Spring into Summer: Steps Toward Your Success

Heidi Budreau
Senior Marketing Manager, Baxter Healthcare Corporation

Heidi Budreau joined Baxa Corporation’s Marketing team in the fall of 2003. Baxa Corporation, a leading provider of medical devices and systems, was recently acquired by Baxter Healthcare Corporation. She is currently a Senior Marketing Manager for Baxter, a global pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology company. Heidi runs the Marketing Operations group for Baxter Englewood and is responsible for the primary activities associated with all aspects of marketing operations/communications. In her role she helps drive all external and internal corporate communications as well as outbound marketing strategy and programs. She is also responsible for thought leadership programs such as Baxter’s speaker’s bureau and educational webinars.

Prior to joining Baxa Corporation nine years ago, Heidi was in technology sales for companies such as Computer Associates and locally at Statera, 3T Systems and Spire Media. She holds a B.A. in Advertising from the University Of Kansas, School of Journalism. Heidi served a two year term on the board of directors for the Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association (RMDMA) Colorado Chapter and is currently serving on the board of the Business Marketing Association (BMA) Colorado Chapter. Heidi brings a diverse background in sales and marketing as well as strategy and leadership capabilities to Baxter. 

Jennifer Nealson
CMO, Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Jennifer K. Nealson is the Chief Marketing Officer of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts where she oversees all marketing and communications efforts; audience development programs and single, group and membership sales.

Nealson has served in executive leadership roles over the past 14 years of her career, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer at Trust Company of America. Previously she was Vice President/Managing Director of Marketing & Communications at Republic Financial Corporation. In her prior positions, she has created and directed all aspects of integrated marketing strategies.

Nealson’s experience covers strategic planning, research, lead generation, public relations, social media, event planning, sponsorships and multi-media strategies. While at Republic Financial, she not only managed the Marketing and Communications efforts of the parent company, but also oversaw efforts on behalf of more than 20 divisions and affiliate companies. This experience makes her the perfect choice to oversee marketing efforts for 11 locally-produced plays, more than 22 Broadway touring productions and extensive educational programs, which serve more than 50,000 students each year.

Nealson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Communications from the University of Nebraska and a Certificate in Finance and Accounting from the University of Colorado. She has been named to the National Forbes CMO Network and is President-Elect of the Colorado Business Marketing Association. Nealson is an advisor for the Colorado CMO Advisory Council and, in years past, served as Regent and a member of the Board of Directors at the University of Nebraska.

Michele C. Lutz
Lecturer, Department of Marketing at University of Denver

Michele Lutz has been a lecturer in the marketing department of the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business for the past ten years earning distinguished Diamond Awards for teaching and subject matter excellence. Leveraging her graduate work, teaching, and years of industry experience, Michele has developed both the sales and business-to-business curricula at DU. She augments the classroom environment and students' learning with the real-world application of marketing concepts. In her sales class, Michele motivates students to apply the strategic selling model onto their personal career quests. She focuses on the transformational aspect of the undergraduate experience to facilitate students' understanding of the importance of establishing and building their individual brands.

Ms. Lutz is a sought-after instructor and speaker on campus and has presented at corporate, career and campus events including "Backpacks to Briefcases" at the University of Denver. Currently, she is developing a Personal Branding course at Daniels which leverages product branding concepts to help students understand the importance of creating and protecting their personal brands.