About Tracey L. Schroeder, JD, MBA

Other responsibilities include:

• Identifying topical and pressing health care and health insurance legal and policy issues, including but not limited to monitoring topical and appropriate legislation, regulations and court cases.
• Identifying and providing expertise and guidance on joint retentions of counsel, which includes actively participating in the selection of counsel for BCBSA and Blue Plan Legal Departments.
• Evaluating proposed costs, scope and deliverables. Drafting and overseeing ongoing communications, assisting with project management, and working with in-house, Blue Plan and outside counsel to ensure that Plan legal and compliance expectations are being met.
• As LDC Program Manager, partnering with outside counsel and industry experts to develop CLE-eligible national web seminars and organize/moderate forums for Plan counsel to discuss pressing matters and share best practices, including conferences, summits, and roundtables (virtual and in-person).

Other responsibilities include:

• Appointed a Special Assistant Attorney General by the Illinois Office of the Attorney General to represent the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, and Metra in eminent domain matters.
• Handled a variety of litigation matters from inception to successful resolution, including drafting and arguing dispositive motions, representation in mediations, arbitration proceedings, trial preparation, quick take hearings and trials.
• Procured various types of liquor licenses for high profile hotel clients in Chicago.

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Other responsibilities include:

Associate Attorney

• Conducting legal research for assigned cases and drafting complaints, responses to defense Motions for Summary Judgment, and other case-related documents.
• Preparing for and attending daily case management conferences in the six county Chicago Metropolitan area and beyond.
• Performing discovery and moving cases forward to settlement or trial, including preparing for and participating in arbitration, mediation, pre-trial activities and trial.
• Building client relationships, gaining client trust and keeping clients apprised as cases move forward.

Director of Marketing

• Developing short- and long-range communications plans and priorities, directing all aspects of multi-platform communications for both internal and external audiences, and executing media relations strategy and outreach.
• Overhauling and maintaining the company’s website and social media presence; implementing reputation builder function to solicit and post client reviews to company website and social media platforms.
• Creation and execution of first ever external client newsletter and internal employee newsletter.
• Planning and implementation of firm’s first ever paid search campaign, resulting in increased local rankings and listings.
• Planning and managing all aspects of firm events, including annual firm holiday party, three client appreciation parties, and annual attorney dinner, among others.

Other responsibilities include:

• Drafting, reviewing and executing contracts, Requests for Proposals, Fund policies, Fund resolutions, Agreed Upon Procedures, and Memorandums of Understanding; responding to Freedom of Information Act Requests.
• Managing the work of the Fund’s three legislative lobbyists and the Legislative Action Center, and setting the annual legislative agenda. Offering strategic direction, developing messaging and media support, and mobilizing membership to take action for or against legislation impacting the  Fund.
• Conceptualizing, planning and executing internal an external events, including information sessions, training sessions, and the annual Reciprocal Conference, and all related materials including procuring speakers, creating and distributing event invitations, communications, signage, sign-up, location, training materials, meals, transportation, social outings concurrent and plenary sessions, etc.
• Chairing the Fund’s Election Committee, tasked with managing the annual Board of Trustees elections.
• Partnering with the Trustees’ Communications Committee, senior leadership, and legislative consultants on strategic initiatives including media relations, publications, brand development and social media strategy.
• Determining external and internal communications strategy and managing the development and distribution of all print and electronic collateral including newsletters, opinion/editorial pieces, speeches and presentations for the Executive Director and Trustees, legislative testimony, handbooks, presentations, and announcements.
• Serving as the point person on media interactions and actively cultivating and managing press relationships, offering strategic direction on issues relevant to the Fund and its members.
• Managing and developing an internal marketing team and external vendors, setting measurable goals and objectives aligned with the annual communications plan and institutional vision. Responsible for budget prioritization and execution.
• Managing the enterprise-wide effort to redevelop the Fund’s obsolete website including a comprehensive review of all content, new design and hosting platform, and integration with social media.

