Jackie Rodgers
773-329-5871 jackierodgers.com
Experienced branding, marketing, communications and digital executiveMy diversified experience includes leading a Fortune 500 company’s global marketing interests in soccer, running multiple professional sporting events, forging change in city and state government agencies and starting up profitable small businesses ahead of the trend.
professional experience
Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago, IL 2016-2017
Chief Communications and Partnerships Officer
Currently leading a team of 6 who are charged with creation and oversight of all internal and external communications at ISBE. Our range includes media relations, special event production, preparing internal and external reports as mandated, editing, social and digital media.
- Led re-design and content upgrade for the new ISBE website which launched December 2016. Leveraged previous experience to ensure the design is both responsive and mobile-friendly.
- Re-imagined ISBE’s approach to the media to be pro-active instead of reactive, ensuring ISBE’s experts can weigh in on issues. Also created communications subject matter experts by assigning staff to specific departments to ensure greater accuracy and consistency of message.
- With staff, created first communications strategic plan aligned with ISBE’s goals.
- Selected to serve leadership role in the cultural evolution of ISBE
- Created editorial and brand standards resulting in greater consistency throughout ISBE
- Promoted from Executive Director, Collaboration and Quality Implementationafter 6 months
--Secured partnership with local agency to provide assessment and support for incarcerated special needs students
Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL 2014-2016
Executive Director, Digital and Marketing
Led all branding, marketing, digital and social media efforts in the nation’s 3rd largest school District serving nearly 400,000 students. My team and I were tasked with improving public perception and brand image of CPS.
- Created and served as Executive Producer of a bi-weekly news magazine broadcast, “Inside CPS.” This 10-15 minute show spotlights, students, teachers, District initiatives and news, serving CPS stakeholders and the City of Chicago.
- Created a student design contest and subsequent creative team that resulted in a new CPS logo
- Led content redesign of the website—first overhaul since 2008. Its responsive, mobile-first design wastouted as a first for a major school district.
- Directed rapid expansion of extensive social media and digital platforms:
- Increased Facebook followers from less than 6,000 to more 38,000
- Increased Twitter followers from less than 4,000 more than 28,000
- Team recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as “Best Use of Twitter. “
- Introduced two e-newsletters—a weekly to employees and a monthly from the CEO to nearly 55,000 recipients, as well as a blog aimed at parents.
- Created editorial, branding and social media standards for first time in CPS history
- Led mass communications across all channels around the historic closing of 53 schools and the subsequent enrollment campaign. After 10 days, more than 75% of students were enrolled at new schools.
Sports and Entertainment Marketing/PR Consultant, Owner
Created marketing, media and activation opportunitiesfor Athletes, Brands and Properties, including:
- Professional soccer players: Represented Sean Johnson of the USMNT and Chicago Fire (now New York FC) for marketing, branding, public relations and media opportunities.
- Manchester United Football Club: Enlisted twice by world-famous soccer club to assist with state-side marketing, public relations and community out-reach programs in Chicago, New York/New Jersey and Washington D.C. , and to create experiential elements for an event in NYC.
- Ridgeline Entertainment: Provided marketing strategy consultation for ground-breaking Facebook platform integration and original broadcast programming from the producers of the “Deadliest Catch.”
- Leverage Agency: at one of sports premier agencies, I wastapped to help consult on new business ideas for sponsorship ranging from international title sponsorships to local events.
- Reach Out Community CenterNFP: Business, marketing, public relations and fundraising consultant for a start-up NFP serving youth in one of Chicago’s most challenging neighborhoods.
Marketing Manager, Latino Initiatives, Soccer, Local Marketing
- Directed and delivered $2.25-$1 profit ROI on Best Buy’s Chicago Fire Sponsorship. NavigateMarketing evaluated it to be in top 2% of all their evaluated sponsorships. Creatively leveraged a local sponsorship into a national reach through unique marketing, social media, promotions, 27 away market customer events and partnered to activate the dormant Panasonic sponsorship resulting in a multi-year renewal for its MLS sponsorship.
