Download Michael Lunsford’s Resume in PDF format.

Objective
Working with internal and external clients to create long-term, win-win relationships with the company and its customers by developing custom and unique advertising, marketing, sales, and tracking solutions to grow revenue, brand recognition, and reputation for all parties.

Summary
Well rounded, big picture vision with highly desirable background in advertising, marketing, client engagement, sales management, web development, lead conversion tracking, programming, and graphical integration.
History of solution-driven, plain-language planning and implementation of brand-new, revenue-generating products and services. In-depth knowledge of client engagement, search engine marketing, and sales conversion rate tracking and improvement. Proven track record of creating significant cost savings through the automation and simplification of current and new processes.

Experience

Online Sales Manager, the Daily Advertiser; Lafayette, LA — April 2007 – June 2010
Created, introduced, and automated new, key revenue generating technologies such as Employment Videos & Banners, Online Sticky Note ads, and Sliding Billboard ads; which alone contributed approximately $500,000 in new, annual revenue.
Project leader for numerous online migration and implementation projects including the roll-out and migration of a Moms website, complete news website migration, online ad serving software migration, and sell-it-yourself ad implementation for Real Estate Sales and Rentals and Automotive. Created a completely new website for the weekly shopper magazine, QuikQuarter, that included end-client e-commerce ad creation and purchasing tool, online banner ad packages for sales reps to engage display advertisers with, and an online searchable database of all print classified ads.
Streamlined processes by creating from scratch online voting mechanisms used for the Times Best Of Acadiana’s readership poll for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010; the Acadiana Moms Cover Cuties 2008, 2009, and 2010 contests; the 2008 Times Photo Contest; the Opelousas Daily World’s Best of the Best 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 contests; and the Best of the Delta Readership Poll 2009 and 2010.

Strategic development, marketing and creation of new internet related technologies to drive additional revenue for five Louisiana newspapers. Introduced dozens of Gannett newspapers to several brand new, very unique ad creative types never before used at Gannett. Some of these included online sticky notes, sliding billboards, page takeovers, bottom billboards, and Real Estate teaser ads.

Primary sales contact for the five Gannett Louisiana newspapers (Lafayette, Opelousas, Shreveport, Monroe, and Alexandria). Negotiated numerous sales deals, each worth more than $100,000 in annual online revenue.

Area Sales Manager, CompUSA, Inc.; Baton Rouge, LA — October 1997 – April 2004
Part of the grand opening team of the Baton Rouge location of CompUSA in October of 1997. Served as an Account Manager for one year, consistently achieving individual sales of $250,000 per month or more. Promoted to Area Sales Manager and served as the team leader for a four member inside sales team. Developed relationships with state and local government purchasing agents and information services contacts. Consistently exceeded sales and profit goals on a monthly basis. Team generated over $4 million in sales during Fiscal 1999 and over $11 million in Fiscal 2000. Promoted to manage entire sales team and was directly involved in assisting major and key clients with high-level needs analysis and promoting our offerings, which included technical services, training, and products on five different state contracts: Hewlett Packard, Compaq, CompUSA-PC, NetTV, and Xerox. Was also responsible for developing and implementing a successful, brand new, statewide contract program that included more than sixty-thousand individual, high-profit, peripheral items.

Designed, implemented, and managed unique and specific technology plans for numerous, highly-visible, major and key accounts. Some highlights include: implementing a brand new student laptop program for Saint Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, a technology plan to grand open the Baton Rouge Community College, a mobile laptop lab for Parkview Baptist School in Baton Rouge, and a squad car laptop program for the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Department.

Owner, Virtual Showcase, LLC; Breaux Bridge, LA — March 2002 – present
Consulting and Deployment of Internet Based Technology with the goal of end-client engagement, interaction and involvement. Helping area businesses by creating a unique online marketing plan that includes a website, search engine marketing, social media, e-commerce, banner and directory advertisements to drive qualified buyers or potential clients to them via the world wide web. Further assist clients who need a custom conversion tracking plan to score lead source viability based on cost-per-lead, conversion rate, quality of sale, etc.

Education
University of New Orleans — Electrical Engineering — New Orleans, Louisiana
Lafayette Christian Academy — Lafayette, Louisiana

Accomplishments & Recognition
Member of the Daily Advertiser’s Extended Operating Committee
Member of the Daily Advertiser’s Operational Planning Committee
CompUSA Million $ Club
Franklin Covey Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Training
Tom Hopkins Sales Mastery Training
Eagle Scout