EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A revenue-centric business development professional, James W. Burnes has led multiple, highly profitable ventures in sales and marketing with a focus in Internet development and product development.

EXPERIENCE
MediaSauce, Indianapolis, IN 2008 - Present
Vice President, Strategy

  • Oversee digital strategy consulting services, providing technology-driven business strategy plans with an emphasis in digital and social media for companies including Duke Realty, Kimball International, Indiana Farm Bureau, and more

  • Internet consulting services for clients in Fortune 500, public, private, association and not-for-profit industries.

  • Public speaker focusing on applying digital and social media to drive sales in a 24/7 economy, engaging in more than 75 public speaking events, keynotes and workshops

  • Executive trainer on using social media to build sales and marketing networks and creating a digital culture within an organization

LIN Television Corp., Providence, RI/Indianapolis, IN 2007 - 2008
Regional Internet Director

  • Lead the Internet business operations of 11 television stations to exceed revenue and traffic through a new sales strategy, integrated marketing approach and introduction of niche Internet products

  • Develop sales, technology and content strategies to maximize revenue and Internet business for newest division of LIN.

Gannett Co., Indianapolis, IN 2002 - 2007
Innovation and Development Project Manager, The Indianapolis Star

  • Oversee enterprise-level projects for new innovation division; lead role in the implementation of new products, print and digital, to grow reach and revenues; develop strategy and lead implementation

  • Coordinate launch of all new technologies regarding IndyStar.com and related new Internet ventures; managed launch of IndyMoms.com, VirtualJobExpo.com, IndyPaws.com and numerous B2B and internal web applications that have generated seven figures in incremental revenue in their first year

  • Innovation Committee chairman; lead innovative process to generate new revenue, optimize operations

Manager, Market Share Development, The Indianapolis Star

  • Lead new initiative to generate incremental revenue from key sales accounts through creative marketing and advertising solutions that maximize the powerful reach of The Star’s advertising products and services with campaigns ranging from five to seven figure deals; generated seven figures in incremental revenue

  • Generate strategic marketing plans for advertisers that netted incremental revenue for the company of 15-110% increases for accounts ranging from automotive dealers to home builder to retailers.

  • Manage day-to-day operations of market analysis/research department to maximize sales and marketing efforts through qualified research and statistical information support.

  • Selected by executive management to serve on The Indianapolis Star’s Committee for Innovation to manage ideation, evaluation and commercialization of new products and initiatives.

Assistant Editor, Operations and Marketing, INtake Magazine

  • Managed the business operations of The Star’s young professional publication including vendor contracting, contract negotiation and accounts payable.

  • Developed marketing initiatives to generate revenue, manage and oversee street marketing team and execution of all marketing events; increased revenue 400% through event marketing and sponsorship

  • Oversaw the implementation of INtakeWeekly.com (now Indy.com) including the implementation of new database system that controlled both INtake and The Star’s new calendar system and online calendar, bar and dining guides.

  • Created a business strategy that moved INtakeWeekly.com to the most visited young reader publication in Gannett with monthly page views greater than 2.5 million (increase of 1000% in less than 6 months).

  • Wrote and edited stories including author the weekly editorial column along with oversee and manage all special publication projects and online initiatives.

The Forensic Panel, New York, NY 2000 – 2002
Director of Business Development and Technology

  • Developed corporate communication strategy; serve as contact for national media, pitch and develop story ideas to media including ABC News, CNN, MSNBC, with regular successful on-air results.

  • Managed national presentation lecture and discussion programs in science, law, and public policy for academic and professional meetings such as American Academy of Forensic Sciences, including extensive travel; coordinate speakers, arrange for travel and schedule events for all on-site team members.

  • Conception, development, and project management of all branding initiatives and web site development. Negotiated contractors, spearheaded design, and ongoing improvement-analysis.

  • Oversaw nation’s first professional journal to convert from print publication to online-only publication, The Forensic Echo.

  • Led web developement of first-of-its-kind web application for research for an international forensic study on depravity, The Depravity Scale.

Osler Institute, Terre Haute, IN 1998 - 2000
Audio Visual & Multimedia Director, Webmaster

  • Serve as point-person for all technical questions regarding the set-up, logistics, and cost-of-services for 120 education and presentation meetings in 20 cities across the country

  • On-site event coordinator with hotels and meeting facilities management for 125+ events per year in top markets in the country; including the resolution of contract disputes, and solving of problems regarding facility, its staff, or outsourced vendors providing services to the event.

  • Updated and standardized all departmental practices and procedures; implemented quality assurance program with other departments to ensure accuracy; and raised quality success rate from 55% to 95% in first 6 months on the staff and achieved unprecedented quality rate of 97% by end of first year

RECENT LEADERSHIP ROLES

Indiana Economic Development Corp. Small Business Development Centers, 2009 - present
Advisory Board Member

Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, 2002-2006
National Board Member, former Director of the Indiana Region
Co-Chairman, National Technology Committee

Office of Law Enforcement Technology & Commercialization, 2001-2003
National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice
National Advisory Council Member

Bayshore Villas Homeowners Association, Indianapolis 2003-2005, 2008 to present
Inaugural board member and President

Ballet Internationale – National Ballet Company, Indianapolis 2004-2005
Ballet Barre Association board member

EDUCATION
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN 1997
Mechanical Engineering

American Press Institute, High Performance Leadership program May 2006