Resume

Creative brand leader who builds distinctive identities from concept to scale. Expert in brand strategy, visual systems, and leading teams through rapid growth. Deep veterinary industry expertise with proven success launching brands and establishing market presence.

Professional Skills

Brand Strategy & Creative Leadership
Brand Strategy | Brand Systems | Visual Identity Development | Creative Direction | Creative Brief Development | Brand Management

Marketing & Communications
External & Internal Communications | Digital Marketing | Content Marketing | Social Media Marketing | Campaign Evaluation

Team & Stakeholder Leadership
Creative Team Leadership | Cross-functional Collaboration | Stakeholder Management | Public Speaking | Training

Operations & Analytics
Budgeting | Contract Negotiation | Reputation Management | Data-driven Decision Making

WORK EXPERIENCE

DIRECTOR OF STORYTELLING
Partner Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center, Frederick, MD & Richmond, VA
2021 – Present

Brand Strategy & Visual Identity

  • Led complete brand identity and positioning strategy for new veterinary enterprise, including visual identity and messaging that resonated with both pet owners and referring veterinarians
  • Established comprehensive visual identity guidelines ensuring brand consistency across all touchpoints—from digital platforms to physical locations, signage, and uniforms—while balancing medical professionalism with approachable, pet-parent-friendly aesthetic
  • Created marketing strategy from ground up for veterinary startup, launching two emergency and specialty centers within 12 months and establishing brand as market leader in two unique, competitive markets

Creative Team Leadership

  • Provided creative direction and mentorship to design team, elevating design quality while building scalable systems for rapid content production across two locations
  • Directed external creative agencies and freelance designers through brand development process, ensuring deliverables met strategic objectives and aesthetic standards
  • Managed creative workflows and design priorities across multiple concurrent projects, balancing brand consistency with deadline pressures of startup environment

Process & Collaboration

  • Developed and owned creative brief process for all brand initiatives, translating business objectives into clear direction for internal team and external vendors
  • Led cross-functional collaboration with hospital leadership, clinical teams, and operations to ensure brand strategy aligned with business objectives and enhanced customer experience

Execution & Results

  • Orchestrated successful launch events for both locations with zero brand recognition, attracting 500+ community members each and generating $50K in earned media coverage
  • Established startup’s market presence through strategic partnerships with animal welfare organizations, creating a referral network that generated 15% of new clients

Director of Marketing & Communication
Cygnal/The Decision Co., Washington, DC
2020 – 2021

  • Responsible for presenting annual marketing plans and budget to all stakeholders and providing quarterly updates on implementation and adjustments
  • Performed ongoing tracking and reporting on B2B marketing initiatives and executed targeted B2B marketing campaigns for region
  • Developed effective social media strategy and increased followers by on Facebook (40%), Twitter (35%), and LinkedIn (55%)
  • Implemented direct mail campaigns successful in generating quality leads and driving sales revenue
  • Increased email open rates by 30%
  • Produced and distributed bi-weekly podcast. Increased subscribers by 20%

Senior Marketing Manager
Compassion First Pet Hospitals, Tinton Falls, NJ
2019 – 2020

  • Conceptualized and implemented marketing strategy for Care Center, Veterinary Referral Associates of Northern Virginia, Bush Veterinary Neurology Service, First Coast Veterinary ER & Specialty and Specialist in Companion Animal Neurology
  • Directed end-to-end marketing campaigns while working in close coordination with Hospital Directors and Referral Relationship Managers
  • Expanded brand reach through strategic channel diversification including audio and digital advertising
  • Directed graphic designers and creative vendors to produce marketing materials across print, digital, and event platforms for multiple veterinary brands
  • Provided design feedback and creative direction to ensure all materials elevated brand perception and resonated with both veterinary professional and pet owner audiences
  • Transformed previously live education conference into virtual event increasing ROI for vendors and participants

Senior Marketing Manager
Bush Veterinary Neurology/Bush Advanced Veterinary Imaging, Leesburg, VA
2011 – 2019

  • Established brand guidelines and systems that enabled consistent execution across all marketing channels and five locations
  • Provided design feedback and creative direction to ensure all materials elevated brand perception and resonated with both veterinary professional and pet owner audiences
  • Led creative brief development for multi-location campaigns, ensuring design work aligned with strategic goals and brand standards across all five locations
  • Worked in close partnership with neurologists and imaging specialists to develop scientifically accurate marketing content that maintained credibility with referring veterinarians while remaining accessible to pet owners
  • Improved UX of website with the implementation of online forms, event registration and bill pay
  • Created online continuing education program with participation of over 375 veterinarians to date
  • Proposed and implemented digital marketing campaign, including a revamped website – increased traffic by 37%
  • Led cross-functional coordination with venue management, catering, clinical speakers, and sponsorship teams to execute specialty symposium for 400+ attendees
  • Increased attendance from 100 to 400+ attendees during educational conference within 3 years

education and certification

AI Applications in Marketing Certificate
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
2025

Marketing in a Digital World Certificate
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2016

Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education
Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Technical Proficiencies

Adobe Creative Suite, Agorapulse, Canva, Google Analytics, HeyOrca, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Podcastle, Salesforce, WordPress, Wrike

Stacy Ann Walls