Member since August 2024
I discovered my passion for marketing unexpectedly when I convinced a leader in Disney Marketing to hire me for a special event project after stage-managing over 800 guest performances at Walt Disney World and working on over 50 special events for Disney Entertainment. Little did I know that this temporary assignment would lead to my fantastic career in branding, loyalty, marketing strategy, and partnerships.
My career has taken many turns, including:
• Applying the brand management principles I learned at Disney to venture capital pitches at a tech startup in Philadelphia after leaving Disney
• Returning to corporate America, this time in financial services at Bank One/JPMorgan Chase, where I worked with Disney, Starbucks, IHG, Best Buy, BP, and numerous other brands and loyalty programs
• Relocating to the Washington, DC area to lead the Choice Privileges global loyalty program and its partnerships, and later leading global marketing for Choice Hotels International
• Becoming Chief Marketing Officer for a Florida-based regional bank that invests in fintech companies
• Launching a boutique marketing firm in Greater Orlando, Florida, with a view of Disney fireworks from my balcony
Today, I create marketing that leaves a legacy using my superpowers:
• Transforming brands: Merging companies need to explain their expanded brands in new ways. Product launches need a voice, personality, and brand promise. Individuals reinventing themselves for their next career challenge need marketing narratives that describe what makes them unique. My proprietary Butler Branding BootcampTM process, refined over two decades, uncovers your unique brand and messaging through highly interactive sessions.
• Deepening customer loyalty: I optimize loyalty and membership programs to boost customer engagement, reduce acquisition costs, yield valuable customer data for future targeting and personalization, and drive revenue. Crafting the ideal set of benefits to motivate desired customer behaviors, managing the loyalty P&L, and balancing practical and aspirational rewards were vital to profitably growing Choice Hotel’s global loyalty program by 19.5 million members in three years.
• Developing high-ROI marketing strategies: With a data-driven, results-oriented, and AI-first mindset, I align marketing and communication strategies with business objectives. From strategic annual marketing plans across owned/earned/paid channels to customer journey mapping, thought leadership, and content strategies, I ensure each marketing action contributes to business goals. I bring over two decades of growth marketing experience in B2B, B2C, and B2B2C to project-based and fractional Chief Marketing Officer engagements.
• Fostering connections: Finding hidden synergies and creating alliances by bringing together brands, ideas, and people to unlock new possibilities feeds my soul. From developing the first Disney Visa credit card and launching the program to forging strategic partnerships that add customer value and increase company revenue, my favorite career moments have centered around opportunities created when working together.
Beyond the Boardroom - My personal passions:
I won the friendly competition with my sisters to visit all 50 states first while on a business trip for JPMorgan Chase, proudly posing under the "Welcome to Arkansas" sign on I-65 South as semi-trucks sped by. My love for travel, which started during family summer vacations, driving in our station wagon to national parks and historic sites, continues to motivate me today.
Whether it's escaping on a weekend getaway to listen to great music and eat great food or planning my next overseas adventure, I'm always ready to explore. Travel has shaped my career choices and fuels my passion for what I do.
I am a 20+ years cancer survivor. It shaped my life and profoundly transformed me, and I am grateful for its lessons. I am resilient, strong, and fierce and know I can accomplish anything I pour my heart into.
Disney, Branding, Loyalty, Partnership Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Developing marketing that leaves a legacy, Resilience, Travel, Bourbon
I spent eight hours talking to my seatmate on a flight from Amsterdam to Washington, DC after the wifi stopped working. He shared that his friend believes you should at least say hello if you're within three feet of someone for more than thirty seconds.
I've met amazing people utilizing this practice (although I changed it to three feet for more than three minutes), and it's one of the reasons I've been a successful entrepreneur. I put myself out there to meet others: I listen to their stories and ask questions. I learn from them, and I believe they learn something from me.
We often hear about the ripple effect—a single action setting off a chain of events that can change everything. For me, this profound concept became a reality through a simple, yet impactful act of kindness extended to me. This act didn't just alter my career trajectory; it transformed my entire life, leading me to my dream job at Disney and shaping my career, friendships, and even the success of Butler Marketing Group, FL LLC.
It all started with an unexpected opportunity while at my doctor’s office. He asked me what I planned to do when I graduated with a degree in Music and Business. I explained my plan was to work in marketing and PR for a theatre company, but my dream was to work at Disney. My physician left the room and returned with the email address of a Production Manager at Disney, who recently was in Indianapolis to prepare for next year’s Indy 500 Festivities. The email resulted in a production assistant position with Disney Creative Entertainment, which was producing all the entertainment for that year’s Indianapolis 500 Festivities. I grew up in Indianapolis and dreamed of working at Disney since I was six. This was a THE opportunity of a lifetime for me. So, during the last few months of college at Indiana University, I drove from Bloomington each weekday after class to Indianapolis and worked for Disney Creative Entertainment from 5 pm until late into the night. I approached every opportunity with energy and enthusiasm regardless of the task - type scripts, glue props for the parade, assist with character auditions, and many more. Recognizing my dedication and hard work, the individual who initially hired me offered to thank me in a meaningful way—she set up job interviews for me at Disney.
