Doug Brown
Star
Summary
Experienced business development and partnerships leader with 15+ years of success in driving growth strategies across SaaS, technology, retail, and hospitality. Proven ability to build strategic alliances, negotiate complex partnerships, and align cross-functional teams to deliver revenue-driving programs. Skilled at transforming unstructured challenges into actionable strategies while fostering collaborative relationships across product, marketing, sales, and operations.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, Customer Success and Onboarding
Appfront
05.2024 - Current
- Designed and optimized customer success processes, aligning onboarding and ongoing support with business goals to drive retention and expansion across enterprise and mid-market accounts
- Partnered with product and sales teams to identify and prioritize feature enhancements aligned with customer feedback and market trends
- Acted as a customer advocate, representing client needs in roadmap planning, ensuring product-market fit, and enabling scalable growth
- Developed the Enterprise Marketing Program, creating a new revenue stream through marketing services for clients, strengthening relationships and driving loyalty
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Mikuni Restaurant Group, Inc.
06.2021 - Current
- Developed and executed brand, digital, and public relations strategies across 9 locations, aligning marketing campaigns with sales and operational goals
- Led development of the Mikuni app and website, integrating online ordering, loyalty, and CRM systems to enhance guest experience and data capture
- Cultivated and managed partnerships with technology providers, marketing agencies, and local community organizations to amplify reach and revenue
- Achieved 87% growth in mobile app adoption and 66% social media audience growth within 3 years by aligning cross-functional marketing and technology initiatives
Marketing, Branding & Technology Consultant
Wyld Lyfe Business Group
07.2014 - Current
- Partnered with SaaS and MarTech providers (Appfront, Humanly.AI) to develop go-to-market strategies, build product integrations, and source new business opportunities
- Facilitated partner negotiations, onboarding, and relationship management with key vendors across POS, inventory, loyalty, and marketing technology sectors
- Advised multi-unit restaurant and retail operators on technology adoption, marketing automation, and digital customer engagement strategies
- Created scalable loyalty programs and CRM automation strategies to enhance customer lifetime value, leveraging integrations across POS, CRM, and ecommerce platforms
- Built strong relationships across vendors, agencies, and technology partners to deliver integrated solutions aligned to client needs
Head of Marketing, Communications, and Technology
Buckhorn Restaurant Group
05.2019 - 05.2021
- Defined and implemented comprehensive marketing, technology, and growth strategies across 13 locations
- Negotiated partnerships with technology vendors, including POS, online ordering, CRM, and loyalty platforms, ensuring seamless integration and operational efficiency
- Developed and executed data-driven campaigns, leveraging customer insights to drive personalized offers, promotions, and loyalty activations
- Partnered with finance and operations teams to evaluate partner performance, optimize spend, and drive maximum ROI from marketing and technology investments
Director of Marketing and Communications
Chicago Fire
06.2017 - 05.2019
- Rebranded company identity, website, and customer engagement strategy, aligning with evolving guest expectations and market trends
- Established partnerships with technology vendors, delivery platforms, and loyalty providers to support omnichannel sales and customer retention
- Collaborated with executive leadership to develop multi-year marketing plans, aligning digital transformation initiatives with revenue and operational objectives
Business Relations / Advertising and Sponsorship Manager
California Dental Association (CDA)
10.2014 - 06.2017
- Developed and managed corporate partnership and sponsorship programs, generating non-dues revenue through strategic alliances with national and regional brands
- Negotiated multi-channel sponsorship agreements spanning events, publications, digital advertising, and cause marketing initiatives
- Conducted ongoing competitive and industry analysis to identify new partnership opportunities and craft compelling value propositions tailored to key targets
- Partnered with marketing, product, and sales teams to align partner programs with CDA’s broader brand strategy and member engagement goals
Education
Associate of Science - Marketing
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA01-2008
Skills
- Strategic Partnerships & Alliances
- Business Development & Negotiation
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- SaaS & Technology Ecosystem Expertise
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Retail & Restaurant Industry Knowledge
- Digital Transformation & Automation
- Customer Success & Lifecycle Management
Accomplishments
Partnership Development: Negotiated technology, media, and brand partnerships across hospitality and retail sectors, delivering integrated programs aligned to business objectives.
Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborated across product, marketing, sales, and finance teams to develop partner strategies, evaluate performance, and optimize partner impact.
Retail & Restaurant Technology Expertise: Deep understanding of POS, online ordering, CRM, and loyalty ecosystems — enabling effective identification and evaluation of potential retail tech partners.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Developed and managed performance dashboards tracking partner KPIs, customer engagement metrics, and ROI across campaigns and channels.
Executive-Level Communication: Presented partnership proposals, performance updates, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and board-level stakeholders.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Proven success in navigating ambiguity, identifying market opportunities, and driving strategic initiatives from concept to execution in fast-paced environments.
Certification
- Google AdWords Certified
- Google Analytics Certified
- Hubspot: Inbound Marketing Optimization
- Hubspot: Digital Advertising
Timeline
Director, Customer Success and Onboarding
Appfront
05.2024 - Current
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Mikuni Restaurant Group, Inc.
06.2021 - Current
Head of Marketing, Communications, and Technology
Buckhorn Restaurant Group
05.2019 - 05.2021
Director of Marketing and Communications
Chicago Fire
06.2017 - 05.2019
Business Relations / Advertising and Sponsorship Manager
California Dental Association (CDA)
10.2014 - 06.2017
Marketing, Branding & Technology Consultant
Wyld Lyfe Business Group
07.2014 - Current
Associate of Science - Marketing
Sierra College
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