About

Window self-reflection at Takashi Murakami “The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg,” Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, 2017.

Window self-reflection at Takashi Murakami “The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg,” Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, 2017.

Entering the advertising industry in the late nineties, I feel lucky to have been part of a generation that adapted to internet culture while learning to navigate the workplace. Witnessing the evolution from new media to an age of digital ubiquity has instilled in me a desire to keep apace with technology’s reach, its potential and its impact. Understanding how and where people interact with media further helps inform human behaviors and changing values that spark ideas and opportunities.

My professional journey has been iterative, and I am committed to leveraging my cumulative career knowledge, while continually seeking to discover new things, places, and perspectives. Both online and IRL, my curiosity is piqued by interesting facts and eccentricities that define the cultural Zeitgeist past and present. Whether it’s ephemera from abroad or American midcentury design, I love history, icons of pop culture, and relics of bygone eras that tell stories about the ways people live and connect with one another. My experiences in advertising have taught me that many of life’s most meaningful creative expressions capture moments in time and human emotions that transcend language, culture, and geography.

JOIE de VIVRE

  • Antiques

    Old treasures and unique collectibles

  • Art

    Like pop sculpture from Claes Oldenburg

  • Travel

    Exploring new places, especially overseas

  • Music

    And the energy of live performance

  • Photography

    As seen across this site

  • Nature

    Its all-encompassing power and beauty

  • Flossie

    VP, Director of Walks & Snacks

 

AMY BURKHARDT

EXPERIENCE

Amy Burkhardt Consulting, LLC Chicago, IL
Principal/Managing Director                                                               2020-current         
2020-21 clients: Scout Marketing/Jazz Pharmaceuticals, IGA, Lipman Hearne
Service offerings span competitive research and social listening to copywriting and strategy development

Scout Marketing                                                                         Chicago, IL
Sr. Social Media Strategist – Jazz Pharmaceuticals        2019-2020
Developed 2020-21 social media strategy, celebrity influencer proposal, analytics reporting, monthly content and paid ad plans for unbranded Facebook & Instagram narcolepsy support communities

Expedia/Orbitz Worldwide                                                                Chicago, IL
Blog Contributor                                                                                          2020, 2013–2015
Wrote articles and created info graphic concepts, copy for Orbitz and Travelocity WordPress blogs

University of Illinois – Chicago                                                      Chicago, IL
Editorial Consultant – Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Advancement 2019          
Created social media strategy; provided events and editorial support, including UIC Magazine byline

Northwestern University                                                                     Evanston, IL     
Social Media Lead – Office of Global Marketing and Communications     2014-2019
Advanced university-wide communications through best practices, content strategy, enterprise software implementation, social listening, and crisis mitigation; developed content pillars, KPIs and reporting for @NorthwesternU Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Snapchat

Led tri-annual Social Media Summit of 70 attendees to foster strategic collaboration and knowledge sharing; directed enterprise social media software RFP, vendor selection, platform rollout and administration of 270 users

Exceeded twofold increase in Instagram followers, and introduced Instagram Stories for academic research to drive traffic to long form web content; success metrics averaged 125 clicks per story, 75% retention 


Social Media Writer and Strategist – Kellogg School of Management
Increased social referral traffic to Kellogg Insight thought leadership content by 87% YOY and by channel: LinkedIn 1141%, Twitter 152%, Facebook 33%

Managed A/B testing for extensive paid growth campaign on Twitter, plus MBA program targeting for Facebook ads, and inaugural paid content pilot on corporate innovation with ForbesVoice via LinkedIn and Twitter

EnergyBBDO                                                                           Chicago, IL
Social Media Writer and Strategist – SC Johnson, Pearl Vision         2014   
Developed social strategy and content for Raid® social media launch on Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Yahoo! Answers to support website redesign campaign; partnered with legal counsel, product registration, brand management and entomology lead for product expertise and EPA risk mitigation

Friendemic                                                                                                  Salt Lake City, UT
Social Media Manager –  Kia Motors, FIAT, Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram 2011-2013
Managed social media, client relationships, campaign strategy and online reputation for automotive dealerships nationwide across Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Pinterest, Yelp, Google+ and DealerRater

Retained 100% of dealership accounts across seven markets for duration of services provided, plus earned 4 new clients worth +$10K in monthly billings; produced ad hoc POS and collateral

Legacy Marketing Partners                                                            Chicago, IL       
Brand Strategist (Contract) – Dewars, Kmart, Kraft, Mitsubishi, LG   2010-11
Trend hunting, survey creation, intercepts, and event results analysis

Martin|Williams                                                                              Minneapolis, MN
Brand Strategist (New Business) – Dell B2B              2011
Analyzed and assembled video of qualitative respondent insights for brand positioning development

Campbell Mithun                                                                                   Minneapolis, MN
Brand Strategist (New Business) – Frontier Communications 2010
Edited and compiled qualitative consumer interview footage for final pitch

Bon-Ton Stores                                                                                          Milwaukee, WI
Digital Merchandise Manager – Juniors/Ladies’ Dresses, Suits, Casual   2008-2010      
Reported weekly sales to vendors; executed markdowns and purchases orders; coordinated online assortment

Hanson Dodge Creative                                                                     Milwaukee, WI
Project Manager – Trek Bicycle Corporation                   2008
Scoped Project One consumer interface; oversaw Trek site updates; produced 2009 print catalogs

The Royal Order of Experience Design    Chicago, IL      
Project Manager – Sub-Zero/Wolf, Patagonia                 2007
Expedited site refreshes and drafted website copy; scoping, asset management, QA for Footprint Chronicles

Cramer-Krasselt                                                                                        Chicago, IL      
Sr. Project Manager – Corona and Modelo, Takeda, Cellular South, Dex  2005-2007      
Coordinated creative resources, development and production timing for clients and new business

Leo Burnett Company                                                                            Chicago, IL       
Creative Awards Manager – Leo Burnett U.S.A.                  1998-2005      
Evaluated internal creative work with CCO and ECDs for brand presentations and award show submissions

Writer and Research Coordinator – Leo Burnett Worldwide                     
Created annual global network credentials, reported on industry trends, managed analog and digital ad archives

EDUCATION

University of Wisconsin – Madison     B.A. in Art History and German 
Universität Freiburg                           Academic Year Abroad
Miami Ad School                                 Account Planning boot camp

DIGITAL PROFICIENCIES
MS Office, Google Docs, WordPress, Google Analytics, Canva, Adobe PS, Basecamp, Workfront, Smartsheet, Brandwatch, Pulsar, Sprinklr, Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Squarespace