Landing a job at Disney was nothing short of a dream come true. I started my career in Disney Entertainment, where I worked for several years, gaining invaluable experience and forming lasting relationships. The lessons learned, the creativity fostered, and the sheer magic of the workplace environment greatly enriched my professional skills and personal life. Eventually, I transitioned into a marketing role, where I could leverage my entertainment background to craft compelling marketing strategies. I formed deep friendships with colleagues throughout my seven years, creating bonds beyond the workplace. These connections have grown over time and now are far beyond those that I worked with years ago, becoming a vast network of support and inspiration throughout my career and personal life.
Disney's influence extended beyond my time working there. The values of innovation, creativity, and excellence that I embraced during my tenure are the cornerstones of Butler Marketing Group, FL LLC, and our approach to marketing and consulting is deeply rooted in the lessons learned from one of the most successful entertainment companies in the world. Remarkably, nearly all our clients to date have come from referrals through my Disney network of friends and former colleagues.
As I reflect on my journey, I am profoundly grateful for the random act of kindness extended to me decades ago. It reminds me of the power of simple actions and the incredible potential they hold to change our lives. It might just lead to a dream job, lifelong friendships, or a career surpassing one’s wildest dreams.
Each episode brings you candid conversations with inspiring leaders and innovators—many who built their careers at Disney and have gone on to shape industries far beyond it. Join us as we toast to great ideas, actionable insights, and marketing.
Send QueryI spent eight hours talking to my seatmate on a flight from Amsterdam to Washington, DC after the wifi stopped working. He shared that his friend believes you should at least say hello if you're within three feet of someone for more than thirty seconds.
I've met amazing people utilizing this practice (although I changed it to three feet for more than three minutes), and it's one of the reasons I've been a successful entrepreneur. I put myself out there to meet others: I listen to their stories and ask questions. I learn from them, and I believe they learn something from me.
We often hear about the ripple effect—a single action setting off a chain of events that can change everything. For me, this profound concept became a reality through a simple, yet impactful act of kindness extended to me. This act didn't just alter my career trajectory; it transformed my entire life, leading me to my dream job at Disney and shaping my career, friendships, and even the success of Butler Marketing Group, FL LLC.
It all started with an unexpected opportunity while at my doctor’s office. He asked me what I planned to do when I graduated with a degree in Music and Business. I explained my plan was to work in marketing and PR for a theatre company, but my dream was to work at Disney. My physician left the room and returned with the email address of a Production Manager at Disney, who recently was in Indianapolis to prepare for next year’s Indy 500 Festivities. The email resulted in a production assistant position with Disney Creative Entertainment, which was producing all the entertainment for that year’s Indianapolis 500 Festivities. I grew up in Indianapolis and dreamed of working at Disney since I was six. This was a THE opportunity of a lifetime for me. So, during the last few months of college at Indiana University, I drove from Bloomington each weekday after class to Indianapolis and worked for Disney Creative Entertainment from 5 pm until late into the night. I approached every opportunity with energy and enthusiasm regardless of the task - type scripts, glue props for the parade, assist with character auditions, and many more. Recognizing my dedication and hard work, the individual who initially hired me offered to thank me in a meaningful way—she set up job interviews for me at Disney.
Landing a job at Disney was nothing short of a dream come true. I started my career in Disney Entertainment, where I worked for several years, gaining invaluable experience and forming lasting relationships. The lessons learned, the creativity fostered, and the sheer magic of the workplace environment greatly enriched my professional skills and personal life. Eventually, I transitioned into a marketing role, where I could leverage my entertainment background to craft compelling marketing strategies. I formed deep friendships with colleagues throughout my seven years, creating bonds beyond the workplace. These connections have grown over time and now are far beyond those that I worked with years ago, becoming a vast network of support and inspiration throughout my career and personal life.
Disney's influence extended beyond my time working there. The values of innovation, creativity, and excellence that I embraced during my tenure are the cornerstones of Butler Marketing Group, FL LLC, and our approach to marketing and consulting is deeply rooted in the lessons learned from one of the most successful entertainment companies in the world. Remarkably, nearly all our clients to date have come from referrals through my Disney network of friends and former colleagues.
As I reflect on my journey, I am profoundly grateful for the random act of kindness extended to me decades ago. It reminds me of the power of simple actions and the incredible potential they hold to change our lives. It might just lead to a dream job, lifelong friendships, or a career surpassing one’s wildest dreams.