Adrienne Applegate
Strategic Consultant at Blue Valley Consulting
Higher Education Marcom & Strategy
I want to help envision and plan for the next generation of learners, community members, and the drivers of change. Throughout my twenty-year career in marketing, I’ve had extensive experience in strategic planning, innovative problem-solving, and change management, all in a wide variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations. I’ve gained critical management and leadership skills, hired as a change agent, brought on board to transform existing operations, staffing models, services lines, revenue streams and more.

In 2016 I began working in higher education at Western Carolina University. I was inspired daily by the creative and academic pursuits of my colleagues, and the students who walk through our doors every day. After working closely with dozens of interns, I also discovered a passion for teaching and mentorship. I received my MA in Applied Arts and Sciences from UNCG in May 2021 

I've provided strategic consulting services since 2010.   Whether I’m consulting clients in marketing best practices, mentoring students in liberal arts, or marketing and communications, I thrive when I’m encouraging others to push forward their biggest ideas, with confidence and a good dose of pure gumption. And, I’m happiest when I get to celebrate the successes of others.
Blue Valley Consulting
Work should be fun. Serious fun.
As a consultant, I’m strategic and results-oriented, with a proven ability to lead teams and develop and implement customized, integrated plans in order to accomplish ambitious objectives. Creative, data-driven, and analytical, I work to align efforts across multiple platforms while identifying and adapting to industry trends, needs and challenges.
Sylva, North Carolina, United States
Strategic Consultant
Western Carolina University
https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-carolina-university
Manage client design projects across campus units, work with clients to ensure they have support from experts within University Marketing. Advise clients on best practices and marketing strategies, manage client expectations, deadlines and communication between designer and client both prior to and during project production. Work collaboratively with a talented team of designers, media planners, and digital specialists to bring great marketing ideas to life. Handle project intake, oversee project management system. Work collaboratively with the Director of Marketing to set project priorities, make team assignments and manage jobs to completion. Recruit, hire and manage employees, students, and interns as needed to assist full-time staff. Write branded copy for a variety of marketing deliverables.
Cullowhee, NC
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Marketing Services Manager
Western Carolina University
https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-carolina-university
Create branded web content that aligns with marketing goals and university objectives. Collaborate and consult with internal teams to develop new websites for both administrative and academic units across campus. Design site information architecture and manage projects from initial conception to site launch, with extensive work in the CMS platform. Offer ongoing assistance and customer service as needed to multiple units. Partner with web designers and IT specialists to incorporate visual and technical website elements. Provide resources and recommendations for clients in order to integrate social media, email marketing, data collection and document archiving. Assign various website projects to student workers and oversee completion and quality as needed.
Cullowhee, NC
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Web Content Writer
Weld for Birmingham
https://www.linkedin.com/company/weld-for-birmingham
Advertising sales account manager with high volume weekly print and digital sales. Designed and integrated social media, digital and print campaigns for multiple high-profile clients. Provided analysis on campaign effectiveness, reach, and ROI for paid media. Developed social media and advertising strategies that aligned with client or agency objectives. Secured ad placement for various industries, including nonprofits, public school systems, universities, venues and fine arts organizations. Brokered large volume print projects with multiple vendors for out-of-state clients. Contracted graphic design services and collaborated with creative director on internal and external projects. Outlined and implemented internal marketing efforts to maximize brand awareness, increase community engagement, and drive total revenue. Drafted online content and guided team of contributors in order to drive engagement across all platforms. Recruited and managed team of marketing interns from multiple colleges and universities.
Birmingham, Alabama Area
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Integrated Media Executive
Birmingham Zoo
https://www.linkedin.com/company/birmingham-zoo
Hired as first Membership Manager, reporting directly to the CEO. Tasked to develop and implement a strategic promotional plan for the Birmingham Zoo Membership Program. Conducted complete marketing, financial and operational audit of existing membership program. Re-envisioned the strategy for membership marketing after analyzing comparative market research. D​etermined optimal plan, designed appropriate membership benefit packages and oversaw membership events.  Served as contributing writer for monthly membership newsletters and web content. Integrated marketing and media efforts in print and online, and oversaw the redesign of materials proposed for public distribution. Created new marketing plan with first board-approved annual budget for department. Provided sales and expense tracking and sales forecasting. Maintained a thorough understanding of the operating budget. Coordinated efforts through Marketing, Finance, Development and Operations to achieve overall plan goals.
Birmingham, Alabama Area
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Corporate Membership Manager
Sylvan Learning
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sylvan-learning
Served as Director for Sylvan Learning, the largest for‐profit tutoring company in the country. Managed sales operations and staffing, including responsibility over P&L controls and hiring. Monitored and tracked center performance, revenues, expenses, and collections. Hired, trained and managed staff of 30 people. Grew revenue by driving customers through web, social media, email, phone campaigns, and local marketing events. Maximized the effective use of marketing resources provided by Sylvan Corporate. Determined collateral needs and provided within budget. Set goals and action plans, tracked and measured effectiveness of all promotional campaigns.Launched and managed local franchise websites, including content creation and copy editing. Optimized the online process for sales and customer service inquiries, enhancing end user experience through streamlined content and improved navigation. Created social media and e‐marketing strategies and reported analytics. Established all marketing campaigns and implemented corporate initiatives, including initial launch of the Sylvan brand on local social media platforms. Awarded for highest growth in annual revenue, performing in top 10% of all 800+ national franchises.
