Michael Cheek

Develops and executes highly integrated strategy targeting emergency response, industrial, defense and tactical markets with specialized technical fabrics. Campaigns focus on both specialty garment manufacturers and end users (including firefighters, military, sportsmen, roughnecks and electrical linemen). Responsible for trade shows, experiential campaigns, social media, digital and print ads, brand development and much more.

Marketing leader for six divisions with four major brands targeting diverse engineering segments with embedded computing and other sophisticated technologies. Unified overall corporate brand strategy and coordinated international identity efforts. Assisted with the marketing integration of a new acquisition, working on the current brand value and determining a strategy for proper incorporation into the overall brand effort. Member of the five-person international team that determines the overall direction of corporate marketing strategy, both traditional and digital.

Consulted with major brands assisting in social media projects to improve consumer engagements: ■ FireFlurry. Helped Birmingham-based agency Intermark Group launch social media-focused brand with new services and product offerings that I helped develop. ■ The North Face. Identified local bloggers and social media influencers for upcoming 2011 Endurance Challenges events. ■ Toyota & Cadillac. Three-tiered social media syndication service for brands, regions and dealerships to engage

Digital marketing strategist for Residential and Commercial divisions at Fortune 500 company, responsible for more than thirty sites including consumer-focused MohawkFlooring.com. Part of Marketing Department management that determined overall advertising themes and strategies including national television commercials, public relations and retailer loyalty programs. ■ 2010 SmartStrand Challenge Includes ‘Whole Zoo’ Concept (10/2010). After the 2009 challenge, some still doubted that carpet really endured a rhino. I upped the bar with a whole zoo: Six elephants, three camels, one rhino and 40,000 homosapiens. Carpeted exhibits were viewable to Dallas Zoo visitors as well as online over three weeks. Carpet, hardwood, laminate and tile rooms to show off Earth-friendly “Human Habitat” rooms. More social media and microsite at SmartStrandChallenge.com. Campaign resulted in six-month backlog in manufacturing due to massive sales. ■ First-Ever Mobile Application from the Flooring Industry (12/2009). MohawkME iPhone app allowed add a mohawk hairstyle to photos of people and relate it to a “personality” of flooring type. ■ Website Services Program for Retail Floor Stores Launched (10/2009). Since its launch, built more than 300 retailers’ websites with branded product catalog and SEO content syndicated specifically for each. ■ Social Media Broadcasts Story of Rhino Living on Carpet (8/2009). Consumers choose brand last when selecting flooring — after type, style, color etc. Earning significant social media engagement would prove difficult without a catalyst. Introducing Ricko the Rhino, a Black Rhinoceros at the Birmingham Zoo who lived on carpet for three weeks. Broadcast over webcams, Ricko tweeted and updated Facebook about his experience. The 2009 SmartStrand Rhino Challenge highlighted the durability and cleanability. ■ Cast HGTV’s Chip Wade as Mohawk Handyman (6/2008) ■ Launched New Consumer-Facing MohawkFlooring.com in Just Six Months (10/2007)

Defined branding, logos and led identity efforts for multiple companies under the corporate umbrella. Redesigned nine websites from concept to deployment: mapped sites, significantly improved usability, enhanced search-engine optimization and coded pages. Provided search engine marketing and e-mail marketing support along with any other advertising needs. Internal agency for 13 corporations for Jackson Healthcare Solutions, all using digital marketing as primary advertising vector along with a little direct mail. Companies focused on healthcare staffing and technology solutions. Companies were not required to use the internal creative group’s services so we bid and competed against external agencies.

Contractor hired to select, deploy and train personnel in new content management system (CMS) for public-facing website at HuberMaterials.com. Selected RedDot CMS based on requirements of this maxtrixed, complex corporation.

Co-founder of this small-business focused agency that assisted in digital marketing, advertising and basic IT services. Provided clients with creative services including branding efforts, website development and marketing strategy. Launched several dozen websites on our own hosting platform.

Provided effective, measurable increase in public exposure for cyber security firm. From malicious code to hacker attacks, iDEFENSE became the go-to resource to explain such events as the denial-of-service attack on WhiteHouse.gov in May 2001 and Code Red worm in summer 2001. Researcher and coauthor of intelligence report about Chinese hacker organization behind May 2002 cyber attack. Appeared on CNN, TechTV and in numerous print publications.

Manager of GCN Lab and team of three other reviewers. Conducted and wrote reviews on thousands of computer hardware and software products. Publication part of Washington Post; reviews syndicated and appeared in multiple national newspapers including the Washington Post and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Built and launched first website for GCN Lab. Conducted annual event, “GCN Lab Live,” at largest convention for federal government IT professionals.

Responsible for copy editing all content. Worked with writers to assign stories and meet deadlines. Coordinated with graphics and advertising to layout the biweekly publication. Wrote column “Dr. Acronym” about goverment lingo.

Researched spending of 1992 House and Senate campaigns.

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communication

Activities: Teacher's Assistant (1991-92). Taught several undergraduate classes in journalism.