BILL CONNORS

Seattle, WA

2Connors@msn.com

Director / Senior Manager / Manager

Marketing / Marketing Communications

Highly experienced, strategic and action-oriented Marketing Communications professional with significant expertise
and accomplishment in matrix environments, strategic planning, budgeting, qualitative/quantitative research and creative
development
Strong skills in implementing marketing programs for both consumer and B2B that integrate branding, positioning,
social media and event planning/management that result in enhanced and measurable audience awareness, acquisition,
retention and satisfaction
Exceptional presentation, written and interpersonal communication skills that promote innovative Client/Vendor/Partner
and cross-team relationships resulting in actionable and forward-thinking results.

SKILLS AND EXPERTISE

Strategic marketing/branding communications for internal and external audiences, client and vendor relationship management,
financial and budgetary oversight and management, driving cost savings while increasing departmental revenue.
Strategy, Project Management, Program Management, Marketing Communications, Social Media, Product Marketing,
Leadership, Vendor Management, Strategic Planning, Multi-channel Marketing

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Marketing Communications Manager

Artisan Collection
June 2011 November 2015 - Puget Sound, WA & Bali, Indonesia
Increase customer acquisition/retention by developing and implementing strategic planning, value proposition, branding,
consumer segmentation, promotions and other targeted marketing efforts (including email campaigns and social media
presence) for this Fair Trade retail company.
Manage participation in over 20 trade and consumer events which resulted in a combined increase in wholesale and retail
sales of 42% within first year
Successfully aligned with domestic and foreign product and design teams resulting in improved positioning around client
purchasing trends
Change Management Marketing Communications Manager
Microsoft / COMSYS
2011 2011 (less than a year) Redmond, WA
Co-developed and managed the deployment of a rolling change management framework for the phased transition of enhanced
global cloud service and Office 365 offerings for over 2,000 advanced education institutions worldwide
Created and deployed change management positioning, communications plan and deliverables across multiple work streams
and channels (including web page content, direct email, streaming video, podcasts and collateral
Oversaw all proactive and reactive communications in response to customer, partner and other stakeholders needs and
issues
Consultant
Marketing Communications Program Manager
Microsoft Windows Embedded / Compucom
2009 2010 (1 year) Redmond, WA
Spearheaded and managed synchronized communications, licensing and operational deliverables/processes for Microsofts
Windows Embedded Standard 7 launch events
Insured accurate and timely communication and reporting for Product Marketing, technical, operational and licensing teams for
use across marketing organization
Provided strong project management/internal marcom skills and deliverables to facilitate rapid deployment of time sensitive
information (i.e. timeline changes, issue resolution, etc.) across engineering, development and executive teams
Consultant

