Kara VanKleek - Senior Marketing Leader

It has been my pleasure to work with talented teams to build strong brands and launch innovative new products. I am passionate about creating and articulating a vision and strategy focused on developing profitable businesses with a pipeline of sustained innovation and I have a proven record of driving growth. It has been an incredible experience to lead start-up businesses and focus on turn-around situations requiring development of a winning team and collaboration across multiple functional areas.

My broad base of experience in product marketing, general management, strategic marketing, product marketing, category management and global business allow me to draw upon key experiences to build strong businesses. I have strong oral, written and presentation communication skills and am adept at, and enjoy, coaching and developing marketing and other professionals as well as managing and inspiring teams.

I strive to create an environment that promotes professional growth and development of team members and shapes motivated, high-performing teams through effective leadership and mentoring.

Expertise:
• Product Marketing • Brand & Product Strategy • P&L Management & Financial Modeling • Innovation Process & Portfolio Management • Global Operations & Operational Efficiencies • Consumer & Customer Insights • Margin Enhancement & Cost Reductions • Insight Based Strategic Branding & Positioning • Advertising & Media Strategy • Digital Marketing

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Identified opportunity and led development and launch of clean label initiative and first Non-GMO Project Verified initiative to successful implementation for CHS Inc.; first soy products to become Non-GMO Project Verified.
• Led the creation and launch of Bon Appétit® frozen brand to deliver commercial value upwards of $80M retail sales and led 20+ member cross-functional team in capital acquisition and implementation to achieve on time and on-budget start-up.
• Awarded Better Homes and Garden Best New Products 2010 for profitable new Edwards® dessert built on key consumer insights.
• Developed and led 2008 Schwan's Consumer Brand Bakery innovation platform to deliver 161% growth over year ago.
• Led expansion of ConAgra International Microwave Popcorn business to deliver 25% unit growth and 5 point gross margin improvement 2007 vs. 2006.