ROCKSAINT, LLC                                                                                                                      

Agricultural business investment providing animal care. Castilla, IA

 

President                                                                                                                                                            

Launched business to capitalize on market for a more humane approach to animal management. Oversee manager who provides the nourishment, health, comfort and safety for 5,000 head of livestock annually. Monitor third party inspections. Maintain property. Manage all contracts and supplier relationships. Identify new and more efficient methods for optimizing productivity and profit. Deploy best practices in animal science and environmental management.

• Achieved positive cash flow since inception. Recuperated 82% of initial investment in year one; turned inventory 2.1X per year.

• Negotiated land ownership for manure rights, saving each party tens of thousands of dollars.

• Secured 10-year guaranteed income agreement with farrower.

• Oversaw construction of 20,000 square foot facility and came in 4% under budget.

 

NOA BRANDS AMERICAS, INC                                                                                                 

World’s largest maker of custom mannequins. Lafayette, CO

 

Brand President – Multi-brands, 2014 – 2016

Promoted with expanded responsibility for all four company brands to lead North American commercial activities. Oversaw $63M profit and loss and staff of 32. Guided company through international merger and integrated two newly acquired European brands with two existing brands for global distribution. Merged two sales forces from mono-brand representation into one sales force of multi-brand representation. Oversaw all product development, marketing, sales. Harmonized compensation. Identified market need and developed new product collections. Became a minority owner.

• Increased margin of core brand from 53.0% to 55.4% in two years.

• Won corporate contract with Target resulting in $15.5M revenue over two years

• Added $1M first-year new brand sales and maintained healthy profitability in challenging market.

• Developed extensive new collection of mannequins, resulting in $1.5M revenue first 12 months.

• Orchestrated relocation and remodel of corporate showroom in NYC, all under budget by 24%.

• Featured on Today Show with mannequins in exact likeness of people with physical handicaps.

 

Brand President – Fusion Specialties – A Noa Brands Americas, Inc. company, 2010 – 2014

Promoted to grow company’s flagship brand and prepare company for sale to next round of investors. Co-led ambitious M&A strategy that culminated in second investor transaction in nine years. Managed staff of 22. Rebranded flagship brand. Conducted market and competitive research, repositioned company, designed and created new logo and corporate identity. Launched new website with online catalog, developed new marketing communications, including product catalog, advertising campaign and direct mail.

• Drove growth in aftermath of Great Recession, increasing revenue from $34M to $53M or average of 13.8% annually, while corporate revenue grew at average 10.7% annually.

• Expanded internationally by leveraging China joint venture to achieve #1 industry market share; 112% larger than nearest competitor.

• Grew account base 102% from 49 to 99, including JC Penney, Foot Locker, Athleta, New Balance, Belk, Timberland, Spanx, Harley-Davidson, Asics; expanded to Ann Taylor.

• Added catalog website that generated up to $1M annually through mom and pop retailer.

• Featured on Today, NPR “This American Life,” and front page of NY Times and Denver Post.

 

Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, 2007 – 2010

Promoted to grow revenue and expand customer base to align company with five-year investment plan of new investors, including international expansion. Managed staff of 15. Navigated company through greatest downturn in modern retail industry history.

• Secured partnership with The Gap, leading to record one-year sales of $12.9M, which preserved company through the Great Recession.

• Acquired competitor, increasing revenue $17M and average margin 4.2% first two years.

• Established joint venture in China, which increased revenue by $3M – $5M annually thereafter.

• Grew flagship brand sales revenue from $28M to $34M or average of 25.9 % annually.

• Increased account base 25.6%, from 39 to 49, including high-profile accounts Disney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lucy, Converse, Macy’s and Nordstrom.

• Featured in documentary film, Beauty Mark, exploring how body image is shaped by culture.

 

Vice President, Business Development, 2004 – 2007

Recruited by owners to bring large company marketing expertise, grow sales, broaden customer portfolio, and position company for sale. Created strategy to gain market share through organic growth. Helped position company for first investor transaction. Managed staff of eight and led all marketing, sales and product development. Conducted research; repositioned company; designed and created new corporate identity; launched website with online catalog; developed product catalog, advertising and direct mail.

• Doubled revenue from $14M to $28M, or 33.0% annually.

• Reduced dependency on two customers from 64% to 28%.

• Increased core account base by 50% or 26 to 39, including global contracts with Nike, The North Face, Columbia Sportswear, Ann Taylor Loft, Chico’s FAS, Armani, Guess, Bebe and J. Crew.

• Introduced industry-first product to market, which grew to 15% of sales or $4.5M in two years.

• Twice nominated for CEBA awards and three times won DDI Magazine Ad-Q Award.

 

HUSTON CONSULTING, INC, Denver, CO                                                                               

 

Principal                                                                                                                                                           

Started firm to provide value-added support to small businesses. Established strategic partnerships in diverse sectors and services to enable clients to generate revenue, minimize tax bite, protect assets and leverage resources. Services included marketing strategy and communication, retail sales productivity and in-store presentation training, tax recovery, asset advisement and professional services.

• Generated first-year profit of $131K and surpassed sales plan by 21%.

• Won Tax Recovery Group Excellence Award for sales productivity out of 400 representatives.

• Helped 120+ small business owners recover over $800K in overpaid taxes.

• Developed corporate identity and market strategy for multiple clients.

 

BRANDMATRIX, Golden, CO                                                                                                       

 

Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing                                                                           

Recruited to bring strategic marketing and management expertise to senior staff of start-up Internet application provider focused on brand marketers and retailers. Managed a staff of eleven overseeing all aspects of business growth. Acquired customers and negotiated contracts. Established strategic alliances.

• Generated $1.3M in first-year start-up sales, exceeding plan and saving 29% in expenses.

• Cut overhead 40% and delivered 95% increase in productivity.

• Won 2001 American Graphic Design Awards for corporate identity and recognized by Art Director Club of Denver for marketing communications excellence.

 

HAGGAR CLOTHING COMPANY, Dallas, TX                                                                          

Vice President of Retail Marketing                                                                                                    

Brought in to build national retail marketing program to compete with Levi’s and Dockers, while strengthening retail marketing organization. Led strategy and tactical execution for all retail marketing. Developed new corporate identity; product packaging; and drove all marketing communication and promotional initiatives. Managed 44-person retail marketing field force and budget of $9.9M.

• Repositioned 75-year-old brand.

• Launched several brand extensions resulting in retail sales of more than $300M.

• Partnered to launch licensed DKNY pant category, with first-year sales of $26M.

• Increased retail sales double digits at top retail locations and 552 department store locations.

• Recipient of multiple industry and company awards.

 

HARTMARX CORPORATION, Chicago, IL                                                                                

 

Vice President of Product Marketing, Tommy Hilfiger Tailored Clothing, 1993 – 1994

Promoted to lead launch of new product line. Served as key communication liaison between licenser, Tommy Hilfiger and Hartmarx. Managed staff of nine and budget of $3M. Planned retail marketing strategies and created product and marketing sales tools.

• Led most successful launch of new product line in 107-year company history, resulting in first-year sales of $20M.

 

Vice President of Market Development, Hart Schaffner & Marx, 1991 –1993

Developed and directed all retail marketing for five major brands. Managed staff of eight and budget of $1.5M. Created sales tools, point-of-sale collateral and product training materials.

• Increased retail sell-through by 212% and gross margin 12 points.

• Improved sales associate productivity by average of 26% per person.

• Grew unit sales an average of 11.4% to accounts that participated in HSM University.

• Attained HSM University college accreditation status through Eastern Illinois University.