Mike Sekulich

GROWTH OPERATIONS LEADER / CLIENT SUCCESS CHAMPION

S U M M A R Y

Throughout my career, I have built a strong foundation in client services, business development, project management, and growth operations, partnering closely with marketing, strategy, creative, technology, product, media, finance, IT, and operations teams to deliver integrated solutions. I have developed a consultative, relationship-driven approach across both agency and client environments that helps uncover opportunities, align cross-functional teams, and advance initiatives that support client goals, business growth, and long-term partnerships.

E X P E R T I S E

E X P E R I E N C E

Fusion92, Chicago IL (2022–Present)

Director, Growth Operations
(2025 - Present)

Partner with executive leadership, business development teams, design leads, and subject matter experts across the organization to provide growth operations support and advance client opportunities totaling more than $10M.

Create briefs and pitch constructs, shape campaign plans and strategies, and audit and execute final documents and creative deliverables, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and requirements.
Lead opportunity kickoffs, ideation sessions, content reviews, pricing discussions, and pitch rehearsals to accelerate decision-making, align teams, and advance high-value opportunities.
Draft and manage SOWs, MSAs, RFPs, and MNDAs between Fusion92 and client stakeholders.
Strengthen Salesforce adoption and data integrity with business development stakeholders, improving pipeline visibility and revenue forecasting accuracy.
Identify and implement automation processes with the Product & Innovations team, leveraging AI tools and strategies to improve operational efficiency.

Director, Special Projects
(2024 - 2025)

Led UX, design, and development teams in delivering special projects and innovative solutions for internal and external clients.

Partnered with client stakeholders on resource planning, task prioritization, and tactical approach to keep teams aligned, maintain momentum, and deliver against objectives, timelines, and end-client expectations.
Managed scope, schedule, and budget across special projects, proactively addressing risks and escalations to keep work on track and aligned with client expectations.
Assessed, edited, and optimized assets to ensure alignment with client’s brand guidelines and digital strategy.

Director, Studio Services
(2022 - 2023)

Built a consultative approach with clients, leading early opportunity conversations, needs assessments, solution presentations, and scope and budget discussions.

Led client website and marketing initiatives, providing direction across all phases of the project life cycle.
Served as a liaison between client leadership and agency SMEs throughout the project, driving alignment on strategic, creative, and technical objectives.
Collaborated across internal business functions to negotiate scope and budgets, coordinate deliverables, and keep client work moving efficiently from planning through execution.

Project Manager, PMO
CDW, Vernon Hills IL (2019–2022)

Led cross-functional technology teams in delivering IT managed services engagements, guiding internal engineers and customer stakeholders to keep projects on track and aligned with client expectations.

Established and managed detailed work plans, helping teams hit delivery milestones and maintain budget discipline.
Managed scope and schedule, mitigating risks early and escalating issues as needed to protect timelines and budgets.
Built a consultative approach with customers that strengthened trust, improved alignment, and drove results.
Drove Trader Joe’s onboarding of 7,000+ network/unified communications devices across 500+ stores, 17 warehouses, two data centers, and two HQs within an accelerated 10-week timeline and strict change management requirements.

Manager, Project Management (EPMO)
CDK Global, Hoffman Estates IL (2018–2019)

Provided leadership and direction to seven direct reports and the broader team as the on-premise EPMO point of contact.

Facilitated success for junior and senior level project/program managers by removing barriers and building trust.
Administered requests from the business and assigned resources based on need and expertise.
Mentored team members, strengthening cross-discipline relationships and meeting business expectations while acting as “the voice of the project.”
Drove innovation and best practices by leading the redesign and rollout of the Project Life Cycle reporting tool, providing near-real-time transparency and reducing manual effort across the PM team by approximately 100 hours per week.
Planned and executed OpEx department move, increasing collaboration and efficiencies between colleagues and teams.

Senior Program Manager
CDK Global, Hoffman Estates IL (2017–2018)

Launched and oversaw the Revenue Growth Program, a portfolio of more than 25 projects spanning multiple business units with a $120M revenue target.

Guided project charters, plans, schedules, and assignments, driving deliverables across multiple business functions.
Tracked and managed scope, schedule, and cost, mitigating project risks and issues, and escalating where necessary.
Monitored progress and reinforced accountability, providing transparency to Executive Leadership Steering Committee.

Senior Project Manager
CDK Global, Hoffman Estates IL (2017)

Managed plans, schedules, and assignments for business transformation initiatives across all phases of the project life cycle.

