Ray van Hilst

About Ray van Hilst

Bridging the gap between marketing strategy and technical execution. Without losing sight of the impact to be made.I help organizations solve digital challenges with a strategic mindset and a strong technical backbone. Whether building an impactful web presence, optimizing marketing stacks, or aligning brands and content with business goals, I bring a consultative approach that engages across departments and levels from C-suite to day-to-day contributors.I’ve led projects across the full marketing lifecycle: brand strategy, rebranding, content development, PR, and campaign execution. But where I often bring the most value is at the intersection of strategy and technology guiding CMS implementations (from WordPress to Sitefinity), managing custom web development, configuring marketing automation tools like HubSpot, and guiding the technical details that make or break digital initiatives.My clients and work experience includes marketing communications for a technology companies as well as hands on work on web strategy and development, membership, social media and events focused projects for 100+ associations and non-profits including the American Institute of Architects, School Nutrition Association, EMDR International Association, The Internet Society, The Oceanic Society and many more. Other experience has included working with diverse for-profit companies such as The Home Depot, RIDGID and Ryobi power tools and live entertainment including Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney On Ice.Specialties and skills include- Web strategy, UX planning, and content architecture - CMS implementation, custom development oversight, and technical project leadership - Digital marketing strategy & brand positioning - HubSpot configuration, marketing automation, and CRM alignment - Content marketing, social media, and editorial workflows - Public relations, messaging, and media outreach - SEO strategy, analytics, and performance reporting - Cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder alignment, and consultative leadership - Digital project management and vendor coordination - Platform evaluation and technical requirements gatheringGet in touch and let\'s chat about how we can make the world great together.

Experience

1. VP of Strategy

   Yoko Co

   Jan 2025 — Present

   I help lead Yoko Co’s digital strategy and UX practice including coaching our team, shaping strategic offerings, and collaborating with clients to solve their digital challenges and help them make a bigger positive impact.By balancing leadership with hands-on strategy, I work closely with our teams to set direction and priorities, mentor talent, and evolve our processes to keep pace with changing client needs and industry trends.I also serve as a lead UX strategist on projects keeping my hands in the work by digging into discovery, defining user experiences, mapping content strategies, and turning insights into digital plans that are clear, actionable, and aligned with measurable goals. On the business side, I partner with our growth and client success teams to shape proposals, pitch solutions, and identify new opportunities that align with Yoko Co’s mission to work with organizations that make a positive impact. I also represent the agency externally, sharing ideas, building partnerships, and positioning Yoko Co as a leader in strategic digital transformation for mission driven organizations.Outside the office, I am an active volunteer with the American Society for Association Executives where I have served on a number of Advisory Councils and am a frequent speaker on Digital Strategy and Web Management.

Education

• Marshall University

  BA, Journalism

  1988 — 1993

Skills

• Marketing
• Information Architecture
• Content Management
• Strategy
• Wordpress
• Creative Direction
• Email Marketing
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Market Planning
• Creative Development
• Brand Development
• Web Content Management
• Newsletters
• Strategic Communications
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Social Media Marketing
• Online Advertising
• Market Research
• Press Releases
• Web Analytics
• Integrated Marketing
• Corporate Branding
• Marketing Communications
• Digital Marketing
• Marketing Automation
• Marketing Research
• Crm
• Blogging
• Lead Generation
• Event Planning
• Google Analytics
• Brand Management
• Web Development
• Content Strategy
• SEO
• Marketing Strategy
• Copywriting
• Trade Shows
• Digital Strategy