BAJKOWSKI + PARTNERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Choice Hotels International
Allan Kane has successfully built and optimized marketing and sales organizations over the past 30 years for regional and multinational companies to meet its goals during growth and declining market cycles. Based in DC, Allan lends his expertise in strategic marketing and sales planning, GAP/SWOT assessments, organization structure transformation, and leading training and motivation workshops for brands that include BlueCross BlueShield Association, BarMate, American Express, InterContinental Hotel Group, and IBM.
From 2000 to 2008, as vice president of Worldwide Sales for Choice Hotels International, Allan was responsible for the creation and implementation of Choice's global sales strategies within the various market segments. Choice experienced exponential revenue and market share growth under his leadership, and secured exclusive partnership deals with leading brands such as AAA and American Express. Allan has worked in various executive marketing and sales leadership roles within the financial services and hospitality sectors, retooling sales operations for global brands such as InterContinental Hotel Group, Forte Hotel Group and Holiday Inns Inc. to significantly improve sales revenue from key market segments. For his inventive and visionary ideas, Allan was recognized as one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing by HSMAI.
Based in Atlanta, Irene brings over 20 years media strategy and investment management experience to our marketing optimization, agency search and agency audit practices. As a media subject matter expert, Irene has extensive experience planning, buying and optimizing across all mediums, and has successfully managed campaigns for multinational and regional companies to achieve a wide array of marketing objectives.
From B2B to large-scale consumer campaigns, Irene's integrated campaign work marrying digital and offline media, has resulted in multiple ad industry awards and increased ROI for her clients. Irene successfully managed millions of dollars in integrated media each year while at media agencies, including BKV and Media Solutions, and for clients that include Astound Broadband, The Home Depot and Charter Communications.
Based in London with regional focus on EMEA for Bajkowski + Partners, Kelli has nearly 20 years' experience in brand management, marketing strategy, and advertising and marketing communications. As a marketing strategy and agency relationship subject matter expert, Kelli's expertise spans strategic brand positioning; planning and developing integrated marketing programs and communications; assessing client needs (GAP/SWOT); conducting agency searches and evaluating client-agency relationships; and negotiating agency staffing, compensation and performance-based incentive plans; and developing optimal inhouse agencies.
Kelli's career has crossed marketing, agency, media/publisher and consulting roles at global and regional companies that include Choice Hotels International, Discovery Network, Marriner Marketing Communications, Moroch and The Brief Doctor. Kelli's diverse brand experience includes global and national brands such as Unilever, P&G, Rich Products, Perdue, Butterball Food Service, and others in the areas of travel, retail, financial services, media, and entertainment. Kelli is also certified in Google AdWords and Google Analytics.
Laura works extensively with clients and industry associations to innovate standards and best practices within marketing, agency search and agency performance management, and marketing operations and procurement. A hands-on senior consultant, Laura works across most verticals and marketing channels for clients that include Toyota, Group 1 Automotive, Nissan North America, Infiniti USA, Exact Sciences, Astound Broadband, Anthem (formerly BCBS), Manulife, John Hancock, Walmart, Hilton Worldwide, Choice Hotels Internationals, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Phillips 66, and Burger King, to name a few.
Laura continues to develop and implement annual marketing plans and programs to increase revenue through all market segments and distribution channels; plan and manage agency searches; negotiate agency compensation and contracts; optimize agency rosters and agency performance; restructure marketing organizations; build in-house creative and production resources; identify strategic partnerships as well as new technologies and new media (online vehicles); bring together teams to resolve competing needs; and instill metrics and ROI into all initiatives. Advising leaders of large and small businesses alike, Laura privately coaches executives and business owners as well as marketing and procurement professionals in areas of business management, leadership, and career development.
Before founding Bajkowski + Partners, Laura held strategic marketing leadership positions on both the agency and client side for over 20 years, providing her with a comprehensive perspective on complex issues facing today's marketing, agency and procurement professionals. She has developed enduring relationships with clients and colleagues by clearly defining challenges and addressing unique needs with effective solutions that drive business results.
Laura spent several years on the Association of National Advertisers' (ANA) Interactive & Technologies and Global Brand committees as well as actively participated at several ANA forums. Recognized for her strategic campaigns and industry contributions over the years, Laura was twice selected as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Travel" and recognized as one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing by HSMAI.
Based in NYC, Laura is active in various industry groups and serves on boards and executive committees for public and private organizations.
As a member of our marketing management and agency relations consulting team, Melissa leverages over 25 years of brand management experience in diverse industries including hospitality, financial services, transportation, QSR, retail and non-profit. Having held senior management positions both client- and agency-side, she has extensive expertise in managing multi-million dollar integrated marketing programs that utilize TV, radio, online advertising (rich and standard), mobile, paid search, emerging media and social communication channels. Melissa is a collaborative results-driven leader skilled at brand positioning, brand identity management, advertising (general and multicultural, domestic and global) and marketing communications.
Based in Winston-Salem, Melissa continues to lead agency search activities and restructure marketing teams to optimally deliver against evolving marketing and customer service needs. Having managed multiple agencies and cross-agency teams, Melissa is adept at identifying opportunities to streamline processes and communications to deliver optimum business results. While working full-time at an agency in Boston, MA, she earned her MBA from Simmons College School of Management - a pioneering all women MBA program.
Terry Mason has worked with Bajkowski + Partners since its launch in 1995, focusing his marketing and creative talents in our Brand + Marcom Management practice. Based in Los Angeles, Terry continues to optimize creative and production processes, plan and develop in-house studios for clients, and improve the work product while achieving cost and time efficiencies for a diverse set of brands in the areas of CPG, pharma, healthcare, hospitality, financial services, QSR, and luxury goods.
Over the past 25 years, Terry has worked at prestigious international agencies including Grey, JWT, Saatchi Healthcare, and Euro RSCG where he created award winning, integrated campaigns and web sites for leading brands including Burger King, Wyeth Consumer HealthCare, Forte Hotels, Le Méridien Hotels, Abbott Laboratories, General Motors, Bayer, Bank of America, and Northrop. Terry also manages our internet and intranet systems to support all internal and external operations related to our portfolio of services.