Professional Experience

Work History

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Feb 2024 – June 2025

Chief Revenue Officer

The Pivot Fund | Atlanta, GA

  • Increased organizational earned revenue by designing and executing platform-wide strategies that resulted in $1.8M in new business within the first 10 months.
  • Secured 14+ corporate partnerships by aligning brand objectives with mutually beneficial sponsorship and media exposure strategies.
  • Launched three revenue-focused product initiatives for grantee publishers, leading to a measurable improvement in their funding pipelines and audience engagement.
  • Managed company-wide earned revenue planning and budget forecasting through ongoing analysis of pipeline data, market trends and growth trajectories.
  • Provided virtual revenue strategy consulting to a grantee cohort of 20+ news publishers, supporting scalable implementation across diverse geographic locations.
  • Partnered directly with the CEO and senior leadership to translate organizational growth goals into actionable earned revenue outcomes and audience development strategies.
Oct 2021 – Feb 2024

Director of Growth and Partnership

inewsource | San Diego, CA

  • Increased earned revenue by launching three cross-platform content initiatives that boosted donor engagement and expanded audience reach across digital channels.
  • Led a multifunctional remote Product & Content team to optimize UX/UI, resulting in higher on-site retention and improved engagement metrics.
  • Strengthened strategic fundraising by aligning brand messaging with philanthropy goals, leading to improved resonance across donor communications.
  • Built and managed media and third-party tech partnerships to streamline digital publishing operations and enhance platform capabilities.
  • Used audience behavior data and performance trends to guide content enhancements, leading to more relevant storytelling and greater reader interaction.
Apr 2019 – Oct 2021

Advertising Director

Daily Memphian | Memphis, TN

  • Generated $2.8M in revenue by managing a diversified book of business through digital advertising and event sponsorships, contributing to the company's early-stage financial sustainability.
  • Led the optimization of ad operations across email and web platforms, improving campaign delivery times and increasing advertiser satisfaction.
  • Collaborated with digital product teams to assess reader engagement trends, uncovering three new advertising opportunities that were integrated into the platform roadmap.
  • Directed a sales team in designing and executing data-informed advertising strategies, aligning rate models with audience insights to improve campaign ROI.
  • Built and maintained national and regional client relationships, securing long-term contracts that anchored the company's digital monetization strategy.
Feb 2016 – Apr 2019

Advertising Director

Contemporary Media Inc. | Memphis, TN

  • Delivered $1.7M in annual revenue by leading print, digital and event sponsorship sales, consistently meeting and exceeding budget targets.
  • Increased deal size and retention by negotiating and managing contracts with top-tier clients and agencies, ensuring campaign effectiveness and alignment with business goals.
  • Drove product innovation by introducing new multimedia ad solutions based on market trend analysis, enhancing platform competitiveness.
  • Trained and mentored the sales team in consultative selling, pipeline management and proposal development, leading to stronger close rates and team consistency.
  • Represented the brand at industry events and community engagements to cultivate new business relationships and strengthen client rapport.
Feb 2013 – Feb 2016

Digital Media Specialist

Cars.com | Memphis, TN

  • Increased dealership online visibility by optimizing digital product placements and advising 40+ franchise and independent dealers on campaign strategies.
  • Conducted in-depth conversion analysis across multiple regional markets, uncovering lead behavior trends that shaped localized sales tactics.
  • Ensured 100% OEM CO-OP compliance during campaign launches, meeting digital standards and protecting client reimbursement eligibility.
  • Delivered strategic performance reports to field sales and product development teams, informing feature enhancements and advertising benchmarks.
  • Managed dealer accounts across territories, improving campaign engagement and boosting online vehicle consideration through targeted display and mobile solutions.
Sep 2010 – Feb 2013

Multimedia Marketing Consultant

E.W. Scripps – Memphis Commercial Appeal | Memphis, TN

  • Increased client advertising ROI by developing tailored B2B and B2C multimedia strategies, resulting in stronger engagement across traditional and digital platforms.
  • Managed a diverse portfolio of local and national advertisers, identifying new revenue streams and growing incremental revenue through consultative selling.
  • Led end-to-end SEM campaign execution, optimizing keyword bidding strategies and landing page content to drive qualified web traffic.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams including design, project management, and online teams to ensure timely delivery of product enhancements and feature rollouts.
  • Launched targeted display and email marketing campaigns across national sites, leveraging user segmentation data to refine messaging and improve conversion.
Jun 2010 – Sep 2010

