John Graham
John Graham
Strategy on Paper.
Proof on the Pavement.
Applying for Director, Brand and Campaign Marketing at Harley-Davidson.
I build brands from strategy through launch, then carry them into stores, events and communities. Over 12 years, I have led consumer, trade and experiential marketing, from a $250M family-owned pet food company to national auto show floors. For Harley-Davidson, I will proudly bring my skills and experience to the marketing team with the explicit goal of further connecting this legendary brand with existing riders and place a significant focus on welcoming new riders into the family.
With me on the team, Harley-Davidson gets a committed teammate who will execute on existing programs and bring new ideas for brand activation, but only after listening to the team about what is working and what is not.
What the role asks, what I have done
Integrated campaigns
Launched a celebrity-backed beverage with PR, social, experiential, and retail working as one plan. Grew the portfolio into nine states in a year.
Measurable brand growth
Built the marketing manual and annual plan for a $250M company, with KPIs for marketing and sales across 100+ SKUs.
Experiences at scale
Led national activations with budgets over $2.5M and 80+ events a year, including CES and the Detroit, New York, and Chicago auto shows.
Dealer and retail partners
Ran trade and consumer promotions for 7,500 retailers and deployed a custom activation in 300+ dealer locations.
Leading teams
Managed marketing departments, agencies, and vendors. Now Chief of Staff across creative, sales, operations, and finance.
Selected work
BevNomad & Backstage Infusions
Derse
Molten Smoky Colas
LeTV at CES
Developed the brand, positioning, messaging, and launch strategy for a novel beverage product, and executed the launch across partnerships, events, and customer experiences.
Produced the engagements for LeTV's North American launch at the country's largest trade show.
Derse
Fromm Family Foods
Mazda auto show calendar
Yappy Hour in a Box
Turned concepts and designs into live activations at major auto shows, with smaller concurrent events in tier 2 and tier 3 markets, as part of a 150 show calendar.
Created, promoted and launched a scalable retail activation placed in 300+ dealer locations to introduce products and drive repeat sales.
Why Harley-Davidson
Director of Operations, Chief of Staff
BevNomad and Backstage Infusions, 2024 to present
Product Marketing Manager
LinkLive, 2021 to 2024
Career
Senior Marketing Manager
Fromm Family Foods, 2016 to 2021
Project Manager, Experiential Marketing
Derse, Inc., 2014 to 2016
MBA, Marquette University. BS in Management, Tulane University.
I got my first dirt bike when I turned 10, and I have loved riding ever since. In my late teens I took my motorcycle license test on a Dyna Wide Glide. The instructor was surprised to see me take the test on a machine that big. The experience that locked in my passion to ride was a 2008 trip around Colorado with my father, and some of our friends - a seven-day tour from Denver to the San Juans and back up through Wyoming and ending at Wall Drug. Since then, I have ridden up Wisconsin Avenue during an Anniversary celebration, parked the V-Rod on Brady Street, and rode the curves of Holy Hill and had the joy of experiencing a thousand more moments that connect me with this legendary brand, and my hometown. It goes without saying, Harley-Davidson has been part of my riding life for over 20 years.
I am motivated to lead Brand and Campaign Marketing not because it’s a great job, but because it feels like a culmination of my professional career. I want to respect the nearly 125-year history of our Milwaukee hero brand, while building the campaigns that define what it means to be a Harley-Davidson rider for the next several generations.
Thank you for the opportunity.
