Executive Resume
Sarah Polk
10153 1/2 Riverside Drive #502, Los Angeles, CA 91602
Phone: (812) 320-4444 Email:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahpolk
Website: corporatewarriors.com/sarah7656
Career Profile
Executive Leadership, New Business Development, Strategic Planning, Product Innovation/Launch, Global Brand Management, Change Management, Acquisition/ Contract Negotiations, Public Relations
Dynamic leader with a proven track record of engineering explosive sales growth for national and global industrial and healthcare organizations including an international distribution leader, a major medical simulation company, medical device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical/biotech companies. Led businesses through national and international expansion initiatives, difficult transitions, mergers, acquisitions, and turnarounds. Adept at recognizing growth opportunities, decisive management, improving shareholder value, ROI maximization, strategic positioning, creative conceptualization, new product launches, and brand management. Ability to inspire cross-functional global teams to exceed business goals and build highly productive, long-lasting business relationships.
Professional Experience
Market Intelligence, LLC Los Angeles, California
President/CEO 2013 to Present
Lead this marketing and branding consultancy with a diverse national and international client base. Secure new business with technology, medical device and healthcare companies offering sound management and marketing expertise. Clients include Bridge Connectivity Solutions (India), GaoJie Consulting (China), NetAccess Communications Ltd. (Nigeria) and Wycliffe Associates (USA). Serve as a business consultant for Global South Services, Inc., a venture capital company based in Orlando, Florida.
· Work directly with CEOs to create strategies for increased profits. An ISP in Jos, Nigeria has increased revenues by more than 225% in the past year. A technology firm in Delhi has doubled revenues in the past year.
· Identify and create new positions, hire and train key management leaders.
· Craft brand identities and establish guidelines for marketing initiatives, product launches, facilitate creation of marketing campaigns and new sales practices.
· Develop new business, build international networks, and oversee research.
Inline Distributing Company Los Angeles, California
Chief Sales and Marketing Officer 2010 to 2013
Key leader of this privately held international industrial supply distribution company. Primary targets include the environmental remediation, restoration and healthcare markets. Lead extensive expansion efforts that have resulted in the establishment of four new distribution centers in less than two years and tripling the sales staff.
Introduce new customer service and sales practices. Streamline operations to improve fulfillment efficiency. Facilitate creation of new marketing campaigns. Responsibilities include brand management, public relations and social media initiatives. Direct sales, customer service, sales support, and marketing departments.
· Continually drive sales efforts - annual revenues increased 24% ($59 million to $73 million) in two years.
· Develop new business, build international relationships, and investigate acquisition targets.
· Solidify partnerships with key national accounts and trade associations to increase Inline’s market awareness.
· Travel nationally and internationally to forge key relationships with corporations and key influencers and lead participation in trade shows and educational programs.
· Establish new sales performance guidelines and prospecting strategies.
Sarah Polk Page 2
Immersion Corporation Gaithersburg, Maryland/San Jose, California
Vice President, Marketing, Medical 2008 to 2009
Member of the senior leadership team for this publicly-held global touch interface and virtual reality medical simulation company. Strategically identified emerging surgical trends and behaviors (new technologies, techniques, and devices). Launched new corporate identity, website, and brand standards for medical division. Crafted product roadmap and directed global sales support, product management, and marketing teams.
· Key member of leadership team for the transition of the medical division to corporate headquarters in San Jose, California.
· Forged productive partnerships with senior-level executives at device companies and related healthcare organizations to put the company on the cutting edge of the medical simulation market.
· Managed and launched three new medical simulator modules in the first six months. There had not been any new modules in more than three years.
· Slashed creative development time by 25 percent and improved productivity by 30 percent by introducing a new creative brief format and streamlining project development and product management processes.
Cook Medical, Inc. Bloomington, Indiana
Strategic Marketing Manager 2005 to 2008
Directed international marketing efforts for the women’s health and urology divisions of this $2.5 billion international medical device company, including market strategies, new product launches, branding, internal and external communications, advertising, and public relations. Guided corporate marketing communications and branding teams to insure the implementation of the divisions’ marketing plans. Administered a total budget of $8.2 million. Ramped from virtually no media coverage to near-constant coverage in key publications.