- Directed more than $15 million in global soccer sponsorships.
- Member of team that won a SilverReggieAward for the Best Buy All Access promotion in Chicago
- Negotiated and secured for Best Buy maximum visibility on copies of EA Sports FIFA 10, resulting in all North American copies of the game displaying Fire player in Best Buy jersey on front and rear covers.
- Increase YoY sales by directing Best Buy’s World Cup 2010 efforts across all cross-functional teams.Devised strategy and directed Best Buy’s first integrated international marketing promotion with USA, Canada, UK, China, Mexico and Turkey. This included directing agencies on $5M Univision buy, creating vendor partnerships and promotions with Sony, EA Sports, and Coca Cola, and created Best Buy Soccer Twitter and Facebook campaigns resulting in fastest-growing Facebook page for BBY.
- Served as Marketing Strategist for Latino Initiatives team that delivered more than $93M in incremental revenue and drove double-digit same-store Latino customer comps.
President, Founder, Owner
- Innovated concept of upscale pet sitting by founding one of Chicago’s first pet sitting services.
- Generated more than $250,000 in annual revenue and grew company to one of largest in USA.
- Staff of 16 tended to over 100 customers’ pets daily and more than 450 customers on as-needed basis.
- Raised more than $8,000 by creating two fundraisers for at-need animals.
- Sold company to a veterinary clinic and it is still in operation
Director, New Business Development
- Soldand created experiential programs for clients such as S.C. Johnson, Pepsi, and Universal Pictures
- Team developed and managed all aspects of Expo at Spring Break in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, resulting in morethan 50,000 college students attending and connecting with more than 20 blue-chip sponsors.
Consultant
- Devised sports media strategy and trained staff for firm’s first involvement in professional tennis—Virginia Slims of Chicago-- gaining both national and local media placement for event and star players.
- Introduced firm to Chicago sports media, coordinated press releases, secured players for interviews and directed on-site media operations and tournament staff
Event Manager, Professional Tennis Tournaments
- At one of World’s largest sports marketing firms, directed and delivered profitable ROI results for seven professional tennis tournaments, two fundraisers and one international volleyball match in six cities and four states over four years.
- Twice managed United Cerebral Palsy’s 2nd-largest fundraiser next to its telethon. The Pro-Celebrity weekend raised more than $1.2M, netting more than $500,000 for UCP each year.
- Duties included: Budget ($500K-$1.5M), staff, marketing, public relations, partnership solicitation, activation and servicing, ticket sales, site and facility preparations including vendor bids and contracts, directing professional athletes, celebrities and agents, commercial production, design and production of printed materials, permits, network television coordination, security, accommodations and travel.
Owner, Founder
- Served as Tournament Director for Virginia Slims of Los Angeles tennis tournament, delivering profitable ROI. Duties same as ProServ.
Executive Director
- Served as Commissioner of the professional Team Tennis league
- Tournament Director of the Virginia Slims of Chicago in 1984 and 1985, delivering profitable results
- Directed Billie Jean King’s Public Relations
- Recipient, Hispanic Hero Award, MLS Soccer
- “Best Use of Twitter” by Crain’s Chicago Business (CPS)
- Keynote address, Retail 360 Conference, (for Latino retailers) Las Vegas (Best Buy)
- Panelist, Hispanic Sports Summit, New York, NY (Best Buy)
- Past Board member, Chicago Fire Foundation
- Past Chairperson, Chicago Sports Awards
- Member of Best Buy team that won a Silver Reggie Award for “Best Buy All Access” promo in Chicago
- Multiple recipient of the “Chairman’s Award” at Best Buy
education
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL
- B.A. Journalism
- Sports Editor for 25,000 circulation Daily Egyptian
- Assistant Sports Information Director, Women’s Athletics (scholarship)
- Assistant Sports Information Director, Men’s Athletics and Broadcast assistant, men’s basketball