Zane Bolen: Marketing Executive in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Led national marketing strategy and digital performance for a university system with 14 campuses and 6 business units. Reported directly to executive leadership, managing an 8-figure marketing budget and a 20+ person team across paid media, creative, content, video, web, PR, alumni engagement, and analytics. Responsibilities: Served as the senior-most marketing leader, accountable for brand strategy, enrollment growth, CRM operations, and digital transformation. Directed all marketing functions across 6 business units, aligning initiatives with institutional priorities and regulatory standards. Partnered with Admissions, IT, and executive leadership to modernize recruitment systems and optimize the enrollment funnel. Built and mentored a high-performing, multi-disciplinary marketing team, instilling a culture of data-driven decision making and continuous innovation. Key Achievements: Transformed performance in key programs, achieving triple-digit enrollment growth through SEO, content, and digital optimization. Rebalanced program portfolio by driving outsized growth in smaller programs through SEO, offsetting the loss of a major program and sustaining overall growth. Enhanced funnel efficiency by improving CRM-driven conversion rates and delivering an upper double-digit reduction in CAC across priority programs. Strengthened digital presence through a major website relaunch, driving significant increases in lead volume while lowering acquisition costs. Modernized operations by building 9 AI-driven tools that cut production time by two-thirds and scaled content output more than 100%. Elevated engagement in email marketing with nearly triple CTR growth through advanced segmentation, dynamic content, and behavioral triggers. These initiatives delivered measurable growth and efficiency gains, demonstrating the impact of modern marketing at scale.Led national marketing strategy and digital performance for a university system with 14 campuses and 6 business units. Reported directly to executive leadership, managing an 8-figure marketing budget and a 20+ person team across paid media, creative, content, video, web, PR, alumni engagement, and analytics. Responsibilities: Served as the senior-most marketing leader, accountable for brand strategy, enrollment growth, CRM operations, and digital transformation. Directed all marketing functions across 6 business units, aligning initiatives with institutional priorities and regulatory standards. Partnered with Admissions, IT, and executive leadership to modernize recruitment systems and optimize the enrollment funnel. Built and mentored a high-performing, multi-disciplinary marketing team, instilling a culture of data-driven decision making and continuous innovation. Key Achievements: Transformed performance in key programs, achieving triple-digit enrollment growth through SEO, content, and digital optimization. Rebalanced program portfolio by driving outsized growth in smaller programs through SEO, offsetting the loss of a major program and sustaining overall growth. Enhanced funnel efficiency by improving CRM-driven conversion rates and delivering an upper double-digit reduction in CAC across priority programs. Strengthened digital presence through a major website relaunch, driving significant increases in lead volume while lowering acquisition costs. Modernized operations by building 9 AI-driven tools that cut production time by two-thirds and scaled content output more than 100%. Elevated engagement in email marketing with nearly triple CTR growth through advanced segmentation, dynamic content, and behavioral triggers. These initiatives delivered measurable growth and efficiency gains, demonstrating the impact of modern marketing at scale.

As a senior executive overseeing cross-functional growth, I led the end-to-end development of Rume’s proprietary telehealth platform and a portfolio of clinical services, driving patient access, operational efficiency, and revenue expansion across 80+ clinics in 15 regions. Working directly with the C-suite, I orchestrated the integration of digital platforms, clinical operations, and financial systems to position Rume for scalable, sustainable growth in the competitive telehealth market. Key Achievements: Launched 19 new clinical service lines in under 8 months, reducing service development timelines by 83% and accelerating adoption across 80+ clinics. Spearheaded a 251% profitability increase in the company’s flagship service line by optimizing go-to-market strategy, clinical operations, and patient engagement models. Consolidated company-wide systems, achieving a 40% reduction in operational expenses and an 85% decrease in “Left Without Being Seen” (LWBS) rates, dramatically improving patient satisfaction and operational throughput. Aligned product innovation with clinical and operational strategies, collaborating closely with the Chief Product Officer (CPO) and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to drive cohesive business transformation. Enhanced regulatory compliance and billable performance, leading the creation of new clinical policies and standard operating procedures that fueled a 143% increase in billable claims. Reduced customer acquisition costs by 26%, integrating advanced digital systems across marketing, IT, and finance to improve user acquisition, onboarding, and retention metrics. Positioned Rume Health as a scalable telehealth innovator, blending technology, clinical excellence, and operational rigor for national expansion readiness.

