SKILLS AND STRENGTHS

Below is an overview of my strengths, work style examples, and a list of the tools that I currently use.

INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE

These are some of the skills that I have acquired through professional certification, and real world experience.

Project Management
Ideation & Planning
Active Listening
Project Assessment & Benefit Analysis
Stakeholder Management
Communications Management
Team Building & Development
Vendor Management / Contracts
Risk Management
Scope Management
Execution & Controlling
Quality Control & Assurance
Knowledge Management (Archiving)

Marketing
Web Design/Development/Deployment
Graphic Design
Customer/End-User Experience
Integrated Marketing
Strategy
Social Media
Brand Management
Data Analysis
Print (Ads, Catalogs, etc.)
Packaging Merchandise
Event Planning & Management
Trade Shows

Digital Marketing:
I designed my first website in 1995 for the Russell Racing School and have developed hundreds since. I have managed Google Adwords and Facebook Ads for multiple different entities, and always review analytic data to pinpoint what is and what is not working.

I have developed contests and giveaways to help us secure more potential customers on our mailing lists (ConstantContact & MailChimp), and also stay on top of best SEO practices. I am curious about where Digital Marketing and Design is headed, and spend a lot of time reading and investigating these subject in my personal time.

Team Work:
Working in racing for most of my career required me to become good at encouraging and getting the most out of our team. What was more challenging was getting the most out of folks that did not report directly to me. Here is one of many examples of this…

In 2009 I was tasked to develop a new racing car, that would be final assembled by World Speed. We would work with multiple parts providers, and communication was going to be key. Parts from one provider would have to work seamlessly with another provider. At times different providers would be dissatisfied in what the others were designing. I had to be the intermediary, and ambassador and keep everyone encouraged and focused on the common goal.

Here’s an article I wrote on LinkedIn about the FormulaSPEED Development Process:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-more-important-money-strategic-partnerships-mark-milazzo/

Event Planning & Logistics:
For more than a dozen years I was the point person for our race team’s logistics. In a typical year we would travel to 40-50 events. I built a simple system that could track personnel, trucking, flights, hotels, per diem, hospitality, etc.

In addition to that, I have been tasked with managing trade show design, signage, assets, and personnel for the following events:

  • New York, LA, and San Francisco Auto Show (World Speed and Russell Racing)

  • NAMM Show (Phil Jones Bass and Kala Brand Music)

Creative Direction & Differentiation:
I have always been creative. As a life long musician, and artist I can’t help but create. The Porsche411.com project is one example of this. My middle son is crazy for Porsches, and is very interested in art and technology. I decided that it would be good for me to test my current capacity, and work with him on building something unique and fun.

Here’s an article I wrote for LinkedIn about the birth of Porsche411.com:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-built-porsche-based-business-my-8-year-old-happy-birthday-milazzo/

I have always have an eye on differentiation. At World Speed I realized that only being a racing team was not going to be enough to differentiate ourselves from the many other teams. I developed the concept of a complete motorsports eco-system, and then over a few years oversaw the development of all the branches of that system. It not only differentiated us, it diversified us financially which was incredibly helpful during the 2008 downturn.

Another example of differentiation was when I was working for Kala Brand Music. Kala designs and sells ukuleles (about 50,000 per month on average!) When I started there in 2012 they were starting to get a lot of new competition entering the market. Everyone associates ukes with Hawaii, and so most companies feature hula dancers and palm trees in their marketing. Kala is based in Sonoma County, and so I suggested to the executive team that we focus on “who we are.” This lead to a whole new unique Northern California/Americana look, and a feel that they still utilize to this day.

DIGITAL TOOLS OF THE TRADE

(Levels of proficiency – 70% = Proficient)

(1) Currently used every day (2) Have used previously

  • (1) Google Enterprise (Docs, Sheets, Forms, Drive, Slides, etc.) 90% 90%
  • (1) (UX/UI) Web Design: Sketch, WordPress & Divi 85% 85%
  • (1) Affinity Designer, Photo, & Publisher (Adobe alternatives) 70% 70%
  • (1) Email Marketing (ConstantContact & MailChimp) 75% 75%
  • (1) Social Media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Etsy, Instagram, Twitter) 75% 75%
  • (1) WooCommerce (eCommerce) 70% 70%
  • (1) iMovie 90% 90%
  • (1) Apache OpenOffice (productivity suite) 80% 80%
  • (1) Team Software: Jira,Trello, BaseCamp, Insightly 75% 75%
  • (2) Adobe Creative Suite (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) 70% 70%
  • (2) Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) 75% 75%
  • (2) Shopify (eCommerce) 70% 70%
  • (2) Amazon, Reverb, & Ebay Stores (eCommerce) 80% 80%
  • (2) Intuit QuickBooks 80% 80%
  • (2) Web Design: Webflow 85% 85%
  • (2) SAP Business ByDesign 80% 80%