KATY SIMMONS

Product Leader | 16-Year Expert in Driving SaaS Product Growth 

501-680-9288  |  katy.simmons.357@gmail.com | LinkedIn | Website | Arkansas

SUMMARY

With 16 years experience in product leadership, I've had the privilege of helping several companies achieve significant growth in national and international markets.

At Apptegy, achieved a 400% increase in market share for the flagship multi-channel product, expanding the client base from 800 to 4000, and enabling sales that generated $20 million in ARR. Successfully launched a second major product, rapidly growing the client base from 2 to 436 within two years.

At BBA, successfully launched and scaled an e-commerce platform enabling sales that generated $1 million in revenue in the first year, transforming the product into a national on-campus enterprise solution. Established the company's mobile presence as a leader in the collegiate bookstore market.

At both Apptegy and BBA, built the company’s product team and created an environment that fosters creativity and collaborative culture. Led initiatives to develop talent, creating high-performing teams that drove transformative outcomes in the SaaS product space.

CAREER EXPERIENCE

Operations Manager @ The Venture Center

(Jan 2024 - present)

The Venture Center is a globally recognized, Arkansas-based nonprofit entrepreneurial support organization (ESO) that’s on a mission to accelerate success for start-up founders, small business owners, and corporate innovators through award-winning entrepreneurship programs, platforms, and partnerships.

  • Coordinate recruitment and onboarding of entrepreneurs to programs and mentorship platforms.

  • Provide product consulting and go-to-market strategy for entrepreneurs in the program.

  • Strategic collaboration with the Entrepreneurship and Innovation teams to coordinate the activities for ongoing and new programs. 

  • Initiate the development of a new entrepreneur program focused on energy and transportation. 

Senior Product Manager @ Apptegy

(Jan 2019 - Jan 2024)

Apptegy is a cloud-based marketing and communications platform for K-12 schools, enabling unified, multi-channel communications.

Strategic Leadership & Vision

  • Balanced investor initiatives with strategic product vision, ensuring product alignment with long-term business goals while fostering innovation and market leadership.

  • Led initiatives to develop talent, resulting in the creation of high-performing teams that drove transformative outcomes in the SaaS product space.

Portfolio Growth & Product Expansion

  • Managed an international EdTech portfolio, facilitating a successful transition from startup to scale-up.

  • Achieved a 400% increase in market share for the flagship product, expanding the client base from 800 to 4000. 

  • Successfully launched a second major product, rapidly growing the client base from 2 to 436 within two years. 

  • Established the foundation of Apptegy's product line, creating a successful framework for future growth.

Product Roadmap Development

  • Created adaptive product roadmaps aligned with the product vision and strategy that aligned with business initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency and market expansion.

Team Mentorship & Collaboration

  • Propelled Apptegy's product team to where it is today by improving cross-team collaboration and developing an overarching product strategy. 

  • Led diverse cross-functional teams across global offices, prioritizing competing demands and driving success.

  • Collaborated closely with engineering teams to optimize scalability and performance, aligning technology with company growth and customer success. 

Product Marketing & Analysis

  • Developed and executed successful go-to-market strategies resulting in rapid market growth and product adoption.

  • Conducted comprehensive market analysis, identifying trends and adjusting product strategies to outperform competitors. 

  • Established user advisory panels and leveraged business insights to provide data-driven feedback for product enhancements and to evaluate success. 

  • Worked closely with UI/UX designers to develop prototypes and design systems, enhancing user experience and cross-product usability.

Lead Product Manager @ BBA Corp

(Nov 2008 - Dec 2018)

BBA Corp provides innovative campus solutions to meet the individual needs of higher education institutions, with industry leading success in on-campus student bookstore operations (later acquired by Valore).

  • Developed National Mobile Presence | Initiated the company's expansion into the collegiate bookstore market through innovative mobile strategies, garnering nationwide recognition.

  • E-Commerce Product Growth |  Catalyst for launching and growing a college bookstore e-commerce platform, elevating it to a nationally recognized enterprise solution.

  • Leader in User Engagement | Orchestrated the on-campus product division, driving unparalleled user engagement and adoption with strategic integrations and innovative services.

  • Strategic Roadmapping | Developed and executed customer-centric product roadmaps strategically aligned with market trends to ensure sustained growth and relevance.

  • Innovative Go-To-Market Initiatives | Established highly effective go-to-market strategies for on-campus finance and billing solutions, fostering strong client relationships and significant stakeholder influence.

EDUCATION

  • University of Arkansas @ Little Rock | Bachelors of Science, Computer Systems Engineering

  • University of Arkansas @ Pulaski Tech | Associates of Science, Computer Programming and Applied Science

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Head Coach @ Girls on the Run | Girls on the Run is a national empowerment program that inspires girls to build confidence and other essential life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and physical activity.

  • Co-Founder and Board Director @ Arkansas Women's Outreach | Arkansas Women's Outreach (AWO) started in 2015, focusing on women's health in the homeless community. Our mission is to improve women's lives by providing direct access to period supplies and women's health resources.

  • Co-Founder @ Leborne Racing | Our goal has been to create a space where women can learn valuable skills across multiple disciplines with the hope that more women are inspired to ride and race bikes.


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