Chief Marketing Officer / Fractional Chief Growth Officer (Equity Shareholder) Recruited to guide strategic recovery and business model transformation following regulatory disruption, I transitioned from full-time CMO to a fractional leadership role. In both capacities, I led the redevelopment of Grassp’s proprietary technology, realigned brand and market positioning, and architected a shift from a direct-to-consumer (B2C) model to a scalable business-to-business (B2B) solution — reestablishing growth momentum and strategic partnerships critical to long-term viability. Key Achievements: Redeveloped the company's proprietary platform, shifting from a B2C model to a scalable B2B solution that enabled strategic partnerships and operational recovery. Revitalized marketing systems and campaign architecture, achieving a 1,200% increase in click-through rates and a 145% lift in open rates through audience segmentation, messaging optimization, and marketing automation. Rebuilt the corporate website to integrate seamlessly with upgraded platform technology, streamlining partner onboarding and enhancing customer experience. Forged key strategic partnerships, leveraging deep industry connections to expand Grassp’s client network and establish new revenue streams. Developed a new business development infrastructure, aligning customer engagement, partner acquisition, and brand strategy for scalable growth post-licensure recovery. Maintained active leadership as an equity shareholder, guiding brand strategy, technology development, and market re-entry initiatives through a period of high volatility and transition.

Founded and operated a creative strategy and media production agency, specializing in branding, earned media, and digital marketing campaigns across real estate, healthcare, education, and political sectors. Led end-to-end business operations, client strategy, and creative execution, delivering high-impact campaigns that enhanced brand visibility and drove measurable audience engagement for prominent organizations. Key Achievements: Produced native and earned media campaigns for high-profile clients including Berkshire Hathaway, CBRE, Mobile Mini, Colliers International, Grand Canyon University (GCU), and Arizona State University (ASU). Partnered with Karrin Taylor Robson in 2018, developing editorial spreads and targeted advertisements to boost public engagement and enhance brand positioning during her early political initiatives. Led advertising and branding campaigns for top-tier companies such as Cushman & Wakefield, First American Title, and Walker & Dunlop, driving measurable gains in brand recognition and lead generation. Streamlined high-volume creative production, improving workflows to meet demanding deadlines for print and digital media assets while maintaining top-tier quality. Elevated client brand positioning, securing prime media placements and strengthening consumer trust through authentic, story-driven marketing strategies. Received international creative awards and recognition, with work exhibited in Lisbon, Milan, Tel Aviv, Los Angeles, and Vancouver.

Recruited to modernize brand positioning and operational systems ahead of a strategic acquisition, I led the transformation of marketing operations across 23 franchise locations while collaborating with ownership and executive teams on cross-functional process improvements. My leadership helped enhance brand equity, streamline resource allocation, and maximize franchise-level profitability, directly contributing to a successful $20M exit for the organization. Key Achievements: Modernized brand identity and marketing infrastructure, repositioning Native Grill to attract a younger demographic and enhance customer engagement across franchise locations. Developed and managed the 2022 marketing budget, aligning resources across 23 franchises to maximize return on investment and support $58M in annual revenue generation. Reduced marketing expenses by 36%, renegotiating vendor contracts and optimizing operational workflows without sacrificing brand visibility or campaign performance. Designed and executed targeted multi-channel campaigns, boosting foot traffic and enhancing franchise-level profitability through localized, data-driven marketing strategies. Streamlined cross-functional collaboration, working directly with franchise owners, external vendors, and executive leadership to align operational and marketing objectives in preparation for acquisition. Played a key leadership role in the company’s $20M acquisition, receiving a share of the sale proceeds for driving operational and marketing due diligence success.

