social House
02.2024 - Current
MARKETING MANAGER
Peerless Pump Company
05.2020 - 12.2024
MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST
Mesa Industries Incorporated
01.2018 - 10.2019
DIRECTOR OF CLIENT RELATIONS & MARKETING
Scheeler Financial
08.2017 - 12.2017
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT /PUBLIC RELATIONS
Power of Cincinnati Ohio
01.2016 - 08.2017
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Reading Rock, Inc.
MARKETING MANAGER/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Dugan & Meyers Construction Co.
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education, Special Education
Miami University