Tony Bangert

𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐈-𝐄𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 PerformanceLabs helps organizations move faster, operate smarter, and scale output with clarity and consistency. We do not run AI experiments. We build AI-enabled operational systems that help cross-functional teams hit strategic goals now, not years from now. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞: 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: We train teams to use AI like top performers. Research faster, communicate better, and execute with precision. Whether strictly internal or client-facing, we help your people reclaim time, sharpen focus, and drive measurable lift in daily productivity. 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Our diagnostics uncover hidden process bottlenecks and provide a data-backed roadmap for efficiency. We turn insights into clear next steps that accelerate both speed-to-market and decision velocity. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: We help teams extract more value from the tools they already have. Practical prompts, smarter templates, and daily habits that increase speed, accuracy, and follow-through. No new platforms required, just better use of the ones you own. 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 & 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: We equip leadership teams to set direction, measure adoption, and drive organization-wide proficiency. The result is an AI-literate culture that performs with confidence and consistency. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: Clients report faster execution cycles, increased employee capacity, and stronger bottom-line efficiency. Our impact is measurable, sustainable, and directly tied to business performance.

During my tenure, I spearheaded a bold transformation at BLOX Digital, a company with over three decades of leadership in software solutions for the media industry. This strategic overhaul enhanced operational effectiveness, redefined organizational structures, and positioned the company for sustainable growth in an increasingly dynamic and competitive market. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: • 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧: Developed a comprehensive three-year plan to modernize the organization, focusing on brand evolution, marketing innovation, team realignment, and system integrations. • 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Anchored financial stability by closely managing EBITDA and revenue performance, ensuring sustainable growth and scalability during a transformative phase. • 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 & 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Established Business Development and Sales Engineering teams, resulting in a 300% increase in outbound lead generation and a 30% reduction in sales closure times. • 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Drove successful entry into international markets, including Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and Africa, broadening our geographic footprint. • 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: Led the rebranding of TownNews to BLOX Digital, aligning our identity with a modern, forward-thinking vision and setting the stage for the company’s next growth phase. • 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐔𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥: Spearheaded the integration of Salesforce (Sales Cloud, Revenue Intelligence, Pardot, CPQ, and Service Cloud), replacing legacy systems and fostering a data-driven decision-making culture. • 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Catalyzed the creation of a state-of-the-art 4K broadcast-quality production studio, revolutionizing product launch capabilities and establishing a hub for educational content to enhance customer proficiency.

inPowered, headquartered in Silicon Valley, is an AI-driven SaaS platform that empowers content marketers to drive consumer engagement and achieve measurable business outcomes using proprietary "Content Intelligence" technology. During my tenure, I played a pivotal role in driving growth and innovation in the Central Region. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: • 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: Achieved substantial revenue growth in the Central Region by strategically expanding existing client partnerships while developing new business opportunities. • 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬: Led the successful rollout of an outbound sales strategy powered by ZoomInfo, crafting a Go-To-Market (GTM) playbook that integrated streamlined automation with carefully designed, high-touch outreach strategies. • 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: Engineered a targeted growth strategy for the Central Region, focusing on capturing high-value enterprise clients and building partnerships with dynamic independent advertising agencies. This dual focus allowed us to establish a broad and impactful market presence. • 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: Played a pivotal role in forging a significant partnership with Nestlé-Purina EMEA. Over a 12-month engagement, I navigated complex negotiations to support the successful launch of their global, content-driven website initiative, underscoring our ability to deliver scalable, data-driven solutions. • 𝐅𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Adopted a player-coach leadership style, mentoring the sales team to drive personal and professional growth. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, I ensured the team was equipped to meet the demands of a competitive and evolving market.

The Chicago Tribune, an American journalism institution, has been a trusted source of news and information for over a century. During my tenure, I led initiatives that drove revenue growth, enhanced operational efficiency, and positioned the Tribune for continued success in the rapidly evolving media landscape. Key Achievements: – Revenue Leadership: Managed a team of 15 sales professionals responsible for generating $35 million in annual revenue. By cultivating partnerships with agencies and brands, we delivered innovative digital media solutions tailored to client needs. – Automated Outbound Sales Structure: Designed and implemented the Tribune’s first automated outreach program, increasing top-of-the-funnel activity by 75% in just three months and significantly enhancing new meeting/demo opportunities. – Branded Content Innovation: Partnered with the studio team to develop a branded content go-to-market strategy, creating a consistent flow of new monthly recurring revenue. – Client-Focused Initiatives: Led a systematic process to assess client needs, enabling the sales team to craft digital solutions that drove measurable business outcomes for new and existing clients. – Sales Playbook Development: Co-created a transformative sales playbook in collaboration with executive leadership. The playbook optimized workflows, enhanced CRM adoption, and refined sales processes, driving organizational efficiency and reversing downturns.

