W. M.

(MICHAEL) BLAKLEY
5625 SW Chestnut cell (503) 939-1769
Beaverton, OR 97005 wmblakley@roadrunner.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Experienced Management, Sales, and Marketing Professional with a rich work histo
ry.
* Forest Products Marketing and Sales
* Corporate Communications, Advertising and PR
* Sales Management and Specialty Retail Merchandising
* Tourism Marketing Visitor Bureau Management

Proven ability to develop and maintain highly-focused and successful customer re

lationships.
Well-rounded experience in trade- shows, sales force management and customer ser
vice centers. Experienced with media relations and working with a diverse group
of ad agencies.
Accomplished public speaker, accustomed to travel.
"I am seeking an organization that can fully utilize my rich work history, where
a very solid fit will develop, enabling me to make a meaningful contribution to
the firm. I am a highly-focused career professional seeking a great new job adv
enture. My preference is to remain on the west coast, but would consider reloca
tion for a significant and unique opportunity. My guiding business principles ar
e based around integrity, safety, helping others succeed and
customer service above all else. "

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Discover Klamath, Visitor- Tourism Marketing Group Klamath Falls, OR Sept 09 t

o March 2010
Executive Director

* Managed a tourism direct-marketing organization, responsible for promoting tou

rism/travel for a county comprising 6,000 square-miles with a vast geography and
cultural tourism attributes.
* Moved offices to a new location and established the overall operating plan.
* Reported to a 14-member board of directors, coordinated weekly meetings, board
meetings and internal communications.
* Established an email newsletter for distribution to travel partners and local
economic development groups in the region.
* Hired and developed a team of visitor services representatives
Collaborated with the Chamber of Commerce and other economic agencies in cross-p
romoting the region.
Established close working relationships with U.S. Forest Service, Department of
Fish and Wildlife, Crater Lake National Park and the National Wildlife Refuge to
more effectively promote and market tourism and travel across the various parts
of Klamath County
Identified key region travel attributes and began developing strategies to grow
the geo-tourism segment
Took on a vital leadership role involving the Volcanic Scenic Legacy Byway and
its core management plan
* Participated in the development of a strategic marketing plan.
* Began RFP process to hire a brand management firm to develop our unifying grap
hic and message themes.
* Wrote news articles for local business groups and the Chamber of Commerce.
* Coordinated with a major winter festival, including hosting a prominent video
journalist whose work was broadcast on NBC affiliates, and various web sites wit
hin the region.
* Worked in establishing the services of a facilitator for a major strategic pla
nning session.
* Attended the unveiling of Central Cascades Map presentation sanctioned by the
National Geographic Society.
* Established communications and networking with other travel partners, includin
g a strong relationship with Travel Oregon.
* Began work to manage a satellite travel welcome center in southern Oregon.

Drexel Heritage, Stickley Furniture Showrooms Po

rtland, OR Feb 09 to Aug 09
Interim General Manager, 6-month assignment / Paul Schatz Furniture
Managed overall showroom operations and advertising during an owner leave of abs
ence. This 25,000 square foot showroom was anchored by Stickley, Drexel, Sherril
l, Lexington, Hooker and FFDM

* Developed organizational structure and promotions for the retail property, occ
upied by 4 retail stores.
* Drafted initial organizational chart
* Designed a "Lead Merchant" role in managing the Stickley assortment
* Established regular and formal internal and external communications
* Provided counsel on managing some damage control during a unique employee lega
l situation
* Developed promotional and advertising strategy around Television commercials,
direct mail
* Hired an outside media rep to negotiate best TV buys and coverage
* Worked on charity events on behalf of 4 retailers at the Schatz Center
* Created a Merchandise Team in order to better focus buying responsibilities
* Managed and assisted sales and design teams and lead buyer
* Began work on long term plan for improved merchandise management and a re-bran
d of the business encompassing website design, truck graphics and a marketing pl
an
* Established an initial media and advertising plan for balance of 2009 and into
2010

Columbia Forest Products Portland, OR 1997-2008

North America's largest producer of hardwood plywood and veneer. $650 million a
nnual sales, 12 production sites and over 3000 employees
Customer Programs Manager 2000-2008
Corporate Marketing Programs
Collaborated with a team of high-level marketing and academic consultants to lau
nch an innovative customer loyalty program, the first of its kind in the hardwoo
d plywood industry. This customer segment represented >$300 million annual sales
. Program drivers were consolidation of distribution, customer business planning
and financial incentives.
Increased customer share of business by more exclusive customer focus and select
ive market consolidation across North America.

* Provided program communications and materials for 200 wholesale building mater
ial distributors representing approximately 70% of core product revenues.
- Gained in-depth experience working with advertising agency and management cons
ultants in developing all program materials, including feature and benefit table
s, the value proposition, FAQ's, program rules, explanation of incentive computa
tions.
- Developed all reporting and customer-support materials for the program.
* Conducted major presentations and pre-launch meetings at 5 mill locations and
3 regional sales offices as part of the program roll-out.
- Created in-depth PowerPoint presentations for national sales meetings attended
by sales and management teams from the U.S. and Canadian operations.
- Directed web site developers to create performance tracking and program statis
tics for use by sales and management teams.

