Daniel Beens
Marketing Strategist & MBA
Metro Detroit
Marketing Strategist & MBA
Metro Detroit
Dan Beens is an integrated marketing leader with 14+ years turning complex business priorities into clear strategies, growth-driving campaigns, and stronger customer experiences across financial services, education, and automotive. Combines enterprise experience, lean-team resourcefulness, and hands-on execution to find the path when the playbook is incomplete and deliver measurable results.
funded through targeted
auto-refinance campaigns
checking accounts
$30,800 Donated
new-location launches
enrollment growth
lower website costs
with 4 websites rebuilt
fewer web errors
across 300K+ pages
Campaign Strategy, Go-to-Market, Customer Acquisition, Product Marketing, and Growth
Web, Email & CRM, Social Media, Content, Paid Media, SEO, and Analytics
Cross-Functional Leadership, Agency & Vendor Management, Budgeting, Operations, and AI Strategy
July 2021 – Present
Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union
Troy, Michigan | A $4.3B credit union with 161,000+ members and 24 locations; #4 nationally among $1B+ peers for member value.
$7.6M Lending Campaign Impact: Led strategy, audience targeting, messaging, creative, and cross-functional execution across two auto-refinance campaigns.
616 Checking Accounts / $30,800 Donated: Led campaign setup, nonprofit partner strategy, and launch for a purpose-driven checking acquisition promotion.
7 New-Location Launches: Led integrated go-to-market campaigns as the organization expanded from 17 to 24 branches.
Member Acquisition & Referral: Helped launch the digital referral Member Appreciation campaign and now lead annual campaigns across direct mail, email, digital, retail, and partner channels.
Rapid-Response Launches: Led UAW relief, government shutdown, and first-responder recruitment programs, aligning Marketing, Lending, Retail, IT, and Risk Management.
Marketing Operations & Coaching: Standardized Asana workflows and onboarded a new campaign specialist.
Enterprise AI Evaluation: Led a four-platform assessment and defined use cases, guardrails, budget needs, and next steps.
February 2018 – July 2021
Lutheran High School Association
Rochester Hills, Michigan | Private nonprofit association operating three Lutheran high schools across Metro Detroit.
Organization-Wide Modernization: Rebuilt web, enrollment, communications, fundraising, and e-commerce, moving applications, forms, and tuition billing 100% online.
6.8% Enrollment Growth: Led marketing and three admissions directors as enrollment rose from 1,015 to 1,084.
Website Transformation: Personally built four Squarespace websites, cutting platform costs 80% and increasing traffic 14.5% across sites serving 150,000 annual users.
Brand & 85% Social Growth: Established school brand systems and led social strategy across Google Business Profile, Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, supported by Canva, photography, and video.
Email, Giving & Digital Commerce: Launched the first admissions email program, online giving, donor automation, summer camp registration, and inventory-free spiritwear stores.
June 2013 – January 2018
Penske Automotive Group
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan | Fortune 500 automotive retailer supporting hundreds of dealership locations and 40+ automotive brands.
Digital Experience at Scale: Partnered with vendors and regional leaders to reduce broken links 51% in seven months across 259 websites and 300,000+ pages.
Social Growth: Led corporate social strategy that grew Penske Automotive’s Facebook audience 95% over five years; researched and advocated Instagram adoption that contributed to rollout across 160+ dealership locations.
Market Intelligence: Built competitive, customer-experience, and reputation audits that identified dealership gaps and informed executive sales and marketing recommendations.
CRM & Content Operations: Managed digital content standards across 40+ automotive brands and supported Salesforce email templates and automated dealership journey reviews.
Brand Activation: Helped manage onsite logistics for Penske Automotive at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, 2014–2017, coordinating vendor load-in, hospitality, and day-of event operations.
May 2012 – May 2013
Campbell Marketing & Communications – Ford Racing
Dearborn, Michigan | Marketing agency serving a major automotive OEM client.
4,000+ Owners & Dealers: Served as a primary program contact across warranty, pricing, and brand compliance.
Events & Published Content: Wrote for SVT Enthusiast and Ford Racing and executed 10+ grassroots events.
September 2010 – January 2012
Thrivent Financial
Shelby Township, Michigan | A Fortune 500 financial services organization with $179B+ in assets under management serving 2.3 million clients.
Provided comprehensive financial guidance to individuals and families, aligning investment and insurance strategies with their goals and simplifying complex decisions with clarity and confidence.
Series 7 Licensed (General Securities Representative Qualification Examination)
Series 63 Licensed (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination)
February 2009 – June 2009
Walt Disney World Resort
Lake Buena Vista, Florida | A Fortune 50 media conglomerate with an exclusive global alumni network of 50,000+ professionals.
Selected for a competitive internship focused on operations and guest experience. Developed world-class service and adaptability skills in a high-volume environment, forming the foundation of my customer-first approach to marketing.
Disney Traditions Class
Magical Service Award June 2009
Handled various retail merchandise areas at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort
Atlanta Braves Spring Training
Walt Disney World Marathon
2006 – 2010
Concordia University Wisconsin
Mequon, Wisconsin
Accelerated Dual Degree: Selected for the Business Scholars Program, completing both B.S. and M.B.A. in four years by averaging 18+ credits per semester.
Honors: Awarded Presidential Scholarship for academic excellence.
2018 – 2020
Lutheran North High School
Macomb, Michigan
May 2011
Trinity Lutheran Church & School
Utica, Michigan
Open to conversations around marketing leadership, growth strategy, and meaningful collaboration.
Marketing Strategist & MBA
Metro Detroit