Award-winning marketing and PR consultant, producer and coach with a 30-year history of promoting Inc. 500 companies, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® winners, best workplaces and industry innovators.

Areas of Expertise and Influence:

NICKI ARTESE

• Marketing Strategy + Planning• Website Design + Development • Content Development + Editing • Graphic Design + Art Direction

• Social Media Marketing • Media + Public Relations • Organic + Paid Web Search• Print + E-Database Marketing

• Print + Digital Advertising • Community Service + Events • HR + Internal Communications• Behavioral Psychology

13629 Cedar Road I Cleveland, OH 44118 I O: 216-932-2168 I C: 216-570-1195 I E: nicki@nickiartese.com I W: www.nickiartese.com

Owner & PresidentArtese Communications 3/02-present, Cleveland

PURPOSEFrom emerging enterprises to billion-dollar businesses, I raise the visibility and authority of my clients to their clients, prospects and communities. I serve organizations in local to international geographies with consumer to Fortune-company end users.

METHODI provide ongoing communications strategy and solutions, from concept to completion, to growth-minded companies and individuals entrusting part or all of their marketing, PR and advertising function to a relational, stakeholder-level partner. With devotion, passion and integrity, I champion my clients and their causes.

SERVICESIntegrated communications planning and consulting, content development and design for all web, marketing and advertising platforms, SEO and SEM, social media and e-marketing strategies, media and public relations, media planning and buying, awards marketing, community service, HR and internal communications, and more.

CLIENTSRegional and national leaders in health care and wellness, manufacturing, real estate, technology services, telecommunications, capital equipment, publishing, paper and printing, sta�ng and HR, personality assessment, employee development, coaching, interior design, home furnishings, salon/spa, visual and musical arts, and more.

SUCCESSES• Significantly and e�ciently raise awareness of client products and services to their customers and prospects• Creatively and e�ectively discover and communicate client selling points of di�erentiation across channels• Establish clients as industry frontrunners, and give notable rise to the stories of their success and innovation• Optimize client websites to rank organically on page 1 of search results for critical keywords, with high CTRs• Ensure social media strategy and content improve client sentiment, and drive engagement and conversions• Procure and expertly manage hundreds of earned/non-paid client news stories for print, broadcast and web• Create community service events, and identify sponsorship options for corporate giveback and philanthropy• Develop strategies to increase communication and understanding between organization leaders and sta�• Craft winning client nominations for dozens of prestigious regional and national business and industry awards• Transform client crisis into opportunities for authentic, transparent communication and reputation turnaround

experience

ArteseCommunications

Nicki Artese I O: 216-932-2168 I C: 216-570-1195 I E: nicki@nickiartese.com I W: www.nickiartese.com

Vice President of Marketing Wonderlic, Inc. I 1/01-2/02, Chicago

• Recruited to revive marketing e�ort of worldwide leader in personality and cognitive ability testing by bringing the program to a higher level of professionalism, creativity and performance.• Contributed regularly as an executive board member to the company’s vision and strategic direction, as well as to its operations, and human resource policies and procedures.• Spearheaded the company’s most formalized plan for ongoing client communication, achieved through web, digital and print marketing, advertising and media relations.• Reduced 01 budget by approximately 50 percent and saved an additional 30 percent on 02 projections, while increasing the frequency and quality of communication with clients and prospects.• Developed content and design for annual catalog, PowerPoint presentations, business proposals, sales sheets, print advertising, news releases, web and e-marketing, and other communications.• Crafted company’s e-commerce plans, and authored and art-directed the redesign of www.wonderlic.com, resulting in a 54 percent increase in site tra�c and a 32 percent increase in web sales.• Fashioned and helped determine strategic direction of presentations for major national accounts such as Monster.com, BP Oil, Denny’s, Chick-fil-A, Ramada, ADP, Albertson’s and TruGreen.• Assessed new product acquisitions, licensing agreements and formation of marketing partnerships and channels with human resource businesses.• Constructed news releases and managed key media inquiries, including U.S. News & World Report, Sports Illustrated, The Los Angeles Times, and HR, Workforce and Training magazines.

