(This would not be complete without a poor legal disclaimer attempt: It should be noted that this is a personal blog and the views represented are my views and do not necessarily coincide with the views of my past and present employers.)

Who am I?

My name is Eric Long. I’m an experienced online marketer, information architect, web strategist, and social media enthusiast. I’m an analytical, process-oriented thinker, focused on leveraging technology to solve business problems in B2C/B2B environments and am passionate about providing outstanding online experiences.

I have 12+ years of interactive marketing and IT experience consisting of:

• 3+ years Fortune 500 enterprise e-commerce, interactive marketing, IT, and business process experience
• 9 years interactive marketing, IT, and production agency experience

I am currently employed by Newell Rubbermaid and am Senior Manager, IT Application & Development for the Decor Global Business Unit based in High Point, NC consisting of Levolor and Kirsch (window blinds, shades, draperies, and drapery hardware) and Amerock (cabinet hardware) brands.

If you’d like to contact me, click here for my e-mail address (protected by reCAPTCHA’s free Mailhide API).

-Eric

Professional Experience

Senior Manager, IT Application & Development

Newell Rubbermaid - High Point, NC (October 2007 - Present Day)

Current Responsibilities:

• Report to VP & CFO; manage e-commerce project portfolio, annual budget, and staff of 13
• Define and direct overall application and development strategy for business process applications
• Maintain channels of communication upward, downward, and laterally to partner with business teams to drive new business, capture market share, and improve efficiency and the bottom line
• Provide business process guidance for e-commerce operations across the value chain

Accomplishments:

• Worked cross-functionally with Product & Brand Marketing to consolidate 3 brand websites and over a dozen portal sites from disparate systems to a single, B2C/B2B enterprise e-commerce platform
• Recognized opportunity for competitive advantage and $350,000/year cost savings through B2B portal: drove business case and financial analysis, received executive approval, and implemented B2B functions on existing e-commerce platform for trade partners
• Integrated e-commerce platform data with Business Unit’s data warehouse and customer database providing central view of customer regardless of channel of business purchase was made in
• Managed implementation of standardized middleware/ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) solution to replace custom, homegrown ETL processes in order to reduce complexity and to broaden bench strength of IT team on standardized ETL tool (Talend)
• Managed the creation of a new IT Application & Development team as a result of merging disparate App/Dev groups from Marketing, Engineering Systems, and IT Infrastructure departments
• Implemented standardized project management methodology for new team with stage gating triggers/inputs, objectives, outputs, and approvals
• Implemented standardized project prioritization/scorecarding system to align IT projects with the business based on strategic alignment, financials, risk, and dependencies
• Implemented standardized Testing/QA process & planning for all Application & Development. Facilitated QA/Testing “surge” capacity by working with 3rd party vendors to outsource testing functions when internal testing resources were at capacit
• Implemented web-based (Sharepoint) project tracking and bug/task tracking system for the department incorporating workflows, project management stage gates, and project prioritization/scorecarding

Web Marketing Manager

Newell Rubbermaid - High Point, NC (January 2006 - October 2007)

• Worked cross-functionally to influence and lead development of new business processes to enable the implementation and support of e-commerce operations
• Worked with retail buyers at national and independent retailers to launch web portals to reduce channel conflict due to direct-to-consumer e-commerce efforts
• Launched affiliate e-commerce platform enabling new channels of business to be created for retailers previously not selling custom window treatments
• Implemented online sample ordering service and data matching to retail sales to illustrate full online-to-offline conversion rate/frequency and to understand cross-channel shopping habits
• Implemented SEO best practices, daily monitoring, and competitive keyword analysis to achieve top 10 placement of key category product terms
• Managed SEM, Email, Banner, and Affiliate marketing programs and campaign tracking via web analytics to establish ROI scorecards by campaign
• Managed online budget and negotiated contracts with 3^rd party vendors for online services and support

SuperMotors.net (Part-Time Owner/Partner)

Director of Interactive & IS

Met|Hodder - Minneapolis, MN (July 1997 - December 2005)

Held a dual-role of managing interactive projects and information systems-related responsibilities.

Interactive:

• Managed interactive projects for clients such as ABC Television, Target Corporation, and FX Networks
• Lead project teams to develop scope, treatments, site maps, IA, wireframes, budgets, and timelines
• Challenged creative and technical teams to achieve an even balance of creativity and functionality ensuring end-products were both engaging and functional

Information Systems:

• Implemented web-based CRM application for use between sales, marketing, and general management
• Built and managed FreeBSD servers, routers, Exchange Server, file servers, Avaya VoIP phones and phone system, LAN, and workstations between Burbank, CA and Minneapolis, MN offices

Educational Background

I graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN with a BA in Management Information Systems (MIS) (what’s MIS?) and a Minor in Business Administration.

Personal Background

After spending nearly all of my life in Minnesota, in January 2006 my wife, my dog, and I packed up shop and left friends, family, and everything else we knew to move to North Carolina where I could pursue a career in consumer web marketing. Since about 1991, when I first discovered BBSes (Bulletin Board Systems), I have been hooked on computers and social networking. Between my professional career and hobby-based business (SuperMotors), I spend many, many hours each week online tinkering, reading, researching, and learning internet technologies, online business strategy, and online consumer marketing.

Since moving to North Carolina, my wife and I gave birth to twins (a boy and a girl) and have seen a nice, orderly home converted overnight to a mine field of pointy children’s toys, Graco products, and pacifiers. And with twins, there is basically two of everything which is an added bonus.

When I’m not at the keyboard, I’ll most likely be working on one of our cars, playing softball, practicing MMA, working out, or listening to 90’s alternative & grunge music (Sirius Channel 24, anyone?). I’m still a Vikings fan and due to it not being broadcast locally in North Carolina, DIRECTV enjoys our yearly subscriber fees for the NFL Sunday Ticket so we can watch the Vikes each week during the fall.