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my story
Before I built a single marketing plan, I spent six years in the U.S. Navy. In Washington, D.C., I handled transactions of communications security (COMSEC) materials across the Navy and within the White House and the Pentagon. Later, in Sigonella, Italy, I managed secure communications for the Sixth Fleet. It taught me how to lead under pressure, and that discretion is a habit, not a policy. It's why I can promise you ours.
I met Chef Kaylee on a trip to Michigan while I was stationed in Washington, D.C. We connected right away and have been inseparable ever since. We got married, and when the Navy sent me to Sicily, she shipped out with me.
When my service ended, we went home to Michigan and built Fuel Your Tomorrow in Traverse City. I led the funding, the marketing, the press, and the hiring, and we earned the highest Certified Green Restaurant rating in the state of Michigan.
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In 2021, I paused to finish my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Marketing at Western Governors University while raising two young children. I earned awards for communication excellence, innovation, and strategic thinking, and I was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success. I learned how to get a lot done in a little time.
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Today, as Director of Marketing, I build the plans and systems that move Chef Kaylee forward. I review how the business runs, read the analytics to see what's working, and turn ideas into campaigns that reach the right people.
I'm serious about the work and just as serious about my food experiences, whether that's a trendy new spot, a long-established fine dining room, or my own dining table at home. Away from my desk, you'll find me in the garden in the morning and at a good dinner in the evening.
specialized skills
brand strategy & ideas
I turn big ideas into a clear strategy and the plan that connects it.
email & campaigns
I build full-funnel campaigns and the email automation that keeps them running.
market research & insights
I study the market and the competition to find where we can stand apart.
systems & operations
I review how the business runs and build the systems that let it grow without losing its standard.
content & storytelling
I shape the stories and content strategy that make people feel they already know us.
analytics & financial planning
I read the numbers to decide what to keep, fix, and drop, and plan the budget behind it.
notable achievements
my time in the Navy
In Washington, D.C., I handled COMSEC transactions across the Navy and within the White House and the Pentagon, then managed secure communications for the Sixth Fleet in Italy. I also earned Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
my time in business
I co-founded Fuel Your Tomorrow and led its funding, marketing, press, and hiring. It earned the highest Certified Green Restaurant rating in Michigan.
my time in school
Bachelor's of Science Business Administration & Marketing, Western Governors University, with awards for communication excellence, innovation, and strategic thinking and a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
my experience
I take the work seriously. I've guarded secure communications for the Navy, built a business from a plan on paper, and now build the systems behind Chef Kaylee. Every step played a part in the story I'm living today. Here is the road that got me here.
Marketing & Strategy | Chef Kaylee LLC
Cleveland, OH
Jan 2024 - Present
I build the plans and systems that move Chef Kaylee forward. That means the annual marketing strategy, the production and publishing systems behind it, and the campaigns that carry our work to the households we serve. I review how the business runs, read the analytics to see what's working, and turn ideas into practice, always with the brand's standard, and our clients' privacy, held first.
Full-Time Student & Parent
Nov 2021 - Jan 2024
I completed my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Marketing at Western Governors University while raising two young children, earning awards for communication excellence, innovation, and strategic thinking. I kept learning on the side, studying brand strategy, digital marketing, and emerging tools, and it taught me how to get a lot done in a little time.
Co-Founder | Fuel Your Tomorrow
Traverse City, MI
Aug 2019 - Oct 2021
I led the company from concept to launch, securing funding through a business plan and board presentations. I ran the marketing and branding, including local news interviews and press releases, and tracked campaign performance to see what worked. I also built the operating systems, training programs, and documentation, and managed hiring and team structure. We earned the highest Certified Green Restaurant rating in the state of Michigan.
Information Systems Technician, Petty Officer Second Class | U.S. Navy
Sigonella, Italy
Sep 2016 - Jun 2019
I managed secure air-to-ground and ground-to-air communications for the Sixth Fleet, supporting dispatchers, pilots, and air traffic controllers with real-time flight data and advisories. I was responsible for the secure handling of Top Secret communications security materials and resolved mission-critical outages. I led watch teams through complex exercises, organized a successful command fundraiser, and earned Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals for performance and leadership.
Information Systems Technician, Petty Officer Third Class | U.S. Navy
Washington, D.C.
Oct 2013 - Jun 2016
I handled communications security transactions across the Navy and within the White House and the Pentagon. I led and supported IT operations across multiple departments, trained new team members, and managed access control. Outside my primary duties, I coordinated volunteer programs, ran the command fitness schedule, and trained a funeral honors team. I was promoted early in two evaluation cycles, earned the Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialist qualification, and received Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.