· Contributed significantly to the growth of international market share (up 26 percent in 2007) by crafting and implementing marketing plans that reached new prospects and cross-selling products to existing clients.
· Collaborated with global product managers to launch more than 28 products within two years.
· Led the development of the company’s first social marketing program, including the design and launch of two procedure-specific micro-sites targeted to physicians, specialists, and consumers.
Market Intelligence, LLC Bloomington, Indiana
President/CEO 2003 to 2005
Provided daily leadership for this marketing and branding consultancy with a diverse national and international client base. Secured new business with retail, financial, and pharmaceutical companies by leveraging strategic client relationships with creative market and branding strategies. Clients included Williams Brothers Healthcare Pharmacy, Smallwood Plaza, First Appraisal Group, Inc., Metaldyne, First American Trust, and Cardinal Fitness.
· Boosted revenues by 200 percent in the second year of business and an additional 80 percent in the third year
· Launched a creative radio/TV campaign for Cardinal Fitness that resulted in 325 percent growth in one year.
· Created a unique marketing strategy for a major retailer, driving leasing sales up 225 percent in less than a year.
Hirons & Company, Inc. Bloomington, Indiana
Vice President, New Business Development and Strategy 2002 to 2003
Key member of the senior leadership team for the state’s leading provider of advertising and public relations services. Drove new business with an agency marketing strategy; prepared and delivered uniquely targeted presentations to prospective clients. Clients included Bloomington Hospital, Indiana Department of Tourism, Indiana Criminal Justice System, Indiana Indians baseball team, and Monroe County Bank.
· Drove $8 million in revenues by securing five major accounts in less than 12 months.
· Employed innovative market research to unseat a 17-year “agency of record” relationship.
· Grew the number of quantitative and qualitative research projects by 150 percent in less than six months.
Sarah Polk Page 3
Finelight, Inc. Bloomington, Indiana
Director of Strategic Planning and Research 1998 to 2002
Developed marketing strategies for clients of this $50 million full-service marketing and public relations firm, including awareness and direct response campaigns, media plans, public relations and quantitative and qualitative research projects. Clients included Metropolitan Jewish Healthcare System, Cook Pharmica, PersonalPath, Humana, Floyd Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Services, Indiana University, Enkei, and ABB.
· Improved account profitability by 85 percent in four months through negotiation and expert cost control.
· Secured $22 million in major pharmaceutical, industrial, healthcare, and non-profit accounts.
Clarian Health Partners, Inc., Bedford Regional Medical Center Bedford, Indiana
Vice President, Marketing and Business Development 1996 to 1997
Directed all marketing activities, including re-branding strategy to support new ownership, public relations and advertising campaigns for this hospital and medical center devoted to patient care, education and research. Member of five-person senior management team. Designed innovative internal employee motivation and patient relationship programs, and built an improved relationship with the Emergency Response Team with program enhancements.
· Upgraded the patient base by renegotiating five managed care contracts.
· Launched four community outreach programs that generated positive press and media coverage.
Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana
Director of Community Relations 1994 to 1996
Generated new medical contracts from hospitals and healthcare facilities, improved market awareness, aided business development, revamped dated brand image, and supervised all community activities. Led the creative team and developed a new brand image for the company, including illustrations to soften the intensity of medical conditions and portray hope and healing.
· Grew contracts by 8 percent in the first year.
· Designed an innovative multi-media presentation that focused on patient stories.
· Key leader for all fund-raising events and business development activities.
BelleStar, Inc. Durham, North Carolina
President/CEO 1987 to 1994
Founded this marketing and advertising firm and secured all new clients. Directed all business operations, including finance, creative, account services, media, research and legal teams. Clients included Bank of New York, Durham County General Hospital, Ask the Pharmacist, Highwoods Properties, International Sports Management, Olmsted Village, Videomax, and a major radio station.
· Grew revenues to $1.2 million in the first month of operation by securing a major client.
· Improved profit margins from 18 percent in the first six months of operation to 26 percent by end of year two.
· Secured steady media coverage by innovatively promoting business with key events, involvement in community activities, and service on several non-profit boards.
FGI, Inc. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Partner 1985 to 1987
Built an ad agency from scratch for this market research firm. Supervised all agency activities, including P&L, operations, and finance. Negotiated a merger with another agency and brought on two partners. Clients included Nationsbank, Central Carolina Bank, Piedmont Airlines, South Square Motors, Baker Motors, and Papagayo.
