Alissa Bushnell
Rhetoric and Communications graduate from University of Oregon. Last worked as Vice President at uWink, Inc.
| Headline: | Entrepreneur |
| Groups: | Girls In Tech (GIT) |
| Interested in: | Brainstorming, Finding business partners, Finding cofounders, Finding team mates, Meeting new people, Professional opportunities, Promoting my startups, Recruiting for my startup |
| Schools: | University of Oregon |
WORK EXPERIENCE
| Employer: | uWink, Inc., Los Angeles, CA |
| Position: | Vice President |
| Time period: | March 2005 - December 2008 |
| Description: | - Drove conception, development, implementation and execution of new entertainment dinning experience and touch-screen menu ordering and entertainment system
- Lead executive team through the design and concept phase of new technology entertainment restaurant through to execution and development of the uWink restaurants - Oversaw media team and lead creative vision in the development of various media channels for the touch-screen terminals including business development, deal initiation and development - Oversaw all marketing, public relations and user experience activities, initiatives, and programs including focus groups, POS advertising, email campaigns, the company website, print and television advertising, and direct mail - Initiated loyalty program for uWink customers - Responsible for Look n’ Feel of new entertainment dinning experience including: user interface for touch-screen menu ordering system, restaurant layout, touch-screen terminal design, and company logo - Development of public relations strategy, processes, and planning resulting in strategically placed coverage in Newsweek, New York Times, USA Today, Nation’s Restaurant News, C/Net, and Wired Magazine, CNBC, Associated Press etc. and cover stories in Hospitality Technology, Metro, Chain Store Age - Instrumental in establishing strategic business relationships and potential joint venture partnerships with various entertainment and restaurant companies |
| Employer: | PeopleSoft, Inc., Pleasanton, CA |
| Position: | Director Global Public Relations |
| Time period: | December 2003 - December 2004 |
| Description: | - Oversee all public relations activities, initiatives, and programs including: the global corporate program, three product families, four product pillars, 25 industries, and the takeover attempt
- Work closely with company executives regarding Oracle’s tender offer including: strategy, crisis communication planning, talking point development, coordination between public relations, industry and business analysts, and employee communications - International and local management and development of global public relations initiatives, metrics, launches, measurement, processes and planning - Develop media campaigns and messaging platforms for executives and the company - Provide Internal Communications group additional content for daily employee email communications and monthly field communications - Work closely with Investor Relations team to generate earnings announcements including executive talking points and scripts - Directed Public Relations program for global customer leadership event: Conducted 317 press and industry analysts briefings over a day and a half, resulting in 91 articles globally - Direct and manage internal PR group of nine and external agency, with annual budget of $3M |
| Employer: | Zimbida, Inc., San Francisco, CA |
| Position: | Founder and CEO |
| Time period: | December 1999 - November 2003 |
| Description: | - Managed all aspects of running a small boutique public relations agency including infrastructure, payroll, accounts receivable and payable, HR, account management, client relations, new business generation and hands-on account work such as media relations, competitive depositioning, strategy development, messaging and positioning
- Grew Zimbida to almost $1M in revenue in first year of business - Grew team to six professionals - Clients included: Network Solutions, VeriSign, Core Security Technologies, OpenDesign, Biz360, Workshare, OnePage, Portrait Displays, The Asia Foundation, RoomToRead, TIBCO, and Vitria |
| Employer: | Network Associates, Inc., Santa Clara, CA |
| Position: | Acting Director of Corporate Communications |
| Time period: | December 1998 - November 2000 |
| Description: | - Managed team of four internal public relations professionals and outside agency for approximately one year while Director of Corporate Communications was on sabbatical
- Reported directly to CEO - Managed $12M annual Public Relations budget - Provided strategic council to all senior management include CEO, COO, President and division heads - Managed and responsible for all aspects of Network Associates’ Public Relations efforts including corporate messaging and product strategy - Conducted and created public relations audit to determine message traction |
| Employer: | Copithorne & Bellows PR, San Francisco, CA |
| Position: | VP/Director/ Senior Associate |
| Time period: | December 1995 - November 1999 |
| Description: | - Managed Copithorne & Bellows Public Relations activities for Network Associates, Alta Vista, VeriFone and others
- Nearly quadrupled Network Associates budget with Copithorne & Bellows - Provided on-site counsel to Network Associates PR and marketing departments - Developed and executed all aspects of media strategy (story development, press outreach, executive preparation) for all client announcements, including one merger, 11 acquisitions, Oakland Coliseum naming rights, and three virus outbreaks. - Responsible for all domestic and international corporate and product press and industry analyst relations, including all budget development, resource allocation, campaign development and activity implementation - Worked with CEOs and other senior managers to drive corporate positioning, promote executive leadership, and prepare Network Associates for reorganization - Acted as company spokesperson for layoffs and other crisis related events - Developed and implemented crisis communications plans used for computer virus outbreaks – resulting in over 200 articles within 24 hours - Worked closely with key corporate partners such as Microsoft and F.B.I. - Managed internal staff of 12 as well as Network Associates’ international PR agencies and teams - Responsible for bringing in over $4M in business for the agency through new business efforts including: AltaVista, McAfee, Wells Fargo Online Banking and others - Responsible for a quarter of Copithorne & Bellows’ San Francisco office including budget management, hiring, firing and training - Clients included: VeriFone, HP, Wells Fargo Online Banking, BAAN, GeoWorks, Lightscape and Alta Vista |
| Employer: | ORACLE, Redwood Shores, CA |
| Position: | Demand Creation Manager |
| Time period: | December 1994 - November 1996 |
| Description: | - Managed all marketing communications activities for the Web Workgroup Systems Division, lead by Marc Benioff, including seminars, events, public relations and advertising
- Oversaw and allocated online advertising budget of $1.5M - Liaised between product managers, internal PR department and division head regarding marcom strategy, execution and deliverables |
| Employer: | Ketchum Public Relations, San Francisco, CA |
| Position: | Account Executive |
| Time period: | December 1993 - November 1995 |
| Description: | - Provided Internet and web guidance to all Ketchum clients
- Managed MCI, Creative Insights, ClariNet and other accounts - Garnered press coverage for startup clients in Business Week, Fortune and New York Times |
| Employer: | Robbins Research International, La Jolla, CA |
| Position: | Publicist/ Personal Assistant/ Sales Consultant |
| Time period: | December 1990 - November 1994 |
| Description: | - Awarded “Rookie of the Year” for sales accomplishments
- Responsible for all media and publicity for Anthony Robbins - Organized and coordinated all aspects external communications including meetings for Mr. Robbins with various VIPs such as Andre Agassi, Peter Guber and Princess Diana - Managed all aspects of Mr. Robbins’ schedule while on the road |
| Employer: | Aapps, Inc., Mt. View, CA |
| Position: | Product Manager |
| Time period: | December 1988 - November 1991 |
| Description: | - Managed all marketing aspects of delivering a new product to market
- Placed first press coverage – Cover stories in both Fortune and MacWorld - Developed all messaging and marketing materials for DigitalVideo and MicroTV products |
EDUCATION
| University: | University of Oregon |
| Time period: | 1989 |
| Degree: | Rhetoric and Communications, BA |