Corporate Communications and Support Projects

* Contributed to company newsletters, researched stories, and provided feature i

tems.
* Researched and provided product testimonials for the trade press and sales gro
up.
* Worked with outside PR agency in developing newsletter stories, customer profi
le articles and customer hospitality events.
* Developed concept and content for bi-weekly email update to all customer membe
rs of the loyalty program. Content included variety of topics around raw materi
al supply conditions, updates on

Mill Sales: Columbia Plywood Klamath Falls, OR 1997-2000

Largest volume mill across the Columbia production system
Inside Sales Representative, Hardwood, Plywood and Import Panels
* Worked directly with outside field sales to manage and sell approximately 35-4
0 million sq. ft. of plywood ($40 million in sales) annually into the Texas and
mid-central U.S. markets.
* Conducted customer mill tours and meetings.
* Worked with veneer buyers and production supervisors on customer quality and s
ervice issues.
* Developed a reputation among the production and mill managers as an outstandin
g team player and communicator.
* Traveled to customer events, trade-shows, builder shows, supported sales effor
ts at customer open house events.

Drexel Heritage Furniture Showrooms Portland, OR 1996-1997

General Merchandise Manager/Planning Advisor, Paul Schatz Furniture
Managed key merchandising functions, buying and assortment planning.
* Managed furniture and accessory inventories with a wholesale value of $5 milli
on.
* Managed new product programs and re-merchandising of core product line-ups wit
hin the Drexel-Heritage brand.
* Developed initial merchandise line-up on major, high-volume import line.
* Developed the strategic plan for stores' consolidation and relocation.
* Drafted initial business plan, worked with store owners, banking and lenders t
o secure financing for expansion and purchase of new showroom and distribution c
enter.
* Provided strategic communications around a confidential new store location.
* Attended all major furniture trade shows and merchandising and training semina
rs.

Kiani USA Chesapeake, VA and Portland, OR 1992-1996

Import Furniture Division, Chesapeake Hardwood Products
Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Managed specialty home furnishings line for national distribution, approximately
$6mm dollars in sales.
* Showroom Management: Maintained and managed a 10,000 sq. ft. permanent trade s
howroom in High Point, North Carolina. Operated temporary showrooms in Atlanta,
Chicago and San Francisco.
* Assisted other offshore producers in showroom set-up and display, maintained o
perating alliances with Indonesian furniture manufacturers and showroom partners
.
* Selected and directed merchandise flow and sampling to showrooms.
* Sales Management: Directed national independent sales group of 15 persons cove
ring various geographic regions in the U.S. and Canada.
* Managed house accounts and special large volume users.
* Managed national catalog account and a major department store chain.
* Managed trade press relations, wrote and edited copy on new product introducti
ons.
* Provided oversight of 2 customer service centers and assembly plants in Virgin
ia and Georgia.

Fishels Home and Patio Portland, OR 1981-1992

Specialty store retail furnishings and accessories
Vice President, Managing Partner
Managed successful, 70-year-old specialty retail icon.
* Gained in-depth experience in high-end contemporary furnishings and accessory
items and very deep experience in merchandising of casual, outdoor and seasonal
merchandise categories.
* Developed improved assortment planning process through more formal merchandise
classifications.
* Introduced formal communications and merchandising memos around new product ad
ditions, upcoming promotions and events.
* Improved and streamlined annual year-end inventory procedures, accelerating th
e process and eliminating errors and discrepancies.
* Developed excellent vendor relationships, collaborating to increase sales volu
mes and product exposure, strengthening both the supplier and store image and br
and.
* Managed commercial sales segment by supplying hotels, country clubs, apartment
complexes and restaurants, including the Safeway grocery stores in selected mar
kets.
* Directed outside ad agencies in creating store positioning and seasonal promot
ions.
* Created annual post-summer season sale and major promotion, tripling a month's
sales volume in high-impact 4 day period.
* Planned, launched and managed unique and creative sales events through direct
mail.
* First non-family member to be awarded an equity position in the business.
EDUCATION
Bachelor's Degree, School of Journalism and Communications: University of Oregon

COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Outlook, Office, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Volunteer work for the American Heart Association and United Way, 1990, 1991, 19
97.
Member, Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association

NOTABLE STATEWIDE BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT

In September of 2007 I was selected to participate on the Oregon Business Magazi
ne tour with a number of Oregon business leaders and advisors. Columbia Forest
Products and the publisher of Oregon Business selected me because of my involvem
ent in the wood products industry and my deep roots in the state. This afforded
me a unique chance to see a new economic base forming in our regions as well as
a public relations opportunity in representing one of Oregon's oldest industrie
s. This was very much a personal privilege and professional career highlight.