Brought in to spearhead rapid growth and digital transformation for a leading cannabis edibles brand, I architected scalable marketing and operational systems that fueled 10x revenue growth. I led initiatives that not only redefined the company's digital presence but also transformed cannabis e-commerce infrastructure industry-wide, culminating in Baked Bros™ becoming one of the fastest-growing cannabis brands in the United States. Key Achievements: Scaled company revenue from $2.6M to $25M by leading marketing strategy, systems innovation, customer acquisition initiatives, and brand expansion. Created the industry’s first Direct-to-Business-to-Consumer (DTBTC) e-commerce platform, facilitating over $4.55B in annual cannabis sales — representing 12% of the U.S. market by 2024. Drove a 19,000% increase in organic SEO traffic, positioning Baked Bros™ as a category leader and earning awards from Prism’s Top 100 Marketing Leaders and Pioneer Intelligence’s Top Mover rankings. Built and led a high-performing marketing team of 9, overseeing digital advertising, SEO, email marketing, influencer partnerships, and brand development strategies across retail partners. Optimized cross-functional collaboration, aligning marketing, product innovation, and operational systems to ensure cohesive execution and measurable business outcomes. Developed scalable systems and workflows, enabling rapid operational growth, ensuring supply chain efficiency, and meeting rising consumer and partner demand. Shaped industry-wide cannabis e-commerce standards, earning national and international recognition for driving digital innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centric growth strategies.

Led the overall marketing strategy, digital transformation initiatives, and advertising revenue growth for one of Arizona’s premier commercial real estate publications. Directed cross-platform marketing campaigns, strengthened editorial visibility, and optimized operations to drive readership expansion and corporate profitability. Key Achievements: Produced and marketed the Fall Forum Leadership Edition, featuring Karrin Taylor Robson, Dr. Michael Crow (President of Arizona State University), and Erik Olsson on the cover — strengthening the magazine’s brand association with Arizona’s top business, education, and civic leaders. Increased corporate annual revenue from $1.3M to $2M, launching innovative advertising solutions, premium ad placements, and revenue-generating partnerships. Drove a 64% increase in organic SEO traffic, optimizing digital content strategies, streamlining CMS operations, and enhancing audience engagement through targeted editorial campaigns. Automated the magazine’s distribution workflow, using MailChimp and CRM tools to boost email subscriber engagement by 30% through A/B tested campaigns. Negotiated improved production contracts, enhancing print quality and reducing manufacturing costs, directly impacting gross margin improvement. Achieved a 7,900% increase in ad efficiency, redesigning advertising methodologies to maximize audience targeting, advertiser ROI, and internal performance metrics.

Led e-commerce, marketing, and operational strategies for a direct-to-consumer (DTC) lifestyle brand specializing in skateboarding and surf wear. Directed multi-channel growth initiatives, expanded global market reach, and built a recognizable brand that achieved national media exposure and consistent revenue growth across retail and wholesale distribution. Key Achievements: Drove a 46% increase in annual sales, leading integrated marketing campaigns, seasonal product launches, and influencer partnerships that expanded customer acquisition and loyalty. Scaled online engagement by 300%, implementing SEO, social media, and content marketing strategies that built a strong digital community around the brand ethos. Expanded international market reach into Canada and Germany through strategic partnerships, global distribution networks, and localized digital campaigns. Launched a viral brand campaign that generated over 250K impressions from a single post, capturing significant attention across skateboarding and surf communities. Streamlined operational and fulfillment processes, collaborating with U.S. and Chinese manufacturing partners to enhance production timelines, quality assurance, and inventory management. Secured high-profile media placements, including brand features in Thrasher Magazine, further establishing Akua as a recognized name in the skateboarding and surf wear industries.