Vice President of Communications The Reserves Network I 1/91-1/01, Cleveland Other positions held: Vice President of Advertising/PR (1/98-1/99); Director of Advertising/PR (7/95-1/98); Advertising/PR Manager (11/92-7/95); Advertising/PR Coordinator (1/91-11/92)

• Contributed actively as a shareholder to the strategic direction of one of the country’s largest, privately- held sta�ng services, as well as to aggressive sales, net income and other performance objectives. • Spearheaded $750,000 marketing, advertising and media relations program to support 25 percent average annual sales growth for four business units and 40 locations in eight states.• Formulated multimedia communications approach to significantly increase market awareness and cultivate new business in all territories, some with as many as 200 competitors.• Managed internal marketing/PR team and ad agency to develop communication products that influenced the annual recruitment and retention of 20,000 temporary employees and 2,500 clients.• Devised research and branding strategies that successfully guided the company’s marketing e�ort through the acquisition and name-change of ten sta�ng services.• Directed content and design for communications such as sales brochures, web and e-marketing, business proposals, direct mail, print, radio and TV ads, news releases and sta� publications.• Authored and designed major communications, including strategic marketing plans, e-commerce strategies, client surveys, advertising, news and human interest stories, and video scripts.• Pioneered nationally awarded media relations program that resulted in an annual average of 150 free editorial exposures via local, national and international print and broadcast news vehicles. • Created and personally participated in or published more than 200 non-paid print, radio and TV interviews/ stories, and initiated more than 1,000 free news opportunities for the company during my 10-year tenure.

Promotions Director Advertising/PR Coordinator Club Coconuts I 9/88-12/90, Cleveland Salls & Bonda I 6/87-9/88, Cleveland

experience

American Sta�ng Association • First Place, Total Overall Public Relations (6 awards)• First Place, Best Use of Key Messages (1)• Award of Merit, Total Overall Public Relations (1) • Honorable Mention, Total Overall Public Relations (1)• Honorable Mention, Public Service (1) • Honorable Mention, Specialty Advertising (1)• National Public Relations Committee (4 years)• PR Presenter at Annual Convention (2 years)National Association of Personnel Services • First Place, Commitment to the Industry (1)• Award of Excellence, Public Relations (1)Ohio Sta�ng Services Association • Media & PR Board Member (5 years)• Goodwill Award (1)• Industry Awareness Award (1)

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS & HONORS

News Publications & Appearances • Placed/managed 2,000+ free stories in/on local & national print & broadcast media I 1988-present• Guest columnist, Smart Business magazine Wrote quarterly articles for clients I 2014-2016• Guest columnist, The Plain Dealer’s cleveland.com Wrote Q&As for interior design client I 2008-2009• Writer & editor, “My Cause,” a monthly column in COSE Update magazine I 2007-2011• Career Counsel reporter, CBS 19 Business Week Wrote & broadcast 40 advice scripts I 1998-1999 Special Presentations & Designations • Presenter, Sta�ng Industry Sales & Marketing Institute, Washington, D.C. I 2000• Speaker, Cleveland Career Initiatives Center I 1998• Weatherhead Excellence in Management I 1996

client & employer AWARDS

Resulting from Content & Nominations I Created • Weatherhead 100 Fast-Growth List (18 awards)• NEO Success Award (9)• Smart Business Evolution of Manufacturing Award (5)• EY Northeast Ohio Entrepreneur Of The Year® (4)• NorthCoast 99 Award for Top Workplaces (2) • Crain’s 52 Fastest-Growing Companies Award (2)• Smart Business Smart 50 Award (2)• Smart Business Innovation in Business Award (2)• EY National Entrepreneur Of The Year® (1)• SBA Cleveland Business of the Year (1)• Inside Business Magazine Manny Award (1)• Chief Executive Magazine Elite Middle-Market Co. (1) • COSE Ten Under 10 Award (1)

fortune & celebrity brands

Marketing I Designed for Clients of My Clients• Matt Damon • Disney• Rachael Ray • Denny’s• Deborah Norville • BP Oil• The Home Depot • O�ceMax/Depot• Lowe’s • Ramada • Verizon • Chick-fil-A • AT&T • Monster.com• Gap • ADP• Macy’s • Albertson’s• Best Buy • Bass Pro Shops • Dell • TruGreen• Cargill • Duraflame• Purina • Land O’Lakes

• Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter• YouTube & Google+• Apple & PC Operating Systems• Illustrator & Photoshop• Word, PowerPoint & Excel• WordPress & GoDaddy Platforms• Custom Web Content Management• Google Analytics & AdWords• Constant Contact & Mail Chimp• Digital & 35mm Photography

• www.loveisanaction.net• Cleveland Clinic Patient Panel • The Wellness Institute• Hope Can Go Wellness Scholarship• Compassion International• American Cancer Society• Susan G. Komen of Northeast Ohio• Easter Seals of Northern Ohio• Goodwill of Greater Cleveland• Challenged Athletes Foundation

Bachelor of JournalismAdvertising & PR Emphasis

University of Missouri – Columbia School of Journalism, 1988

Employment Law AccreditationAmerican Sta�ng Association, 1998

technical & social causes & concernseducation & training

Nicki Artese I O: 216-932-2168 I C: 216-570-1195 I E: nicki@nickiartese.com I W: www.nickiartese.com

“Finding a branding/marketing consultant these days is easy. They’re everywhere. Finding an “outside partner” who immediately understands the issues, then can quickly analyze, assess and put together well thought out plans, is much tougher. Nicki Artese is that rare person. Nicki is quick to grasp the problem, issues, “challenge” of a business…then is thoughtful, focused and smart when considering the options and possible outcomes. Nicki doesn’t waste time or resources. Nor does she mince words when a manager/owner is struggling with fixing and growing their business. Nicki can help clear away the noise and clutter and get to the core purpose of your business again. I would heartily recommend Nicki Artese to anyone looking for an experienced brand/marketing collaborator, and in need of some forward momentum.”Lonnie Gronek, Vice President I COO, Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.