• Drafted, reviewed and executed ABMS contracts, policies, requests for proposals, and maintained and filed for ABMS trademarks for all of its entities
• Directed and led the integrating marketing and creative design team; interfaced with the ABMS executive leadership teams and individual departments to develop digitally integrated data-driven marketing programs and provided strong creative and messaging to strengthen ABMS’ market position. Conducted market research, assessed the marketing opportunities and needs, analyzed and developed strategies, and recommended and managed execution of new programs and a comprehensive marketing calendar.
• Developed short and long-term growth and innovation strategies; planned, executed and measured social and digital advertising programs, including paid social, PPC,SEO, and display.
• Provided art direction, feedback, and guidance to designers, photographers, and videographers to ensure consistent messaging and appropriate branding of all collateral materials.
• Provided project management support to departments across the organization, including strategic communications/marketing planning, tracking of deliverables needed for project success, assistance with resource allocation, and vetting and approving marketing strategies and materials.
• Conceptualized, planned and executed internal and external events, including executive board meetings, ABMS conferences, joint conferences, training sessions, and the annual ABMS September Conference, and all related materials including event invitations, communications, signage, sign-up, location, training materials, meals, transportation, social outings, concurrent and plenary sessions, etc. Utilized event planning software for all large-scale events (CVENT).
• Proactively identified public relations opportunities that elevated the organization’s profile, including outreach to local and national media, trade, and professional outlets.

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• Defined and led a complete overhaul of the school’s marketing strategy/efforts and marketing department and executed an entirere-branding of the school including two new websites, all collateral, marketing pieces and marketing messages, email templates, flyer and presentation templates, giveaways, social media, alumni/giving campaigns, and search campaigns.
• Implemented an enrollment management department and customized CRM system, brought all marketing in- house, and hired a team to execute the revised communications and print strategies.
• Defined and executed a clear brand strategy that leveraged the Graham School’s strategic vision, and developed an integrated marketing plan for each program.
• Served as press contact and was responsible for writing and executing all press releases and any public relations/media messaging.
• Assumed primary responsibility for all activities for the alumni annual fund after the departure of the Director of Alumni Relations and Development and managed the Know Your Chicago Program, a civic awareness group that has been in existence and with the Graham School for 68 years.
• Drafted, reviewed and executed advertising and vendor contracts and vendor policies for 40+ programs and 40+ individual marketing plans.
• Planned and executed weekly information sessions for Graham School programs, and assisted with planning and execution of all Know Your Chicago tour locations. Event planning and execution included event invitations, event communications and sign-up, travel logistics, signage, transportation, conference materials, meals, venue, etc.

• Oversaw the creation of comprehensive, annual marketing plans for SCS’s on-ground graduate, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, professional development, and lifelong learning programs (40+ marketing plans incorporating multiple campaigns within each plan) with local, regional, national, and international initiatives.
• Created comprehensive presentations outlining strategic marketing plans, goals, and objectives; presented them to program directors, deans, and upper management.
• Prioritized and set direction and strategies for lead generation and ROI of marketing campaigns. Provided educated recommendations to upper management on direction, profitability, and ROI for new and existing programs. Managed and optimized paid search campaigns, such as SEO, PPC, Google AdWords, and keyword testing.
• Drafted, reviewed and executed all vendor advertising contracts for 40+ programs and 40+ individual marketing plans; negotiated bulk advertising buys and value added for cost efficiencies.
• Performed daily and weekly analysis and management of campaign performance, broken down by channel and lead production, to meet or exceed lead generation and ROI targets while managing to a fixed advertising budget.
• Identified, recommended, and developed plans for potential market opportunities through intensive market research and segmentation activities, such as focus groups, surveys, and student and prospect interviews.
• Planned and executed weekly information sessions for SCS programs, conducted both in person and online. Event planning and execution included event invitations, event communications and sign-up, travel logistics, signage, transportation, conference materials, meals, venue, etc.