Chris Laak, MPPM, PPMC, CPM, ITILv4

Experience

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  Weight Watchers Magazine

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1999

  Editorial Assistant

  * Assisted with the relocation, relaunch and staffing of the national magazine as it moved from New York to Alabama. * Coordinated the two highest-read departments of the publication.

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  Southern Progress Corporation

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2005

  Senior-management team member supervising five-person support staff and the internship program. * Distilled and presented consumer quantitative and qualitative market research including newsstand and subscriber surveys, focus groups, and problem detection. * Developed and administered budget for editorial and art divisions.* Established administrative procedures for 15-year-old publication’s relaunch and redesign after magazine’s relocation from San Francisco to Birmingham.* Branding research team member with responsibility for strengthening consumer, marketing, and sales positioning among Health’s competitive set.* Served as the liaison between the readership and Health staff via development of internal customer-service relations and strategies. Show less

  • Health magazine: Editorial Coordinator

    Jan 2000 - Jan 2005

  • Publishing professional

    Jan 1996 - Jan 2005

  • Employee Benefits Assistant

    Jan 2000 - Dec 2000
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  Highlands Bar and Grill

  Jan 2005 - Oct 2005

  Business Manager

  Birmingham fine-dining restaurant that has achieved top national ranking. Managed general business aspects of Chef Frank Stitt's fast-paced flagship James Beard award-winning restaurant; served as the contact for public relations, outside engagements, and logistics for Frank Stitt's Southern Table cookbook.

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  Private Air magazine

  Oct 2005 - Jan 2007

  Managing Editor

  National luxury lifestyle publication targeted toward private-plane owners and pilots* Executed editorial content and produced 70-90 editorial pages on a bimonthly basis.* Conceptualized and assigned stories to freelance writers and copy editors and coordinated outside photo shoots; maintained stringent production quality while adhering to a tight budget.

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  Time Inc. Content Solutions

  Apr 2007 - Feb 2010

  Account Manager

  * Relationship marketing/custom-publishing platforms enabling clients to create and sustain profitable relationships with their customers through custom content; billed ~$8.6 annually. * Lead in creating Birmingham satellite office, served as chief liaison with NYC team, and played pivotal role in establishing progressive leadership; led team of six employees.

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  Rackspace

  May 2010 - Mar 2020

  Managed a Customer Success team up to 14 Service Delivery Managers and Windows and Linux Support Engineers, 80+ Mid-Market/Enterprise accounts, and ~$4M MRR.* Held direct relationships with customer C-suite for collaboration, improvement, and influence on their strategic business decisions. * Motivated team of high performers in stressful roles; active career mentor and coach; encouraged self-motivation and reinvention of work and roles based on changing needs of the company.* Resumed responsibility for areas beyond role to positively impact the company, growth of team, and book of business. Show less

  • Manager, Fanatical Support

    Jan 2014 - Mar 2020

  • Strategic Account Manager

    May 2010 - Dec 2013
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  USAA

  Sept 2020 - now

  Program Manager