1. Barbara R. Kessler
(727) 439-1170 • bkessler@tampabay.rr.com
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EXPERIENCE
MARKETING/ADVERTISING
• Developed advertising, wrote articles, created print materials to promote annual fundraising
campaign and its related events; and to assist in meeting campaign’s annual goal of $1,300,000.
• Created, produced and maintained all advertising and collateral, both in print and online, for a top
producing Realtor® as well as for each client’s property listing.
• Created collateral materials - flyers, print ads, newsletters, correspondence - for various clients of
self-owned business with gross annual revenue of $20,000.
• Increased readership by 15%, for a quarterly marketing and communications newsletter.
• Wrote feature articles and established column for monthly newspaper; circulation 10,000 homes.
SALES
• Developed lead and referral sources; closed membership sales for a health and wellness club;
with a goal of 20 new members per month.
• Increased advertising revenue by 20% for quarterly marketing and communications newsletter.
• Developed and maintained relationships with referral sources for a durable medical equipment
company specializing in mobility products. Worked directly with customers and their physicians to
establish need and obtain appropriate authorization and insurance approval to close sales.
• Established and maintained customer base as a skin care and cosmetics consultant/team leader.
Recruited and trained new consultants and team members. Monthly wholesale sales production of
$3,000 resulted in earning the use of a company car.
DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING
• Managed Women’s Philanthropy division of annual campaign, which represented almost 50% of
the dollars raised each year.
• Gained pledges to annual campaign by soliciting both existing and new donors.
• Recruited and trained volunteers to assist in campaign solicitation; assist at events; and for
leadership development.
• Developed, planned, and executed events geared toward fundraising goals; increased attendance and
donations by 10% each year at annual women’s outreach event.
• Earned award for membership growth at local chapter of Women’s American ORT.
SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS
• Managed all aspects of multiple annual events for a fundraising organization, including selection of
venue, guest speaker, caterer, menu, hosts/event chairs.
• Developed marketing materials and coordinated details of special events and promotions for retail
chain of Florida stores specializing in organs, digital and acoustic pianos, keyboards.
• Planned and executed semi-annual customer event, including hotel arrangements, transportation,
scheduling, entertainment, food, collateral materials.
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION AND CLIENT SERVICES
• Assisted the President and Vice President in all details of corporate operations for chain of retail
music stores: schedules, correspondence, meeting coordination, liaison with managers and staff.
Handled all aspects of executives’ travel - both personal and business.
• Database entry, updates, corrections; reports; mailing lists/client lists (for several employers)
• Tracked and maintained details and assisted clients with all phases involved in real estate listing,
contract and closing of home sales. Coordination and follow through with lenders, title/closing agents,
cooperating seller or buyer agents, home inspectors, surveyors, and vendors.
• Experienced in management of multiple timelines, deadlines, details; confidential client data.
2. Barbara R. Kessler
(727) 439-1170 • bkessler@tampabay.rr.com
Page 2
COMMUNITY/VOLUNTEER
Committee Member, JAEDA (Jewish Alliance to End Domestic Abuse)
Membership Chair, Women’s American ORT Clearwater Chapter
Bulletin Editor & Publisher, Women’s American ORT Clearwater Chapter
Member, Women’s Campaign Cabinet, Tampa Jewish Federation Lion of Judah Division
COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet Explorer
Adobe: Photoshop, Acrobat
Raisers Edge (database software for non-profit organizations)
CDC Software Smart Client: Pivotal CRM (database software for financial services industry)
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Business Development Representative, VIBE Fit Club, Oldsmar, 12/11-present
,
Campaign Associate, Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties, Largo, 2/07-10/11
Client Services Assistant, RE/Max Realtec Group, Inc., Palm Harbor, 12/03-1/07
Executive Assistant, Music World, Inc., Clearwater, 10/02-10/03
.,
Medical Coordinator, A Sensible Solution DME, Tampa, 11/01-5/02
,
Team Manager, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Palm Harbor, 6/97-12/01
Owner, BRK Concepts, Palm Harbor, 12/94-12/01
,
Advertising Manager, Editor, Publisher Lansbrook News & Views, Palm Harbor, 1995-1998
Publisher,
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Languages, Major in French, State University of New York at Stony Brook
Communications Workshop for Public Relations: Sponsored by the Florida Public Relations
Association; Certificate
Sterling Institute Management Workshop seminar series: Specifically designed for advertising and
broadcasting management.
I-Lead: Seminar sponsored by Jewish Federations of North America; included
Disney Institute training; tailored for fundraising professionals
Mastering LinkedIn: Interactive Workshop by Dan Sherman, Social Media Marketing
Facebook-The Business Side: seminar sponsored by the Tampa Bay Computer Society
