My Professional Resume

Eric Long

• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/erlong/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/erlong

Overview

I’m an experienced digital product & marketing strategist and am passionate about providing outstanding cross-channel, mass customization (product configurators), and considered-purchase experiences.

I have 16+ years of experience consisting of:

• 7+ years enterprise digital product management, user experience, digital marketing & e-commerce, digital product development, and business process experience
• 9 years interactive marketing, IT, and production agency experience

Areas of Leadership Expertise:

• Bridging digital, technical, and business communication externally, laterally, downward, and upward in an organizational structure
• Leading multifunctional teams consisting of digital product management, user experience, digital product development, systems, and digital marketing & e-commerce roles
• Developing teams ranging in professional and technical/marketing experience from individual contributors to managers of managers

Areas of Digital & E-Commerce Expertise:

• Omni-channel digital product strategy (Kiosk, Web, and Mobile)
• Translating consumer and customer insights into actionable strategies for digital experiences
• Considered purchase shopping experience strategy & design
• Mass customization (custom product configurators) strategy & design
• Multi-tenant B2C & B2B e-commerce platform strategy and execution

Employment History

Director of Digital Marketing & E-Commerce

Newell Rubbermaid - Atlanta, GA (May 2012 – Present Day)

I am currently employed by Newell Rubbermaid and am Director of Digital Marketing & E-Commerce for the Decor Business (part of the Home Solutions Business Segment) based in Atlanta, GA consisting of Levolor and Kirsch (window blinds, shades, draperies, and drapery hardware) and Amerock (cabinet hardware) brands.

Current Responsibilities:

• Report to VP of Marketing; manage staff of 20+ digital marketing and technical team members
• Define and direct overall Digital Product Management, UX, Development, Operations, and Digital Marketing & B2C/B2B E-Commerce Strategy
• Architect digital purchase experience strategy and lead teams responsible for execution/implementation of User Experience, Technology, and Merchandising
• Partner with Brand Marketing to manage all online creative, technology, and demand creation development for over two-dozen brand and affiliate websites on a multi-tenant e-commerce platform
• Partner with Channel, Sales, and New Business Development teams to meet with existing and prospective customers to demonstrate and help sell-in omni-channel digital and e-commerce experiences for use in retail, mobile, and online

2012 Accomplishments:

• Grew U.S. & Canadian B2C & B2B e-commerce sales 31% (2012 vs. 2011)
• Launched omni-channel digital experience in national retailer using in-store touchscreen (integrated with retailer’s POS system) and online e-commerce
• Implemented Scrum process for User Experience, Agile Software Development, & Digital Marketing efforts

Senior Manager, E-Business

Newell Rubbermaid – Atlanta, GA (November 2009 – April 2012)

Responsibilities:

• Reported to VP of Marketing; managed staff of 20 marketing and technical team members
• Defined and directed overall E-Business & Digital strategy

Accomplishments:

Senior Manager, IT Application & Development

Newell Rubbermaid – High Point, NC (October 2007 – October 2009)

Responsibilities:

• Reported to VP & CFO; managed e-commerce project portfolio, annual budget, and technical staff of 12

• 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
• Implemented B2B functions on existing consumer e-commerce platform for trade partners and achieved a $350,000/year cost savings
• 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 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 capacity

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 on Levolor.com
• 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 and to enable e-commerce
• 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

Part-Time Owner/Partner

SuperMotors.net (1998 – December 2009)

• In my spare time (I’m a “car guy”) I operated an online hobby-based business, SuperMotors.net, which I owned with two other part-time partners. SuperMotors provides free photo, audio, & video hosting for aftermarket and performance enthusiasts for Cars & Trucks, ATVs, Boats, Motorcycles, Snowmobiles, and Watercrafts. We sold this business in December 2009.

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
• Managed 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.

Certifications

Pragmatic Marketing Certified, August 2012

Patents

Architectural Opening/Covering Ordering Method and System

• United States 61/532,935
• Filed September 9, 2011

Because of the number of measurements that may be taken by a professional for window coverings, and the precision required for entering the right measurements for each and every window covering to be installed in a home or other structure, there exists a high probability for error. Since installers only guarantee their measurements and not how the measurements are entered into any system by the consumer, errors can result. Furthermore, this can cause inconvenience and confusion as the consumer separately manages the installation process from the purchase process with no system tying the two processes together.

This patent application is for a system that manages the professional measurements an installer enters into the system for the consumer to select window coverings and place an order without the need for a consumer to manually enter measurements or showing the measurements to the consumer (which prevents the consumer from being able to use the measurements at another retailer and with a different professional installer).