MATT DUDLEY
Matt Dudley - résumé.pdfWelcome.
I’m a detail-oriented, friendly and energetic chief generalist, passionate about enabling people and organizations to be their best.
With a breadth of experience in operations, sales, marketing and more, I have the flexibility to lead cross-functional teams, and the versatility to support leadership in strategy, goal-setting, and the execution of high-priority initiatives.
Download my résumé as a PDF here. References available upon request.
Senior Program Director
LUMA Institute; Pittsburgh, PA
October 2018 - Present
October 2018 - Present
Establish and nurture relationships with large, international clients. Develop and implement strategies to aid LUMA’s business growth team. Teach and facilitate a unique and scalable approach to human-centered design / design thinking.
Client Relationships
Manage seven-figure book of business, including eight international Fortune 500 companies
Develop proposals and SOWs, respond to RFPs, and manage negotiation and procurement with LUMA’s clients
Provide white-glove support to new and existing clients, and oversee every element of client relationships
Special Projects
Conduct client research, and support strategic initiatives around curriculum design and product development
Develop and oversee intranet website to provide business growth team with easy access to critical resources
Design and implement large human-centered design capability development programs (train-the-trainer)
Facilitation, Instruction and Leadership
Teach workshops both in-person and online, using tools like Zoom, MURAL, and more. Combined NPS score of 83.
Manage a cross-functional client enablement team, and ensure that we reach established business objectives
Certified Facilitator and Instructor of Human-Centered Design / Design Thinking
Director of Operations
STOKED; Nashville, TN
February 2016 - June 2018
February 2016 - June 2018
Served as thought partner to co-founder and CEO of a boutique design thinking consultancy. Facilitated critical initiatives to steward company through a period of tremendous growth, while increasing the quantity and length of client engagements.
Strategic and Operational Thought Partnership
Stewarded company through 3X growth in revenue & 3X growth in team size in two years
Increased margins while adding full-time employees, and opening a 6,800 square foot design studio
Provided owners with customized reports, data, and insights, to guide strategic decision-making
Served as a thought-partner to the leadership team on issues related to hiring, business strategy, and more
Process Improvement
Overhauled accounting processes, and installed efficient protocols for invoicing, billing, A/R, A/P and more
Automated tasks (HR on-boarding, bill payments, payroll) and improved efficiency across the organization
Implemented tools (Gusto, Expensify, Slack, Xero) to successfully address gaps in communication and productivity
Client Relationships
Served as logistical and financial contact for 34 short- and long-term client relationships
Developed customized proposals, responded to RFPs, and reviewed SOWs
Tripled length of average client engagement
Founder and CEO
The Skillery; Nashville, TN
October 2011 - December 2019
October 2011 - December 2019
Founded a recognizable and popular local business serving small business owners and creative entrepreneurs. Oversaw every aspect of day-to-day operations, including hiring, product development, finances, marketing, strategy and more.
Company Leadership
Turned a bootstrapped business idea into a strong local brand around entrepreneurship and community education
Opened Nashville’s premiere coworking space for creative entrepreneurs
Selected to participate in Jumpstart Foundry, a highly-competitive business accelerator program
Entrepreneurial Mentorship
Coordinated 600+ classes and workshops serving Nashville’s small business community
Developed, delivered and licensed popular curriculum for entrepreneurial workshops nationwide
Served as an instructor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs across Nashville
Associate Director
Northwestern University's National High School Institute; Evantson, IL
June 2004 - July 2011
June 2004 - July 2011
Served as de facto chief of staff to the Division Director of a premiere University-based summer program for outstanding high school students.
Aided in all aspects of program leadership, and served as right-hand thought partner to the Division Director
Oversaw budget, faculty morale, project management, communication, University relations, and more
Hired and oversaw a staff of 20 diverse theatre educators, designers and technicians
Successfully executed 80 theatre productions in eight years, on time and under budget
Some Humanizing Fun Facts
Live in Nashville, born and raised in Connecticut. Seen and heard in radio and TV commercials for McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Motorola, Walgreens & more. Worked for NBC on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the 2002 Olympic Winter Games telecast, and Saturday Night Live. Been to the World Cup, World Series, NBA Finals, Olympics, and US Open, but never a Super Bowl. Once drove trolleys and gave tours of Chicago while working for The Jerry Springer Show. Can wiggle my ears. Actually, just one ear. Dad to Elliott (9) and Gwendolyn (6).
Education
University of Illinois
Masters of Teacher Leadership (2006)
Illinois State University
Secondary Teacher Certification (2006)
Northwestern University
Bachelors, Speech (1999)
A Few Projects and Work Samples
LUMA INSTITUTE: PARTNER PACKS
PROTOTYPING - PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
I spearheaded development and testing of a website for clients in need of on-demand resources during the pandemic.
The challenge: At the onset of the pandemic, our clients needed help, fast. We didn’t have polished resources to help our clients pivot to remote teaching and learning, nor could we afford to wait weeks to create them.
My approach: I took matters into my own hands. Conducting research to better understand the needs of our clients, I prototyped, tested and launched a website containing on-demand resources for our clients, to help them during the pandemic.
The solution: Partner Packs succeeded in supporting our clients during a challenging time. In a matter of days, not weeks, we were able to provide our clients with timely and relevant materials to support their ongoing programs.
INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
PROJECT MANAGEMENT - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
As CEO of The Skillery, I designed and developed a popular one-day workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs, and licensed the workshop to organizations nationwide. I led a small team in the creation of the workshop curriculum, materials, and licensing resources. In 2019, I sold the intellectual property to an economic development organization.
Download the brochure here [pdf]
We created guidebooks and materials to support workshop licensing.
We created and sold a DIY "Starter Kit" of workshop materials and supplies.
Me, teaching the day-long workshop in Nashville.
CREATIVE MORNINGS: NASHVILLE
PUBLIC SPEAKING - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
In this 2016 talk to a packed house in Nashville, I spoke about my life as an entrepreneur, the questions that furthered my career, and the benefits and concerns raised by my practice of radical transparency. See the talk.
BUSINESS GROWTH TEAM INTRANET
THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP - COMMUNICATION
To save LUMA's business growth team valuable time, and to address a frustrating pain point for our sales team, I created a simple but elegant "one-stop shop" for essential materials and resources.
The challenge: Our sales team needed quick and easy access to resources - from sales brochures, to pricing calculators, to legal documents and more - but those resources were hard to find, and spread across various digital and physical locations.
My approach: I conducted informal interviews with our sales team members to learn more about their processes, and to assess their needs. Based on that information, I designed and developed a “business growth team intranet” containing easy access to essential materials and resources.
The solution: The business growth team intranet website is still in use today. The site saves our sales team precious time by putting information, tools and documents in one place, thus making critical resources easy to find.
THE SKILLERY
ENTREPRENEURSHIP - LEADERSHIP
In 2011, I founded a company dedicated to helping small business owners. In 2014, we opened Nashville's premier coworking space for creative entrepreneurs.