· Secured a $1.2 million client within the first three months of employment.
· Increased billings by $5 million in less than 12 months.
· Inc. magazine ranked the company as the 67th fastest-growing company in the United States in 1987.
Sarah Polk Page 4
Employment Prior to 1985
Served in various management positions in the banking industry. Selected to participate in a prestigious management training program for First Atlanta Bank, receiving training in key areas, including national accounts, international banking, cash management, operations, retail, and marketing. Recruited as a loan officer/assistant branch manager for Trust Co. Bank, managing loan portfolios and staff. Chosen as one of ten loan officers to serve in an experimental commercial loan officer/retail branch manager position with business development responsibilities for Nationsbank. Significant achievements during this period include:
· Increased retail loans by 28 percent in the first six months.
· Completely organized branch documentation and security details.
· Improved commercial loan portfolio by 225 percent and reduced the number of bad loans by 32 percent.
· Received an Outstanding Bank Award for creativity in consumer campaign and a bonus from bank CEO for successfully creating and managing the first-ever NC bank fair.
Education
· MBA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina—1985
· BS Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina—1979.
Professional Development/Affiliations
Sarah Polk
Professional Development
· Attend at least eight major industrial/healthcare conferences globally each year—2010 to Present.
· Participated in 26 seminars at international medical specialty conferences in Austria, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the U.S.—2006 to 2009.
· Professional Selling Skills Program, AchieveGlobal, Inc., Chicago, Illinois—2006.
· Audited four Ph.D.-level marketing, strategy and operations classes, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana—1993 to 1994.
· Strategic Leadership Dynamics Program, Farr Associates, Greensboro, North Carolina—1988.
· Leadership Development Program, Nationsbank, Durham, North Carolina—1984.
Professional Organizations
· President/Founder, Women’s Leadership Forum, Los Angeles, California—2011 to present.
· Member, Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG)—2009 to present.
· Co-Chairman, American Society of Reproductive Medicine Corporate Council—2009.
· Industry Council Member, Simulation in Healthcare Association—2008 to 2009.
· Member, Friends of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Industry Council, Washington, D.C.—2008.
· Corporate Delegate, Society of Women’s Health Research, Washington, D.C.—2007 to 2008.
· Corporate Delegate, Organization for the Study of Sex Differences, Washington, D.C.—2007.
Academic Contributions
· Adjunct Professor, Indiana University School of Journalism—2004 to 2006.
· Lecturer, Indiana University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—1991 to present.
Community Organizations/Activities
· Wish Grantor, Make a Wish Foundation, Los Angeles, California—2012 to present.
· Member, Fairwinds Yacht Club—2012 to present.
· Member, Toluca Lake Tennis Club—2011 to present.
· Chairman, Polk McRae Conference—2009.
· Participant, Capital Cabal, Networking Organization, Washington, D.C.—2009.
· Task Force, Aqua Viva Children’s Home, Guatemala—2007.
· Task Force Member, Habitat for Humanity—2001 to present.
· Steering Committee for Duke Children’s Classic, non-profit golf, tennis and running festival that raised more than $1 million each year for Duke Children’s Hospital. Handled celebrity relationships—1990 to 1991.
· Board of Directors, McRae Land Company—1985 to present.
· Board of Directors, Bedford Regional Medical Center Foundation—1996 to 1997.
· Board of Directors, YMCA, Durham, North Carolina—1987 to 1994.
Key Accomplishment Summary
Sarah Polk
Built a New Profit Center that Boosted Revenues by Millions
Situation:
The partners of a leading market research firm in the Southeast wanted to expand the company by developing a full-service ad agency and public relations division. This was unusual, as most market research firms only do research and normally do not get involved in the creative side of marketing. The company was already handling qualitative and quantitative research projects for a major airline, several healthcare organizations, and numerous retail companies. This would involve a complete company rebrand as a “full service” marketing firm. In addition, the company had no existing staff with ad agency or public relations expertise, and there were no existing print ads, TV spots, radio spots, or PR materials. Thus, pitching new business against established ad agencies and PR firms with extensive portfolios would be difficult. New clients needed to be secured and teams built to handle all creative, account, and media work. This all needed to be accomplished within a 12-month period.