PlanSource
Company: PlanSource, Orlando, FL
Company Description: PlanSource is a Software as a Service provider that simplifies back office HR for employers with an array of integrated back office HR services with a focus on employee benefits enrollment and administration services. PlanSource solutions are delivered through insurance broker partners who partner with PlanSource to increase their retention rates, revenue, and overall value. www.plansource.com
Nomination Category: Marketing Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Marketer of the Year
Nomination Title: Stephen Bruner, Director of Marketing
Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2010 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
The Why:
With only a part-time resource, an intern, and a budget of less than $100,000,
Stephen Bruner managed to lead efforts for a total brand overhaul, infusing new
energy, purpose, and clarity into the PlanSource brand. Beyond that, Stephen
helped integrate marketing into the day-to-day efforts of the sales teams at
PlanSource, launched co-marketing initiatives with 4 of the largest insurance
companies in the country, piloted new strategic channels in response to market
changes, and perhaps most importantly simplified everything (messaging,
products, process).
The How:
By outsourcing small components of various projects to independent contractors
and then self-contributing in the areas of copywriting, strategy, design, PR,
project management, and more, Stephen was able to accomplish a tremendous
amount on a very small budget.
The What:
•Through a series of acquisitions, PlanSource’s product suite was disjointed
and confusing. Stephen helped restructure the positioning of the PlanSource
product suite, cutting focused marketing efforts down from 8+ auxiliary
products getting the same amount of attention, to 2 core products with a focus
on only key features. This results are a 300% increase in web traffic,
website, and 400% increase in customer inquiries. On top of this, PlanSource
had some significant corporate restructuring and Stephen led the complex client
messaging efforts with nearly 100% client retention.
•Stephen led a rebranding initiative that included a new logo, icon set,
website, full-suite of collateral, presentations, and systems. Directing these
initiatives, he personally took on the design and copywriting for many
resources. Stephen worked closely with PUSH (Orlando, FL) to design the
website, logo, and icon set.
•Coordinated and launched co-marketing initiatives with 4 of the largest, most
influential insurance companies. Stephen did the heavy lifting building the
programs compared to the large teams in these organizations. In a 3 month span
alone, the pipeline from one of these partners currently represents a 25%
increase in total system users.
•Press: Copywriting for numerous press releases featured in business journals
in every major market in the US.
•Planned and coordinated a Health Reform conference with over 100 large
employers. Partnered with leading employment firm, Littler, to keynote the
event.
•Built Private Label Resources for partnerships with brokers including a
variable data marketing solution (Four51) for custom branding by agency and
producer
•Moved organization to a common mass email marketing platform & strategy
•Wrote scripts and story boards for product videos for PlanSource and partners
•Developed new-age presentations (Prezi) to ‘wow’ customers in demos and
conferences
•Wrote whitepapers on health reform, led internal committee on health reform
preparedness, and launched social marketing effort for ‘sharing’ answers to
health reform questions on Reform Junction.
•Built an entire pilot program for a futuristic business channel that markets
insurance plans to employees during key life events. Efforts included phone
campaign, mailers, and automated email campaigns based on user response.
•Led sales CRM overhaul to improve sales tracking methodology, increasing
accuracy in customer reporting, follow up marketing, and close ratios.
List hyperlinks to any online work samples, news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
•PlanSource Website (new)
http://www.plansource.com
•PlanSource Brand – Formerly known as PayAdvantage HR, The CoAdvantage, and
CoAdvantage HRO, we rebranded our pinnacle solution with payroll as HRHQ.
http://www.plansource.com/hrhq
•Sample of rebranded collateral
http://pscontent.s3.amazonaws.com/psdocuments/bp_marketing/New Flyers.pptx
•PlanSource Press Page
http://www.plansource.com/blog
•Messaging Sample to public on corporate restructuring
http://www.plansource.com/blog/plansource-refreshes-corporate-brand
•Health Reform Prezi for Conference (using CoAdvantage brand before rebranding
initiative)
http://prezi.com/bmpffb-ebqgd/how-and-employer-achieves-success-in-a-post-healthcare-reform-world/
•Streamlining of how to buy PlanSource
http://www.plansource.com/get-plansource
•PlanSource Advantage Anthem Sample
http://pscontent.s3.amazonaws.com/psdocuments/bp_marketing/broker_flyer-handshake-anthem.pdf
•HRHQ Product Video Sample
http://www.instantbenefits.com/marketing/Camtasia/Videos/hrhq/index.html
•Reform Junction Initiative from mid 2010
http://www.reformjunction.com
Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:
Stephen Bruner is the Director of Marketing for PlanSource. He previously
acted as Director of Strategic Initiatives for PlanSource, with contributions
in project management, software design, strategic and process consulting.
After playing around with some entrepreneurial projects, Stephen began his
official career as a financial analyst. Unlike the typical analyst, he has a
passion for presenting data in a beautiful and meaningful way. This passion
gradually moved him into marketing where he continues to deliver great results.
Stephen received a degree in Finance from the University of Georgia, and an
M.A. in Theology from Reformed Theological Seminary.