Birmingham, Alabama Area
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Sales and Marketing Director
The Bruce Company
Served as sales account manager for interior design division with 200 client accounts. Directed sales staff in all departments in the marketing and promotion of services to existing and potential customers. Leveraged departmental synergies and cross-selling opportunities for increased sales and customer relationships for a $60,000,000 firm with 600 employees. Communicated with magazines, newspapers, and other publishers to ensure appropriate copy and ad completion.  Lead project manager and content writer for year-long website redevelopment project. Oversaw content creation, site architecture layout and the redesign of all existing marketing materials to reflect new brand image and marketing message. W​rote and edited print, broadcast, direct mail, advertorial, and web copy for all departments.​ Coordinated efforts with outside consultants, IT firms and SEO providers. Managed graphic standards and copy company-wide for heightened visual appeal and message consistency. Launched the corporation's first social channels. Integrated email marketing and social media with the new website to drive web activity, increase brand awareness, and improve customer engagement.
Madison, WI
Marketing Assistant to VP of Sales and Marketing
Master of Arts - MA
Applied Arts and Sciences
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University of North Carolina at Greensboro
https://www.linkedin.com/school/uncg/
Bachelor of Science Arts
Fine Art
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
https://www.linkedin.com/school/uwmadison/
Fine Arts and Design
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Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
https://www.linkedin.com/school/milwaukee-institute-of-art-&-design/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-travers-6ab949163
Durham, NC
Angela Travers
Graduate of University of North Carolina at Greensboro | MA in Applied Arts and Sciences
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-maselli-304a9b42
Raleigh, NC
Rebecca Maselli
Registered Wealth Mgmt Client Associate, CRPC® Merrill Lynch
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbi-hodge-7792a9156
Ellenboro, NC
Bobbi Hodge
Interim Dean of Applied and Business Sciences and Engineering Technology at Isothermal Community College
https://www.linkedin.com/in/r-todd-benson-ed-d-41a224b
Greater Boston
R. Todd Benson, Ed.D.
Acting Executive Director and PI at Harvard University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbie-roberts-92638141
Greensboro, NC
Abbie Roberts
SAP RTR Business Analyst at JELD-WEN, Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-lawing-5b730231
Hickory, NC
Todd Lawing
Director of the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center at Western Carolina University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-berger-1b84464b
Eden, NC
Phil Berger
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjlporter
McLeansville, NC
Dr. JL Porter
Chief Vision Officer, Start2Finish Consulting & Management Services
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-blanton-459571117
Whittier, NC
Sam Blanton
Content Specialist at Western Carolina University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-barnao-6684785
Greater Asheville
Carol Barnao
Lead Designer and Marketing Consultant for the Division of Student Affairs at Western Carolina University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-drum-edwards-1280803b
Greater Asheville
Stephanie Drum Edwards
Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Advancement at Western Carolina University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucaspepke
Birmingham, AL
Lucas Pepke
Product & Marketing Manager at STERIS Animal Health
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadric-bonner-079236149
Greensboro, NC
Sadric Bonner
Software Engineer - Intern at Code the Dream
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shea-browning-b47ab213
Sylva, NC
Shea Browning
General Counsel at Western Carolina University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdundas
St Petersburg, FL
Ben Dundas
Digital Marketing & Non-Profit Leader
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiedeal
Greater Philadelphia
Katie Deal
Account Executive at Specialty House of Creation 
and Swag Tender at Stender
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybramhall1
Dallas, TX
Amy Bramhall
Marketing Manager at Industrial Networking Services/Marketing Director at Solve Networks Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliegullatt
Atlanta, GA
Natalie Gullatt
Customer Marketing at Hubspot | Founder & President of Black Marketers Association of America (BMAA)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasmitholiver
Atlanta Metropolitan Area
Nicola C. Smith, MBA
Marketing Maven | Diversity & Inclusion Champion | Speaker
Shared by Adrienne Applegate
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We’re hiring a Content Marketing Specialist on my newly-formed team here at Ohio University! This is a great opportunity for a young writer with a…
Liked by Adrienne Applegate
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The logophile in me loves the etymology. The collaborator appreciates the way Lane frames the origin and the meaning.
Liked by Adrienne Applegate
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This award is the result of more than 10 years of continuous and collaborative improvement efforts from the Educational Leadership faculty…
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Kearney, NE
Adrienne Applegate
Product Development Lead at The Buckle, Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennemiddaugh
Greater Chicago Area
Adrienne Middaugh
Marketing Project Manager at IG North America
American Marketing Association (AMA) Madison Chapter
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2797227
Council for Advancement and Support of Education
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1538517
Public Relations and Communications Professionals
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/82242
MIAD Alumni Association
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/100866
Ohio University College of Business
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1886203
Communication Arts
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/66136
Social Media for Nonprofit Organizations
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1172477
ART & Marketing
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/119532
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Network - #1 Executive Group for CMOs
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/51822
Member Engagement - For Online Community & Membership Professionals
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