The Big Know was a cutting-edge Health and Wellness education platform offering Netflix-inspired learning experiences powered by proprietary SaaS technology. As employee #7 and the first Vice President of Sales, I played a critical role in shaping the company’s sales processes, Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, and overall trajectory, contributing to its successful exit. Key Achievements: – Navigating the Startup Journey: Experienced the full spectrum of early-stage startup challenges, including managing cash flow to extend the runway for a strategic pivot. This pivot led to discovering a new product-market fit, positioning the company for a successful acquisition. – Executive Leadership: Acted as a key member of the executive team, shaping company strategy, supporting investor communications, and energizing fundraising efforts to secure essential capital. – Strategic Partnerships: Identified, negotiated, and closed high-value partnerships with industry leaders such as UHG, US Bank, DOW, and The Pro Football Hall of Fame, significantly expanding market reach and credibility. – Sales Strategy Transformation: Revolutionized the sales process by implementing Salesforce and developing a comprehensive internal CRM playbook, creating a scalable and predictable sales funnel that drove efficiency and growth. – Culture of Innovation: Contributed to building a high-performing, adaptive team culture driven by innovation, collaboration, and agility. Leveraged the Traction methodology to prioritize data, processes, and accountability, enabling the team to thrive amid shifting market dynamics. My time at The Big Know was a masterclass in adaptability, innovation, and leadership. Together, our team transformed a single-customer startup into a scalable business poised for success, leaving an indelible mark on the Health and Wellness education space.

Tribune Publishing, a media powerhouse with a legacy of excellence, managed an iconic portfolio including The Chicago Tribune, The L.A. Times, The Baltimore Sun, and The San Diego Union-Tribune. As the parent company of these brands, Tribune Publishing upheld journalistic standards while navigating the evolving media landscape. During my tenure, I rapidly advanced from Digital Sales Manager to Director of National Sales, and ultimately to Vice President of Sales within five years. Key Achievements: – Career Growth & Leadership: Progressed through leadership roles, driving innovation and growth across Tribune’s digital and content marketing divisions. – Player-Coach Strategy: Partnered with national sales teams to craft omni-channel digital advertising solutions, securing major deals ranging from $500K to $2MM. My collaborative leadership fostered stronger client relationships and strategic results. – Central Region Revenue Growth: Founded and led the Central Region sales division, focusing on partnerships with Tribune’s largest national clients. Achieved 25% year-over-year revenue growth through tailored strategies and client-centric approaches. – Tribune Content Solutions: Created and led the Tribune Content Marketing Division, which generated $10MM in incremental revenue within three years, establishing Tribune as a leader in branded content solutions. – National GTM Strategy: Developed and implemented the national Go-To-Market strategy for content marketing, building a dedicated sales team and rolling out initiatives across all Tribune properties.

FOX6 WITI, a prominent television station based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has long been a trusted source of news, entertainment, and community engagement. During my tenure, I spearheaded the station’s digital transformation, establishing its digital sales division and driving significant growth through innovative strategies and forward-thinking leadership. Key Achievements: – Revenue Growth Leadership: Established FOX6 WITI’s digital sales division from the ground up, including pricing structures, sales strategies, and team development. These efforts created a sustainable foundation for a new revenue stream. – Revenue & GTM Strategy: Designed and executed a transformative Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy for FOX6NOW.com, increasing annual digital revenue by $1 million within two years through innovative product launches. – Team Transformation: Empowered a 15-person sales team to become digital sales leaders by implementing comprehensive training programs and coaching, enabling them to effectively sell digital media solutions to broadcast advertisers. – E-Commerce Innovation: Launched a successful e-commerce platform on FOX6NOW.com in March 2009, generating an additional $250,000 in its first year and showcasing my ability to identify and capitalize on emerging revenue opportunities. – Strategic Partnerships: Secured partnerships to enhance site functionality, driving the creation of new revenue streams and aligning with FOX6 WITI’s digital growth and innovation goals. – Change Management: Overcame resistance to digital advertising adoption by fostering a culture of openness through clear communication, transparent vision sharing, and ongoing education.

Thriving in any business requires a strong foundation in strategy, leadership, and innovation. My time at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Lubar School of Business was instrumental to my success. Through a well-rounded curriculum, collaborative projects, and exposure to real-world challenges, I gained a deep understanding of how to effectively build and run businesses.