Nora L. Swalls

Experience

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  Creative Kitchens & Mores, Inc.

  Jul 1992 - Jul 1997

  Co-Owner

  Co-Owner•Established a successful business focused on design and retail sales for custom cabinetry. •Managed the promotion, planning, budgeting and implementation of marketing for the business which grew rapidly to over a half million dollars within the first two years of incorporation and was the largest retail firm for our main supplier. •Coordinated the plan for the construction with the contractors and supervised the entire job from start to finish. Construction projects involved remodeling designs and new construction for both residential and commercial clients.•Managed all finances and was responsible for all decisions regarding the business. •Members of the Home Builders Association in Terre Haute, Indiana.•Sold the business to a larger retail firm in July 1997. Show less

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  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  Jan 1998 - Jun 2010

  Office Assistant II - Fiscal

  Provided overall management of University of Illinois Extension internal operations, increased ability to deliver accurate financial information, and assisted with creating positive learning environment.• Maintained fiscal operations using University Banner Financial System and Quicken Business Edition including the budgets for University of Illinois Extension, Clark County.• Responsible for all Unit financial reports for the University of Illinois / local Councils and accountable for the audit of all Extension finances.• Effectively worked with Human Resource department regarding employee benefits and time reporting.• Individual contributor / team member for the University of Illinois Extension educational programs targeting adults and youth in the areas of 4-H, agriculture, horticulture, nutrition, family, household, healthcare, community and economic development.• Assisted the Community Economic Development program (during graduate studies) by writing a research grant for the Clark County Development Organization that was awarded from Eastern Illinois University to further business economic development programs. The grant made social media marketing and employment training programs led by professionals available for area leaders and local businesses at no cost.• Responsible for research project for the East Central Illinois Rural Transit District through the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Transportation (ICCT) to complete the final phase of their primer making it possible for them to receive permanent government funding for Clark County, Illinois route. Show less

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  Bemis Company, Inc.

  Nov 2010 - Nov 2014

  Provided matrix leadership information to facilitate corporate strategy and consumer insight to drive business initiatives. Delivered key data for teams regarding trend analysis and consumer insights, assisted marketing department and field sales organization in targeted approach for customers to guide product innovation and market-specific planning.•. Monitored competitive landscape and defined customer’s market position and retailer and consumer needs, delivering stellar value proposition over competition and enabling leadership to use data to determine most practical and cost-effective packaging.• Maintained SharePoint research portal designed for leadership, supporting organizational direction, providing 1-stop source for quantifiable and solid market-specific details regarding competition and customers, and enabling marketers to react quickly to needed changes.•. Identified market trends based on consumer insights, supporting long-range planning for Bemis leadership and delivering measurable data for forecasting and business decision making. Show less Supported corporate marketing and communication for Bemis Performance Packaging division with annual revenue that exceeded $1.2B. Managed work with ad agencies for branding, messaging, design strategy, and development of national media print and web ads, including virtual packaging images and physical mock-up packaging.•. Served as project manager for launch of new corporate website, increasing readership 50%.•. Initiated social media platforms, HootSuite system, automated messaging, and tracking for packaging trends.•. Created Business Intelligence Daily Newsletter containing vital information on marketplace products, competitors, customers, consumer insights, economy monitors, market trends, patents, and awards. Used Industry Intelligence and D&B Hoovers platforms to gather information regarding competitor landscape.•. Oversaw all corporate packaging award submissions for division headquarters, providing all global public relations messaging for promotional marketing and spotlighting new and improved packaging for customers.•. Managed all trade shows for poly division, improving marketing strategies and lead generation for sales team.•. Developed new national media campaign with beverage market department to cultivate brand awareness for Bemis® TITAN™ shrink film and labels, securing annual revenue of $300M. Show less

  • Business Intelligence Analyst II

    Apr 2014 - Nov 2014

  • Marketing Communications Specialist

    Jan 2012 - Apr 2014

  • Customer Account Manager

    Nov 2010 - Jan 2012
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  Kimberly-Clark

  Jan 2015 - Jul 2018

  Served on crisis management team, mitigated risk for company by identifying potential threats (financial, legal, social or brand image) to internal and external stakeholders, and led development of authentic, factual consumer responses regarding issues. Acquired all Family Care brands in addition to previous multiple brands.• Approved proposed verbiage for posts submitted by social media team to de-escalate situations on all K-C brand social media sites, resolving consumer issues or moving conversation off social media.•. Delivered statistics on consumer contact and trend information via call center and social media. Collaborated with internal constituents by analyzing contact metrics and providing insights supporting decision-making. Show less Managed delivery of consumer connections capabilities for Baby Child Care brands. Counseled brand teams regarding expected consumer reactions, tactics for positive outcomes and risk mitigation for product updates, new initiatives, and commercial programs. Approved consumer communication drafted by agencies for advertising and promotions.•. Developed formal escalation process for leadership notification routes (RACI), proper documents and standard work. Created reference guide with responses, contacts, and decision trees for escalation teams covering social media. Recommended communication responses and advised leadership and crisis management teams.•. Trained front-line agents and digital teams on product and brand knowledge, aligned messaging supporting brand objectives, product features, and options for consumers. Taught procedures, proper tagging and coding using Consumer Response System (CRS), Knowledge Base and Sprinklr systems.•. Worked directly with quality, research engineering, social media, and e-commerce teams by providing and analyzing consumer data concerning spikes in product or marketing complaints, driving product improvements.•. Guided messaging and creative material for new brand website launches, researched consumer usage, functionality, and consumer experience, delivering key information to brand and quality teams for improvements. Show less

  • Senior Brand Liaison Planner

    Apr 2016 - Jul 2018

  • Brand Liaison Planner

    Jan 2015 - Apr 2016
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  Fox Valley Technical College

  Jun 2019 - Jan 2021

  Business Technology Instructor & Outreach Administrative Assistant

  Instructor for business technology courses. Teach both on campus and online classes using Blackboard Collaborate.Certified proctor for the Wautoma Testing Center administering testing sessions for GED, Accuplacer and other exams for college students.Lead marketing efforts at our local center including social media, flyers, newspaper, radio, signage and many other avenues that promote FVTC Wautoma Regional Center.Work directly with our Advisory Committee to support their needs.Focus on educational summer camps geared for ages 12 and above. Provide in-depth information on all FVTC programs offered, including financial aid and registration services.Assess students’ needs, provide direct assistance and advise potential, new and currently enrolled students concerning an integrated enrollment process. Process, input, and maintain information in the Student Recruitment Management (SRM) system and PeopleSoft.Provide direct assistance and advise potential, new and currently enrolled students concerning the enrollment process. Contribute ideas and help develop new initiatives including new courses in an effort to expand the regional center offering and presence in the community.Assist students with Blackboard Collaborate login and equipment functionality/troubleshooting. Show less