Global Marketing Communications Program Manager/Producer

Microsoft Xbox / Filter Talent
2007 2008 (1 year) Redmond, WA
Developed and steered increased Xbox LIVE consumer awareness and user participation by partnering with the technical
design, production, content providers and third party agencies/vendors to insure successfully branded rollouts of over 20 game,
music and film/TV service marketing campaigns
Created all marketing content within lines of business for two domestic monthly online newsletters with subscription audience
of 250K
Produced creative and development vendor SOWs and PO while providing oversight and budgetary compliance for all
deliverables
Consultant
Global Marketing Communications Manager
Microsoft Global Art Compliance / Filter Talent
2007 2007 (less than a year) Redmond, WA
Key responsibilities for the Microsoft account included developing a ground-up communications plan scalable for rollout to a
diverse worldwide Microsoft team tasked with advancing quality product imaging/branding across all global products and their
client base
Co-developed and co-managed an intranet community redesign and refresh within first two months
Managed and leveraged employee feedback data, content review, focus groups and event planning for team's first ever annual
Global Summit
Consultant
Strategic Marketing Communications Program Manager
Microsoft Trustworthy Computing / Filter Talent
2006 2007 (1 year) Redmond, WA
Responsible for designing and delivering all on/offline communications programs and content aimed at expanding corporate
tenet awareness/technical engagement for Microsoft worldwide
Authored content and collateral for both internal/external websites and SharePoint sites
Strategically mapped out new communication plans for FY07 including ongoing web content refreshes, online newsletter layout
and delivery, event presence and related messaging
Consultant
Partner Marketing Manager
Microsoft North American Partner Programs / Volt
2005 2006 (1 year) Redmond, WA
Responsible for daily marketing operations/program support and guidance for US partner programs totaling over 72,000
members.
Key marketing group contact for program initiative rollouts and project management, quality assurance and customer
satisfaction.
Vendor escalation point for all programmatic and initiative/project issues and questions.
Consultant
Principal / Consultant
WMC Consulting
2002 2005 (3 years) Domestic US
Provided marketing plans and project management/strategic guidance services for start-up companies seeking additional
financing and investment through increased consumer awareness, exposure and market visibility
Clients ranged from online retailers and game play companies to consumer service providers
A+ average client follow-up rating with an increase in client base of 166% within 1st year
Category Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation
1999 2002 (3 years) Redmond, WA
Strategically managed multiple enterprise vendors servicing internal corporate clients (then 40,000+ employees) while
successfully overseeing $15 million budget, driving cost containment, increasing revenue, enhancing product offerings/service
levels and improving QA and KPIs.
Created first ever business reporting and knowledge sharing architecture across five field sites, resulting in 100% accuracy in
weekly operating reports.
Acting as Product Manager for lines of business owned, successfully set vision and managed multiple business-specific
marketing communication channels (including websites, email aliases, videos, and surveys) - as well as all vendor presence at
various internal/external events.
Defined, managed and reported to executive management 9 quarterly business performance reviews with cost reductions to
businesses managed totaling $2 million
Lead Marketing Communications Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation
1998 1999 (1 year) Redmond, WA
Managed IT Marketing Communications team including the oversight of all daily operations and strategic communications
evangelizing IT related product and service rollouts
Promoted IT services worldwide by deploying more than 80 paper/online articles for corporate wide weekly publication and
supervised ongoing IT content for trade publications, web site content and other internal/external communication channels
Defined and shared first-ever IT-specific communication policy and best-practices with corporate stakeholders/decision makers

 Negotiated win-win opportunities with IT and Business IT teams to identify, participate in and deliver on all business critical
communications for aimed at maximizing corporate IT expenditures for internal audience and new product/service
enhancements for external Enterprise customers.
Marketing Manager / Producer
Volt/Microsoft
1994 1999 (5 years) Redmond, WA
Implemented various MSN membership acquisition/retention merchandising programs (web-based cross-promotions, POP
vehicles, banner ads, etc.) by collaborating with MSN marketing managers/ad agencies and retail partners to define creative and
technical needs/scope while insuring efficient production cycle
Launched first-ever MSN-DreamWorks co-marketing gaming site for feature film/merchandising releases. Membership renewal
rate attributable to managed programs 34%
Contractor
Sales / Account Executive
Paragon
1993 1994 (1 year) Seattle, WA
Managed assigned clientele marketing collateral with a focus on video productions and presentation material
Story Editor / Development Manager
Columbia Pictures, Dick Clark Prods., Imagine Entertainment, Turner Network Television & others
1986 1993 (7 years) Los Angeles, CA
Managed full range of TV and motion picture project development through pre-production stage for TV/film, companies and
major studios
Worked closely with traditional and cable networks, writers, agents and talent in aligning audience profiles with productionready material
Analyzed over 500 scripts and other source material for option/buy-out potential and production viability. Assessed deal terms.
Drove network pitches for TV project placement.

E D U C AT I O N A L Q U A L I F I C AT I O N S
California University Los Angeles Graduate School (coursework)
Post graduate coursework, Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Activities and Societies: Microsoft Alumni Association
San Francisco State University
Bachelor of Arts, Communications
Field and in studio production work including directing, reporting, writing, editing, audio engineering, lighting engineering and
program marketing
Activities and Societies: Theatre minor with stage production work including lighting, production management, performance and
audio engineering
San Francisco State University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Communications
Certification: SDLC