Oversaw creation, approval, and adherence to detailed work plans, fostering achievement of time and budget targets.
Developed Phase I of Sales Performance Management Program, establishing evaluative criteria to monitor productivity, assess gaps, and reinforce/reset expectations.

Director, Client Services
Pepper Group, Palatine IL (2016)

Built and maintained strong client relationships to support satisfaction, retention, and successful project delivery.

Led and supported Account Management team, ensuring alignment between strategy and execution.
Led account planning efforts, defined client challenges, and presented solutions tailored to business needs and goals.
Orchestrated client financials, handling budget negotiations, scope of work agreements, cost-accounting, and invoicing.
Garnered $150K in revenue by re-engaging dormant accounts and closing client opportunities.

Director, Account Development
Gamma Partners, Bannockburn IL (2014–2015)

Led new business development efforts, building relationships and advancing qualified opportunities.

Built a consultative sales approach, leading early opportunity conversations, needs assessments, solution presentations, and scope and budget discussions.
Created documents and presentations, defining business objectives, outlining strategic goals, quantifying scope of work, and confirming production specifications and deliverables.
Mentored and supported sales team associates, driving opportunity qualification, validation, and advancement.
Configured and implemented the Salesforce CRM platform, guiding opportunities through every stage of the sales cycle.

Various Roles across Core Business Disciplines
Fusion92, Arlington Heights IL (2008–2014)

Account Direction — Led interactive marketing initiatives for client accounts, guiding cross-functional teams through every phase of the opportunity and project life cycle, from pitch through launch.

Directed ACCO Brands Quartet InView new product launch website, videos, and custom template creator tool, driving content strategy, IA and UX, achieving 100% adoption rate by channel partners, exceeding user conversion goals by 2x.
Spearheaded Omron eCommerce website launch with IBM WebSphere partner, steering content strategy, IA, and UX.
Oversaw Power Plate global eCommerce website rebrand/launch, creating Technical Documentation and Use Cases for CMS and eCommerce.
Directed Hotels of Switzerland interactive CD, steering content strategy, UX, creative, and packaging.
Consistently grew and retained client portfolios, averaging $500K–$1M in annual revenue.

Project Management — Led cross-functional teams in delivering traditional and digital marketing initiatives, coordinating internal staff and external partners to keep work progressing smoothly and on strategy.

Created documents defining strategic objectives, scope of work, production specifications, and project deliverables.
Supervised Buddig Lunchmeat Omni-channel promotional giveaway program, ensuring brand consistency and message synergy across all channel components (on-pack, in-store, FSI, website, email, social, PPC).
Oversaw Bosch Tool Home Depot product locator phone app, shepherding content strategy, IA, and UX.
Implemented custom SQL data mapping tool and managed monthly reporting and trend analysis of AT&T Omni-channel program across multiple markets, tracking metrics.
Spearheaded AAOS Cultural Diversity training program, steering content strategy, IA and UX across multiple deliverables (kiosk, CD-ROM, website).

Continuous Improvement — Drove process improvements, standardized best practices, and strengthened operational performance across the business.

Developed standardized Statement of Work (SOW) process, reducing internal churn and accelerating client delivery.
Created “Client Opportunity Stages” guidelines, outlining sales pipeline stages and defining strategic client project criteria, improving business development qualification process and pipeline data integrity in Salesforce CRM.
Drove solution to resolve cost accounting gaps between Excel-based estimating tool, Harvest time-keeping program, and QuickBooks platform, achieving efficiencies in monthly close process and minimizing lost revenue during invoicing.

E D U C A T I O N

Bachelor of Science, Marketing
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL

P R O F I C I E N C I E S

Microsoft
Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Project, SharePoint

SaaS
Confluence, Jira, Asana, ServiceNow, Basecamp, Harvest

Salesforce CRM
Configuration, implementation, management, forecasting and reporting

Adobe Photoshop
Enough to be dangerous! (“Sir, step away from the magic wand tool…”)

C O M M U N I T Y

Classroom Coach, Small Business Incubator Program
Township High School District 211, Palatine IL

Guest Speaker, Business Explorations Class
James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates IL

Official Scorekeeper, Post 525 Baseball
The American Legion, Mount Prospect IL

Coach, Assistant Coach, Scorekeeper
Elk Grove Village Youth Baseball, Elk Grove Village IL