“I have worked with Nicki for the past 7 years as she has pitched and delivered clients to tv shows I produce. I am happy to give her my highest recommendation! She is a consummate professional with a work ethic that outmatches most! She is extremely knowledgeable and stands out as an expert in her field. Nicki takes the time to develop and nurture lasting industry relationships. Through our relationship I have found her to be someone of high values, character and integrity. Nicki would be an asset to any company lucky enough to have her on their team. I look forward to working with Nicki on future projects!” Claire Donovan, Producer I WKYC-TV

“Nicki’s a savvy communications professional who takes the time to understand both her clients and the media organizations she's working with. That's a great combination in a field where results aren't optional; they're mandatory. She's got a great mind for creating innovative solutions and a knack for picking up on details and incorporating them into whatever she's doing. In my book, that quest for continuous improvement is one of the keys to success. And with Nicki, it's certainly proven to be the case.” Dustin Klein, Executive Editor I Smart Business Network

“I've known Nicki Artese for at least 15 years, and have always found her to be extraordinarily professional and knowledgeable about what she does. While I know hundreds of marketing & PR consultants and professionals, Nicki is easily among the half dozen or so best in terms of the senior-level wisdom and solid judgment she brings to clients. She understands how to get an organization's message across in the most e�ective (including cost-e�ective) way, using just the right blend of tactics and distribution channels (both new & traditional media). With her track record of building solid relationships, she's trusted by members of the media and other opinion leaders in ways most of her peers could only hope to be. She has my highest possible recommendation.” John Ettorre, Owner I Working with Words

“Nicki was a highly valued member of the senior management team at The Reserves Network for about ten years. She was very instrumental in our high sales growth and greatly increased name recognition, using her unrivaled skills in the Communications arena to maximize our public relations e�orts, creating highly e�ective advertising and providing state-of-the-art and top notch marketing support to our sales department. She was always a great team player and her creativity was sought by all. Nicki has her own company now, and with her ambition, broad skills, determination, and hard work she has made it a success. Though Nicki is no longer at TRN, her visits and the memories left behind are highly treasured. I and others at TRN, still value her friendship.” Don Stallard, CEO I The Reserves Network, Inc.

“Watching Nicki do her stu� is like watching popcorn pop -- without a lid. Her level of energy is incredible! She is also powerfully knowledgeable about marketing a business, and I've watched her create amazing results for a wide variety of clients in di�erent industries and of di�erent sizes. I have subsequently hired her as a marketing advisor for my company, and her wisdom has helped us transform our marketing approach and internet presence. I highly recommend Nicki -- she is my marketing guru!” Jim Smith I The Executive Happiness Coach

“A recommendation for Nicki is easy. She is, as stated, an expert in her field. She is able to take an endless amount of experience and apply it to any situation to achieve the desired results. Her focus, determination, knowledge and work ethic separate her from any counterpart. We have been blessed to be able to have her work with our organization on so many levels. She adds value to everything that she does. I can easily give Nicki my highest recommendation.” Scott Forster I Co-owner/VP/COO, Magnus International Group

“Nicki and I have worked together for a major gospel music act in the United States on their Marketing and Web Presence. She has a great ability to make everyone involved feel a part of "the team" and her attention to detail is impeccable. If you want to increase the quality and "WOW" factor of your overall communications strategy I would not hesitate to recommend her for your team.” Michael Berg, Owner I MDB Consulting Inc.

“Nicki was, hands-down, one of my favorite clients. She always trusted my recommendations and expertise, but also felt comfortable enough to share her perspective and ideas. Nicki is extremely knowledgeable and always does her homework which allows for a natural flow on any project. She takes her job to heart and has a passion for creating successful results which makes her respected in her craft.” Alison Kenny, Senior Account Executive I Fathom SEO

“Nicki is a professional with the highest level of integrity. It's a privilege to have her as a colleague and a friend.”Kathryn DeLong, Communications Director I Cleveland Clinic Philanthropy Institute

recommendations on linkedin

Additional volumes of recommendations and reviews available

Nicki Artese I O: 216-932-2168 I C: 216-570-1195 I E: nicki@nickiartese.com I W: www.nickiartese.com