Director

Top Management

Over 25 years varied event management, marketing and sales experience.  Results-oriented professional with strong management skills, drive and reliability.  Key knowledge areas include:
• Event management
• Sponsorship fulfillment
• Strategic brand development
• Business partnering
• B2B marketing development
• Cross-divisional communication

Promoted to Director in October, 2014.  Developed marketing and management tools to track and target sponsor prospects.  Created sponsorship proposal for prospective sponsors and agreement and fulfillment tools for confirmed sponsors.  Managed corporate and government relay divisions, engaged local companies and government entities for participation in the relay.  Produced annual awards celebration event for 200-300 runners, nonprofit representatives and community leaders with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock as the keynote speaker.  Managed event website utilizing WordPress.
Select Achievements:
• Initiated hiring of sponsorship sales professional in 2018, which lead to a nearly 30% increase in sponsor cash revenues from 2017 to 2019.
• Increased number of in-kind sponsors by more than 30% from 2011 to 2019 including budget-relieving in-kind donations.
• Increased number of corporate and government relay teams by 90% from 2011 to 2019.

Planned, developed and implemented all marketing and advertising campaigns for The Denver Post brand, bundling print with digital.  Created and coordinated third party marketing partnerships.  Managed marketing responsibilities for YourHub.com and VIVA Colorado, including new product launches and coordinating booth and/or kiosk opportunities at special events.
Select Achievements:
• Managed the Impact Summit, an expo-style, new business trade show generating $3.4 million in new revenue, nearly double the goal.  Responsibilities included development of the B2B marketing plan, management of the databases associated with leads and appointments and collaboration with the creative team on all collateral elements.

Digital Marketing and Advertising Promotion Manager

Developed and managed major and national advertising accounts for The Denver Post.  Developed marketing and advertising strategies to help clients reach their target audiences.  Account category consisted primarily of movie studios and theaters.  In addition, managed the Big 5 Sporting Goods account, one of The Denver Post's top 15 advertisers.
Select Achievements:
• Utilized creative bundling, including print and online, to retain a volatile customer, one of the largest movie theater chains. The Denver Post is one of very few newspapers able to retain this business.
• Served on a cross-divisional task force charged with developing a plan to expand the role of iShare, a centralized repository for sales and marketing information.  Presented recommendations to and fielded questions from senior executives including the CEO.

Account Manager

Developed and managed major accounts totaling $14 million in annual advertising revenue including the number one advertiser for the Miami Herald.  Negotiated contracts with high profit margins while maintaining category equity.  Developed marketing and advertising strategies.  Most recent account category consisted of major department stores.  Prior to this category managed a variety of accounts including major consumer electronics and supermarkets.
Select Achievements:
• Increased advertising revenue by $270,000 in first year (in an industry that was struggling to grow revenues).
• Earned the Outstanding Contributor annual sales award for being the number two sales person.

Major Accounts Manager

Promoted to Manager in September, 1996.  Designed and implemented primary research (both quantitative and qualitative) for all divisions in the company.  Analyzed and presented research findings.  Managed part-time research assistant.  Managed research department budget.
Select Achievements:
• Used market research to guide new product launches and marketing campaigns for circulation, advertising and editorial divisions.  Worked closely with Brand Managers to develop marketing campaigns.
• Managed imMEDIAte sales force automation software.  Updated all market research and circulation data in the program and trained the sales team on using the software.

Market Research Analyst/Manager

Find out detailed information about Melissa Bissett, Director in Centennial

Melissa Bissett: Director in Centennial

Melissa Bissett

Colfax Marathon Partnership

The Denver Post

The Denver Post

Miami Herald Media Company

Fort Wayne Newspapers

Manchester College