JOE BECHELY
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Hi. Let's move people. Together
I saw you are looking for an Director of Brand Planning. What a coincidence - I'm wrapping up a contract with AT&T and looking to return to what makes me happy - bringing brands to life. It would also be fun to once again surprise and delight along the way. 

I want to make amazing things every day, changing hearts and minds as well. Since you're already here, please see how I match up against your position's requirements. Below, I have included some highlights from lives past and aligned them to your positions's requirements.  If you use the links above, you'll find out more about me, my resume, what I've done and some thing's I've made. I hope we can chat about my ability to change minds, build relationships, and how I can help make 22 squared be even better.

Director of Brand Planning
Overview:
A leader with perspective.  Looking for a Director of Brand Planning ready to make their mark in the industry by leading the Brand Planning department for an aggressive, creative and modern independent agency.  This person must have vision.  They should have a perspective on our industry and on the craft of Planning.  And they should have a preference for how Planning should evolve to provide the right insights, inspiration and direction for amazing creative solutions in the advertising, content and the media space. We need a leader, a brilliant thinker, and someone who cares about integration and inspiring the clients and everyone in the agency.
Brand-building is a difficult and amazing exercise. Fulfilling and exhausting are two adjectives that bookend the experience. Creating, building, cultivating, and monetizing relationships in a genuine and organic way is critical in today's digital, cynical, and mobile environment. 

No longer does a consumer just buy a product because a celebrity endorses it on TV, or they have a catchy jingle. As the number of channels with which a brand can reach its audience increases, so must the brand's ability to craft and interact with customers in a unique and engaging conversation. More than just being valued, consumers want to be heard. 
Talents:
This person needs to be able to quickly develop a strong perspective and influence very influential people (CMO’s and leaders of brands).  They should be a prolific thought leader bringing new strategic frameworks, cultural insights, creative research methods, engagement strategies and other thought models. People should look to them for inspiration and they should be able to reframe challenges and insights in a unique way.  They should know traditional research methods and have fresh opinions on getting new and deeper insights beyond traditional research methods.  Most importantly, they should have the ability to inspire work that has sparked conversation in the market.
Some people collect stamps. Others make tiny ships in a bottle. I have two collections that compose my hobbies - brand guidelines and technology. 


I have a collection of brand guidelines - both digital and printed - from my travels, work, interests, and reading. While I realize it might be on the nerdy end of the spectrum, I find it just interesting to see how brands communicate with their internal constituencies as they do with their customers.


Some people collect stamps or assemble ships in a bottle. While those are great hobbies, mine is technology. I love to read about it, use it, get it first, and help my friends and family find the right solution for them. I often pay the nerd tax, and have too many smartwatches, but my passion is applicable to my job on so many levels. Knowing what is new and next demonstrates value to clients, ans having someone who is also able to understand and explain new technologies is invaluable. 
Responsibilities:
Lead, inspire and grow a department of 10-15 planners.
  • I was tapped to create a comprehensive sponsorship and client hospitality program at First Data. When I led the team to build, and then execute our sponsorship of the TOUR Championship, I spent a great deal of time guiding our planning sessions. Not only did we need to entertain existing customers, but we also had to build our brand with a heretofore un-engaged and un-aware potential client base. We did it, and we redefined the face of golf hospitality. 
Collaborate with key agency leaders, departments and client leaders and partners for amazing work with convincing results.
  • At First Data I managed numerous vendors, as well as spun up and directed multi-national and cross-functional teams. Collaboration isn't just a phrase on a poster under a photo of some guys in a row boat - it is an essential part of successfully executing any endeavor. 
Actively manage Brand Planning and research across all clients.
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Lead planning efforts on new business pitches and opportunities.
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Oversee development of brand, engagement and digital strategies across all clients.
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Work closely with creative, media, analytics, social media and accounting to produce great work with great results (just kidding about accounting).
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Be the expert on consumer insights and translating insights into breakthrough strategies and ideas.
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Be the spark that helps the agency (and the clients) think differently about how to solve a problem, overcome and enemy and grow brands.
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Qualifications:
8+ years of Planning experience at multi-discipline agencies with digital capabilities.
  • I spent almost two years on the agency side, and five years working in an agency-within-a-corporation at First Data, serving as creative director and technology evangelist. 
Cross-channel experience including engagement/connections planning strategies.
  • I have led multi-channel experiences to engage corporate executives, train employees and build relationships with clients - both existing and potential. 
Demonstrate passion for great creative work with relevant examples.
  • I am hungry. When I start my day, I look for ways to get from A to B, to change minds, to move the needle, and how I can make a difference. I have done a lot in my professional life - brought 10% of Emory's students together on a Friday night at 10:00 for an event they had never experienced; changed the way Astra-Zeneca approached doctors; engaged and created incentives for a global sales force to drive sales, and move a company towards an IPO. Don't believe me? Take a look at some of the things I have done and see how I redefined the face of golf hospitality (not my words, those of the PGA TOUR).
Possess innate curiosity with strong vision demonstrated through relevant POV’s
  • I have stated this outside of my 22squared landing page - I'm clever, curious, contrary, passionate, hard-working, and a blast at karaoke - in case any of that matters. I enjoy learning almost as much as I enjoy being proved wrong (how else does one grow?). 

If you think I can help you make amazing things, hit me up at [email protected], and let's talk. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you in person.
Email Joe
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