Rey Bouknight VP, Business Consulting • Workforce Transformation • Executive

Vice President of Business Consulting & Evangelism

Firstup

Oct 2025 - Current (10 months)

As Vice President of Business Consulting and Evangelism at Firstup, I lead the Business Value Consulting team—helping enterprise leaders drive measurable impact through communication strategy, data storytelling, and workforce transformation. I also serve as an evangelist for Firstup, sharing insights, customer success stories, and thought leadership across the industry.

Vice President of Customer Delivery

Firstup

May 2025 - Oct 2025 (6 months)

As a strategic and results-oriented executive at Firstup, I shape the customer journey and drive significant business outcomes for 264+ enterprise customers, generating $100M+ ARR. I lead a high-performing team of Customer Success Managers, Business Value Consultants, and Data Analysts focused on delivering innovative, data-driven customer success strategies. Proven expertise in scaling operations (achieving a 108% increase in ARR managed per CSM ), leading GTM strategies, and implementing customer-centric solutions that enhance retention and fuel revenue growth. Key achievements include $2.5M+ in upsell/renewal from value-driven workshops and leading digital transformation for global brands.

Member

Pavilion

Mar 2024 - Current (2 years 5 months)

Pavilion is a private membership community for leaders in the SaaS industry. It is designed to provide networking, career development, and growth opportunities for leaders in various roles including sales, marketing, customer success, and revenue operations. Members can connect with peers and industry leaders to share experiences, advice, and opportunities. They also have access to a variety of learning materials, such as webinars, workshops, and courses tailor-made for them.

Senior Director, Customer Success

Firstup

Dec 2022 - May 2025 (2 years 6 months)

As Senior Director of Customer Success, I play a critical role in ensuring the success of Firstup's customers. I lead a high-performing team of Customer Success Managers, Business Consultants and Data Analysts who manage hundreds of Firstup customers. Designing the customer journey: I map out and design key services throughout the customers’ journey, from strategic consulting at initial onboarding to full optimization of the platform following launch. These services include workshops, best practice sessions, business reviews and tactical working sessions. Developing and executing winning strategies: I define what customer success looks like, build the processes to achieve it, and coach my team to excel. This includes onboarding, enablem

Strategy Director

Firstup

Dec 2021 - Jan 2023 (1 year 2 months)

In my role as Strategy Director at Firstup, I have had the privilege of serving as a trusted advisor to Fortune 100 companies, leading a team of professionals to deliver professional services across countless industries. By designing and implementing strategic workshops and playbooks, I successfully lead a team that delivers positive business outcomes for customer, driving satisfaction and growth for our customers.

Strategy Advisor

Firstup

Nov 2020 - Dec 2021 (1 year 2 months)

Leaning on years of experience as a communications executive, I help customers transform their digital employee experience to solve critical problems. This includes reaching 100% of their workforce to drive business initiatives, boosting morale through employee engagement and leveraging data insights to inform business decisions. To improve customers’ time to value, I work on each implementation with a sense of urgency and ownership, and have launched customers at an accelerated rate.

Director, External Affairs and Communications

Michigan Department of Health Human Services

Aug 2019 - Nov 2020 (1 year 4 months)

• Led a team of 11 communicators who manage the internal and external communications, public relations, and media campaigns for the State of Michigan's largest department. • Worked closely with the Michigan Executive Office of the Governor while leading statewide communications and responses to some of Michigan's most complicated and dire public health situations, including COVID-19. • Served as senior communications advisor to executive leadership and staff, particularly during times of crisis. • Oversaw the department's overall media strategy, which involved nearly 30 paid media campaigns in FY20 and coordination with countless news outlets on critical and pressing topics. • Invented, designed and launched the department's internal brand

Executive Director of Internal Brand and Engagement Strategy

MGM Resorts International

Feb 2017 - Apr 2019 (2 years 3 months)

• Led a team of 11 creatives comprised of writers, photographers, designers and editors to introduce new and dynamic ways of engaging MGM Resorts’ employees. • Orchestrated the development and management of MGM Resorts' internal brand and engagement initiatives, including its employee brand campaign "We are the Show." • Created the company's first video communications platform for employees. With new videos airing weekly, my team used employee storytelling to reinforce key messages of the company's brand. On average, the videos yielded 60K plays individually. More than 40 videos were produced in the span of 10 months. • Launched and led the content and operations of the company’s employee communications platform. The social media-inspired p

Executive Director of Corporate Communications

MGM Resorts International

Jan 2016 - Feb 2017 (1 year 2 months)

• Led a team of expert communicators that advanced a myriad of corporate communications functions, including executive communications, thought leadership, corporate social responsibility (CSR) communications and media training. • Partnered with the Social Media department to create and manage MGMThink, the company's first executive leadership communications platform that involves online and social media, and the securing of senior leaders' speaking engagements. • Led a cross-section of HR and guest experience leaders to introduce the company's front-line engagement initiative, a program designed to create a greater connection between the company's senior leaders and front-line employees. • Continued all the responsibilities I held as the Di

Director of Corporate Communications

MGM Resorts International

Jun 2011 - Jan 2016 (4 years 8 months)

• Strengthened the MGM Resorts brand by promoting the company's reputation and leadership in social responsibility among targeted business, community, consumer and media audiences. • Served as a communications advisor to senior leadership, including the Chairman and CEO. • Prepared and distributed press materials related to CSR activities, including press releases, videos, and blogs. • Secured and staffed opportunities for company executives and CSR leaders to reinforce the MGM Resorts brand through speaking engagements, interviews and editorial submissions. • Led the planning of press and special events to promote the company's commitment to CSR and leadership in the entertainment and hospitality industry.

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Director of Government Relations & Interim Public Relations Director

Nevada Cancer Institute

Feb 2008 - Mar 2011 (3 years 2 months)

• Led Nevada Cancer Institute's legislative initiatives, including lobbying, grassroots advocacy and policy review • Served as the liaison and special assistant to the CEO at legislative and media events. • Organized press conferences, staffed media interviews and wrote press releases to garner public support. • Traveled with executive staff to build strategic partnerships statewide and at the U.S. Capitol. • Wrote policy briefs and position papers for executive staff and external constituents. • Coordinated visits and tours of the Institute for VIPs, including celebrities and legislators.

Cardiovascular Health Consultant

Michigan Department of Health Human Services

Mar 2007 - Jan 2008 (11 months)

• Served department as liaison to community-based organizations to address chronic disease in Michigan. • Worked with community partners to organize communications campaigns that promoted cardiovascular health.

Public Health Consultant

Michigan Department of Health Human Services

Jul 2005 - Oct 2006 (1 year 4 months)

• Served as Michigan Surgeon General’s liaison to coalitions and community-based organizations. • Contributed to the marketing of the Surgeon General’s statewide health initiative “Michigan Steps Up.”

Rey Bouknight

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