Kurt Bedell

About Kurt Bedell

I’m a strategic marketing leader with 25+ years of experience shaping brand, content, and business growth across sectors, including global tech, higher education, and mission-driven nonprofits.Today, I serve as Director of Digital Marketing at Portland State University, where I lead efforts in SEO, analytics, digital campaigns, and (unofficially) wrangling the content side of PSU\'s public web, pdx.edu. With over 200 decentralized websites and no formal web team, I guide content strategy, structure, and standards across the university’s ever-evolving public web presence.Before transitioning to higher ed, I spent 17 years in senior marketing and business development roles at Apple, where I led initiatives across sales, channel development, education marketing, and global storytelling. I’ve worked with everyone from bookstore managers to CIOs, student reps to strategic partners, shaping narratives and programs that drove results and built community.Throughout my career, one constant has been the belief that great marketing doesn’t just sell. It builds trust, inspires action, and reflects shared values. Whether I’m mentoring colleagues, chairing my condo’s HOA board, launching a university-wide analytics architecture, or repositioning an academic program for recruitment, I bring a blend of structure, creativity, and dry humor to the table.Strengths and specialties include:• Digital strategy, campaign design, and marketing ops• Web analytics (GA4, GTM, Looker Studio dashboards)• SEO and content strategy for higher ed + mission-driven brands• Cross-functional leadership and stakeholder alignment• Brand storytelling, DEI communications, and creative direction• Business development, fundraising, and strategic partnershipsI’m especially passionate about:• Elevating public higher education• Driving enrollment through smart, student-centered design• Bringing clarity to complex systems and processes• Helping people and organizations tell their story—wellLet’s connect if you’re building something bold, mission-aligned, and just a little bit unruly.

Experience

1. Director of Digital Marketing

   Portland State University

   Jan 2024 — Present · Portland, OR, US

   Lead PSU’s digital marketing strategy across a decentralized university ecosystem, connecting brand, enrollment, and web to drive measurable impact. Oversee SEO, digital analytics (GA4, GTM, Looker Studio), and cross-channel campaign strategy to engage prospective students and elevate institutional visibility.Serve as the de facto content/web lead for pdx.edu, stewarding content standards, information architecture, and site performance across 200+ websites, despite no formal centralized web content team. Partner closely with multiple campus stakeholders to improve user experience, track ROI, and align messaging with institutional goals.Focus areas:• Digital marketing campaign strategy and execution• Website structure, UX, and content strategy for pdx.edu• Search engine optimization and keyword strategy• Web analytics reporting and marketing attribution• Cross-functional collaboration with IT, enrollment, and campus marketers• Leadership in decentralized digital operations and governance

Education

• Northwestern University

  B.A.

Skills

• Go-to-Market Strategy
• Market Planning
• Channel Partners
• Digital Media
• Direct Sales
• Analytics
• Business Strategy
• Program Management
• Mobile Technology
• Retail
• B2b
• Marketing Communications
• Organizational Leadership
• Mobile Devices
• Multi-Channel Marketing
• Trade Shows
• Competitive Analysis
• Start-Ups
• Team Leadership
• Sales
• Email Marketing
• Marketing
• Business Development
• Digital Marketing
• Cloud Computing
• Crm
• Lead Generation
• Project Planning
• Social Networking
• Strategic Partnerships
• Leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Training
• New Business Development
• Sales Operations
• Demand Generation
• B2b Marketing
• Account Management
• Enterprise Software
• Sales Management