Hands-on senior management helmsmanship of unique, privately held, partnership based marketing services company for CPG, retailer and lifestyle asset clients, founded in 1994. Drove all functional teams (sales & marketing, operations, finance and creative services) for diversified agency group engaged in shopper marketing (CoOptions Shopper Marketing), social influencer shopper activation (CoOptions Social), and brand trial activation (Sampling Store) divisions. Personally direct program… Show more Hands-on senior management helmsmanship of unique, privately held, partnership based marketing services company for CPG, retailer and lifestyle asset clients, founded in 1994. Drove all functional teams (sales & marketing, operations, finance and creative services) for diversified agency group engaged in shopper marketing (CoOptions Shopper Marketing), social influencer shopper activation (CoOptions Social), and brand trial activation (Sampling Store) divisions. Personally direct program development, strategic alliances and M&A activities. As of 2018, all groups have been consolidated under CoOptions' Sampling Store for a singular focus on product sampling and consumer/shopper experiential activation.Key accomplishments for the agency. Grew agency rapidly in early years from inception with average of 85% year-over-year annualized growth during each of the first 5 years of operation. Expanded business with product sampling and live trial activation division, delivering more than 500 million samples and printed matter for CPG brands since launch through: 1) ground-breaking sampling co-ops for major retailers including Walmart, Publix, Kroger, CVS/pharmacy, Walgreens, SuperValue and others; and 2) proprietary and partnered networks, including the Campus Sports & Fitness Network, the Yoga Journal studio network, Health Monitor physician network and others.Adapted and evolved quickly with industry migration from traditional consumer and trade marketing models to shopper marketing models, building "Life-to-Shelf™" activations that bridges in-store shopper marketing with out-of-store consumer lifestyle activation objectives. Leveraged partnership-based business model to build client base since inception of more than 90% of national packaged goods companies, including P&G, Kraft, Mondelez, Unilever, Quaker, ConAgra, General Mills, Coca-Cola, J&J, Campbell’s, M&M/Mars, Dole, MasterFoods, Dannon, Novartis, Clorox, Nestlé and many others.www.samplingstore.com Show less

Founder and owner of book publisher WunderMill, under which two book imprints reside: The Cornell Lab Publishing Group (for the world renowned non-profit, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology); and 2) Persnickety Press (children's nature and empowerment books). As of the end of 2018, 42 books and more than 40 licensed products are in market (including 20+ puzzles and playing cards from the New York Puzzle Company based on the imprints' and adjacent intellectual properties). Front and back lists… Show more Founder and owner of book publisher WunderMill, under which two book imprints reside: The Cornell Lab Publishing Group (for the world renowned non-profit, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology); and 2) Persnickety Press (children's nature and empowerment books). As of the end of 2018, 42 books and more than 40 licensed products are in market (including 20+ puzzles and playing cards from the New York Puzzle Company based on the imprints' and adjacent intellectual properties). Front and back lists include two books series from renowned NY Times bestselling children's author, Jane Yolen (author of Caldecott Medaled OWL MOON) and awards won include the AAAS/Subaru SB&F prize for best Children's Science Picture Book in America, the Bank Street Education Award for Best Children's STEM book in the U.S., a Junior Library Guild Selection, and two California Eureka Awards. UPDATE: As of November, 2018, the Cornell Lab Publishing Group adult books are now owned and distributed with Princeton University Press, developed and marketed in strategic partnership with CLPG. Show less

Co-founded full-service startup promotion agency, now known as Colangelo Synergy Marketing under Omnicom's Diversified Agency Services division. Managed day-to-day senior management responsibilities as CEO, focused on business development, finance, creative services and operations functions. Key accomplishments. Built immediate and significant revenue streams through pitching and securing brand AOR appointments and project from former employer, Kraft Foods, winning against other well… Show more Co-founded full-service startup promotion agency, now known as Colangelo Synergy Marketing under Omnicom's Diversified Agency Services division. Managed day-to-day senior management responsibilities as CEO, focused on business development, finance, creative services and operations functions. Key accomplishments. Built immediate and significant revenue streams through pitching and securing brand AOR appointments and project from former employer, Kraft Foods, winning against other well established and entrenched agencies. Developed themed FSI and partnership based platforms outside of AOR services, eventually spun-off to become CoOptions. Show less

Restructured 20 year old agency focused on children’s promotions, revamping internal business structure and streamlining creative and client management systems, resulting in 400%+ increase in sales from $2.2MM annual revenues to more than $9.2MM. Key accomplishments. Pitched and won Dannon® children’s yogurt business against multiple top 10 agencies, which became Alba’s first and longest-standing retainer account. Secured exclusive licensing rights to Frisbee® promotional line, sold… Show more Restructured 20 year old agency focused on children’s promotions, revamping internal business structure and streamlining creative and client management systems, resulting in 400%+ increase in sales from $2.2MM annual revenues to more than $9.2MM. Key accomplishments. Pitched and won Dannon® children’s yogurt business against multiple top 10 agencies, which became Alba’s first and longest-standing retainer account. Secured exclusive licensing rights to Frisbee® promotional line, sold into McDonald’s® for their 1992 Batman Returns® theatrical release tie-in and order for 56 million Batman Returns Frisbee lid toppers. Developed Geoffrey Kids Club relationship marketing program for Toys ‘R Us client, resulting membership of more than 800,000 households. Show less

Managed multiple kids brands in Kraft’s Frozen Desserts Division with combined consumer sales of more than $60MM. Following divisional move to Philadelphia, continued with Desserts Division as independent new product and channel development consultant on Breyers®, Breakstone® and Kool Aid® brands.Key accomplishments (brand management). P&L responsibility for $23MM Kool Aid® franchise, launching 4 line extensions, resulting in increase in consumer sales by 124%. Similar duties sans P&L… Show more Managed multiple kids brands in Kraft’s Frozen Desserts Division with combined consumer sales of more than $60MM. Following divisional move to Philadelphia, continued with Desserts Division as independent new product and channel development consultant on Breyers®, Breakstone® and Kool Aid® brands.Key accomplishments (brand management). P&L responsibility for $23MM Kool Aid® franchise, launching 4 line extensions, resulting in increase in consumer sales by 124%. Similar duties sans P&L responsibilities for Jell-O® Pudding Pops line. Key accomplishments (new product development). Served new Kraft role as Development Manager, spearheading division product development activities. Managed new product ideation, concept development, plant liaison and business planning for division, working in tandem with Marketing Research department to develop and consumer test new line extension and brand concepts. Liaison to other divisional counterparts (i.e., Kraft® baking, confections, cereal and beverages groups) for cross-category product development and cross-category marketing. Show less

First to graduate the inaugural "class" of Nortel's Marketing Management Program (MMP), an elite cross-functional program set up to fast-track newly hired MBA's to marketing executive positions within 3 years. Graduated the program 1.5 years early.Served management positions during MMP rotations in functional areas of Corporate Communications, Strategic & Business Planning, Product Management and Consumer Technologies & Networks groups. Graduate position faced both B2B and consumer… Show more First to graduate the inaugural "class" of Nortel's Marketing Management Program (MMP), an elite cross-functional program set up to fast-track newly hired MBA's to marketing executive positions within 3 years. Graduated the program 1.5 years early.Served management positions during MMP rotations in functional areas of Corporate Communications, Strategic & Business Planning, Product Management and Consumer Technologies & Networks groups. Graduate position faced both B2B and consumer experimental and future planned initiatives, including the SmartHome fiber project, NYNEX / MIT broadband network for the advertising industry and other early new tech inceptions. Show less