Hello my name is...
As the Manager for the MxM MSB Marketing Shared Services team on the West, I lead a team of 3 coordinators to execute high-impact marketing tactics across a portfolio of 140+ hotels to drive top-line revenue and performance for my hotel stakeholders, leaders, and partners. My ‘why’ is to create effective solutions for my team through data-driven KPI’s, collaborative communication, and thoughtful strategy-developed research to work smarter not harder.
EXPERIENCE
2020-2020
Pricing Analyst
McMaster-Carr
Researched & analyzed pricing to determine appropriate sell price indexes, including a multi-million-dollar price change
2018-2020
Account Manager
Marriott International
Led marketing plan development, implementation, execution, and analysis for a portfolio of over 20 full service and select-service hotels in the Midwest including Chicago, Indiana, and Ohio. Delivered results through individualized marketing strategy with tactics including digital paid media advertising, B2B strategies, partnership marketing, email marketing, and more. Presented on performance through data-driven reporting with a focus on top-line revenue and return on investment.
2017-2018
Marketing Coordinator
Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
Led on property marketing efforts for the hotel including but not limited to planning and executing activation events, media influencer stays, social media and public relations management, trade marketing deals, media coverage, and promotional collateral design and distribution. Reported and tracked marketing impressions, engagement, analytics and data points to showcase marketing budget spends. Presented marketing presentations and summaries to hotel owners when called upon. Created branded print and digital collateral for on property activations and events.
2015-2017
Marketing Coordinator
Marriott International
The Marketing Coordinator supports Marketing Managers, Directors of Marketing and eCommerce on cluster, market and hotel marketing communications projects to maximize revenue for stakeholders. In this role I supported 30 full-service hotels, covering three markets, including Atlanta, Nashville, and areas in the midwest. Projects included but are not limited to external communication through email campaigns, dictating the creation of internal and external marketing collateral, reporting and data analysis, and project management of timelines and vendor communication.
2014-2016
Supervisor
Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Illinois
Provided customer service and facility management for members, patrons, and varsity athletes. Balanced this position while also working as a Marketing Coordinator and earned Dean’s List recognition as a part-time student.
2015-2015
Public Relations Coordinator
Vita-Living, Inc.
Worked alongside the Director of Development to coordinate Public Relations efforts for this charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Projects include but are not limited to: writing press releases, developing a storytelling marketing toolkit, and creating internal and external communication content.
2014-2014
Marketing Intern
Pygmalion Music Festival
Collaborated on a team of three interns to coordinate branding through social media efforts while curating content to maximize overall marketing for the music event and artist performing.
EDUCATION
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Kenneth M. Burns Scholarship
This award recognizes exceptional, continued service as a mentor to others and strong leadership skills.
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Dean's List
Students named to the Dean’s List at the University of Illinois are students who have earned recognition through their superior scholastic performance.
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Graduated with Distinction from the University of Illinois
Completed a majority of the most rigorous courses in my major with an outstanding grade point average.
2012-2016
Bachelor's Degree
Liberal Arts & Sciences, Communication
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
2005-PRESENT
Campaign Activist
Best Buddies International
I have been involved in Best Buddies since the sixth grade. I am passionate about spreading acceptance for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through friendship. Today, I still participate in the "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign every March to work to end the use of the R-Word.
2013-2015
External Relations Chair
Volunteer Illini Projects
Managed two Public Relations Directors while coordinating events, recruitment and digital marketing strategies.
2012-2013
Director of Public Relations
Volunteer Illini Projects
Lead all earned media efforts for 14 different volunteering projects benefiting various nonprofit causes that lead to thousands of hours of community service.
2012-2016
Social Media Coordinator
Best Buddies International
Responsible for planning events, creating improved social media presence, and generating social media content for the largest college Best Buddies chapter in the world.
WORK
Click to scroll through examples of my work.
DESIGNS
In my role as the Marketing Coordinator for the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel I created and designed all the marketing materials for promotional events, property tours, conferences, or any other pop-up collateral needs. I did all the copywriting, and graphic design creation and editing. I captured and edited many of the images used in promotional collateral. I also lead a professional photoshoot for lifestyle imagery.
In my role as the Marketing Coordinator for the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, I created videos to showcase to hotel clients, leisure guests, and sales groups to highlight what made the property unique.
VIDEO
All Videos
All Videos
Weddings at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
NHL VIP Group Video
Q1 Navigator's
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGEMENT
In my role as the Marketing Coordinator for the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, I managed the Public Relations vendor by communicating all promotions and events and vetting marketing trade opportunities. Below are some of the major publications the hotel had been included in while I worked there.
I manage the outside social media company to ensure deadlines are met, projects are completed and content is on brand. I also take many of the images used, including doing seasonal photoshoots for both outels when new menus are rolled out for promtion.
I manage the social media vendor to ensure deadlines are met, projects are completed and content is on brand.
SOCIAL MEDIA + PHOTOGRAPHY
In my role as the Marketing Coordinator for the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, I managed the social media vendor to ensure deadlines are met, projects are completed and content is on-brand.
TESTIMONIALS
"In all of my interactions with Carolina, her two strongest talents are always present. The first is her evidenced-based, solutions-focused approach to innovation. She presents her suggestions for improvement with careful thought, research and synthesis. The second is her creative design of story-based marketing campaigns that give a compelling and human view of a nonprofit’s mission. This approach was the main reason for our successful launch onto new social media platforms, like Instagram and LinkedIn."
"I had the distinct pleasure of working with Carolina on a project last year for the University of Illinois in which she was my contact. Her scope of knowledge and ability to adapt made her a pleasure to work with. Carolina would be an asset to any organization."
ABOUT ME
I love teaching myself how to cook & bake.
To see some of my creations go to @Kindred Cottons