Corporate Procurement Specialist

Levenger | Memphis, TN

  • Boosted corporate sales by implementing an incentivized business advantage plan, resulting in increased product adoption across international B2B accounts.
  • Established supply partnerships through global contract negotiations and vendor consolidation, reducing procurement complexity and improving cost efficiency.
  • Managed international procurement workflows in coordination with corporate executives and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with business priorities.
  • Designed and executed e-sourcing strategies, strengthening supplier relationships and streamlining procurement through digital platforms.
  • Developed targeted B2B communications, including a weekly buyer newsletter and curated Facebook content to increase engagement with procurement decision-makers.
Jun 2009 – Jun 2010

Senior Credit Manager

Wells Fargo Financial | Southaven, MS

  • Improved loan portfolio performance by analyzing customer financials and recommending tailored investment and debt reduction strategies, resulting in higher repayment success rates.
  • Supported underwriting operations by assessing lending risk factors and repayment capacity, contributing to more accurate loan approvals and reduced delinquency.
  • Delivered personalized financial education on products including credit lines, consolidation loans, and mortgage/auto refinancing to help customers achieve financial goals.
  • Collaborated with compliance and verification teams to ensure loan documentation met regulatory standards and internal policy requirements.
  • Managed customer consultations in both in-branch and phone-based formats, maintaining service continuity and financial advisory consistency.
Dec 2008 – May 2009

Marketing Coordinator

ESPN | Bristol, CT

  • Increased event visibility by launching and managing social media campaigns for ESPNU and College GameDay, boosting online engagement ahead of key broadcasts.
  • Supported execution of national multimedia marketing campaigns, ensuring timely rollout across digital, print, and on-air assets.
  • Conducted competitive market analysis to inform brand positioning, identifying key opportunities in collegiate sports media spend.
  • Facilitated cross-departmental alignment by managing communication workflows across editorial, production, and marketing teams.
  • Consolidated campaign performance data and consumer insights into actionable reporting to inform strategy refinement and content promotion.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications

Alabama State University

2002 - 2008

Executive Endorsements

Kimberly Spencer

Executive Director | Colorado Media Project

"I have worked with Justin as counterparts during our time at an intermediary serving BIPOC news outlets, as a fundraising advisor for the HBCU Digital Media Collaborative, and in my current role as Director of the Colorado Media Project. At CMP, he has served as a strategic coach for one of our grantees and as a reviewer for our most recent round of grants. His expertise in revenue strategy and development has sharpened my own fundraising approach and provided clear, actionable guidance to strengthen organizational sustainability. Justin combines strategic vision with hands-on support, making him an invaluable partner in advancing mission-driven work."

Dana Amihere

Founder & Executive Director | Afro LA

"Stressed by development, fundraising and managing donors, I needed someone who could help me see both the big picture and the granular views. Justin's assurances have helped me build confidence as a news leader, and his expertise has helped me refine our organizational priorities based on financial goals and resources. He challenges me and pushes me in my business decision-making, but always with purpose, calm and respect."

Brittany Winkfield

Executive Director | Colorado Ethnic Media Exchange

"Working with Justin Rushing on revenue strategy and development has been a game-changer for me as the director of the Colorado Ethnic Media Exchange (CEME). He helped us refine our value proposition and develop high-quality leads, opening new doors for growth and partnerships. Justin’s strategic insight has strengthened both our financial outlook and my confidence as a leader. His guidance is proving invaluable in positioning CEME for long-term success!"

Maria Denee

Founder & Publisher | The Curvy Fashionista

"Working with Justin was like turning the lights on in a room I didn’t realize had dimmers! He helped me not only see and recognize the gaps in my revenue strategy but also build a clear, confident plan to reach my goals. His insight completely shifted how I approach The Curvy Fashionista, reigniting my confidence as a digital media publisher. I walked away with strategies I can actually execute and the excitement to make them happen!"