Curt Gruber Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Led brand, marketing and sales growth strategy, research, integrated communications, and revenue-generation functions to strategically place MSI as a global leader in the cultural and STEAM educational experience space. Implemented new, robust data analytics, digital advertising, social media, and earned media programs to exceed aggressive growth goals. Reported directly to President/CEO; member of Leadership Team; worked directly with Board of Trustees; managed department of (10) full-time staff.• Increased revenue by 39% through creative marketing strategies.• Shifted strategy to reposition the brand to compete in larger entertainment category (vs solely against similar cultural institutions), lifting overall attendance 82% over two years. Analyzed competitive activities, market trends and consumer behavior to support repositioning, identify opportunities and optimize marketing campaigns.• Implemented new communication content development strategy increasing earned media placements +175%; +50% increase in social engagements; +150% net audience growth; and creation of local and national influencer program.

Greater Chicago Area

Founded strategic marketing consultancy with an emphasis on branding and “business forensics,” helping clients assess and then optimize all aspects of their revenue-generating processes and operational workflows. Served as a trusted advisor in a variety of industries including higher ed, government, medical research, online retail startups, nonprofits, and others. ENGAGEMENTS INCLUDE:• Benedictine University – Brand Strategy, Enrollment Marketing, Marketing Planning• Children’s Brain Tumor Network – Renaming & Brand Asset Development• Fashion Constellate – Brand Development & Online Marketplace Launch• Serve Illinois/State of Illinois Department of Health – Brand Strategy• Reveal – Employer Branding & Business Development• Edison Awards – Fractional CMOSTRENGTHS• Marketing Strategy: Develop comprehensive strategic visions and brand architectures to achieve corporate goals and increase brand equity. Specialize in mission articulation, goal development, segmentation, targeting, positioning, brand pillars, identity and voice.• Integrated Marketing: Big-picture thinker with ability to manage day-to-day execution across cross-functional marketing departments. Develop best-in-class tactics across traditional, digital, social, acquisition/retention, CRM, automation, and engagement.• Analytic, Creative & Practical: Avid researcher, seeking consumer insights to design motivating consumer messaging on time, on budget, and with measurable results.

Marketing strategy lead and corporate officer at PR and events agency specializing in bringing consumer, B2B and business service brands to life through earned media, content strategies, and brand-activation events to achieve long-lasting impact. • Key Accounts: McDonald’s, KitchenAid, EA Sports, CBS Sports• P&L: Developed/managed P&L and negotiations to create the CBS Sports Classic premier college-basketball event (teams: Kentucky, UNC, Ohio State and UCLA and arenas: United Center/Chicago, Barclays Center/Brooklyn and MGM Arena/Las Vegas). Year-one revenues +20% of budget.• Brand Evolution: Developed new brand pillars and marketing tactics to re-invent 30-year old EA SPORTS Maui Invitational college basketball property. +10% revenue in 1st year.• Sponsorship/Activation: Oversaw sponsorship sales, marketing activation and P&Ls throughout professional, collegiate and amateur-level sports. Managed national sponsorship for the McDonald’s All American Games and led client-services, activation and on-site fan engagement for the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid.

• Transformational business turnaround focused on acquisition, conversion and retention; group sales; brand positioning; corporate partnerships; sales reporting, and optimizing full-funnel, multi-channel marketing and sales cycle.• Renewed focus on the customer, guest experience, and corporate partnerships netted +21% overall sales in 1st year; +36% in groups; +46% in single-game sales in first year.• Implemented innovative, best-in-class social media presence to accelerate online and in-arena user engagement with the brand and corporate partners to support key awareness initiatives and new product launches.• Managed the planning and execution of advertising and promotional activities. Assisted with corporate sales acquisition presentations and with key customer relationships to maximize partnership activations ensuring account success and retention.

• Built franchise from inception to national entity through branding, strategic marketing; and B2C/B2B engagement. • Created personalized, multi-touch-point plan to double membership revenue in three years and drive overall membership to 60% of annual ticket revenue.• Developed all goals and KPI; business, marketing, and sales plans; and revenue stream identification. Success in all business categories produced the flagship organization in the Arena Football League; 3x winner of best front office.• Achieved consistent sellout attendance; highest league-wide national ESPN ratings.• Cultivated roster of long-term blue-chip corporate partners across various industries including Discover, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, US Army, ADT Security, Meijer, Chipotle, Allstate Insurance; Snickers; Anheuser-Busch, Bosch tools.

Brands: Juicy Fruit, Doublemint, Wrigley’s Spearmint, ExtraResponsibilities: Brand Management, Research, Promotions, Advertising• Advertising & Promotions: Managed all U.S. efforts on portfolio of brands. +35% market share; grew portfolio to +$500MM gross sales with $45MM marketing budget across traditional/digital media, PR and in-store engagement.• Delivered new product and packaging innovations to re-energize historic brands and engage new consumers.• Worked closely with customer-sales team and category buyers at major food, drug, mass and convenience retailers (Kroger, Albertsons, Target, etc.) on annual and seasonal co-op programming. • Change Management: Negotiated and implemented a multi-year endorsement contract with Venus and Serena Williams repositioning the historic Doublemint brand to increase relevance and usage among its most-important, yet overlooked, consumer demographic.

Director, Global Brand Development | 2000 | Brand Manager, Wines | 1999Manager, International Marketing | 1998 | Associate Marketing Manager | 1996-1997Brands: Jim Beam Bourbon, Knob Creek, Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps, Geyser Peak WinesResponsibilities: Brand Management, Promotions, Global Marketing, New Business• F500 Global Brand Management: Brand champion across Jim Beam Brands Company $1B product portfolio. Owned strategy, positioning, targeting, communications and equity development to grow brand to 23% global market share. Planning/execution of regional programs throughout Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. Member of JBB Global Marketing Committee tasked with creating best practices and maximizing brand equity.• New Business: Re-established international sales, distribution and marketing operations for Geyser Peak California wines and Barwang - a joint venture between Geyser Peak/Jim Beam and McWilliam’s Wines of Australia. Oversaw positioning, pricing, production forecasting, marketing, sales management and distribution network in (8) target countries in Europe and Asia. +25% increase year-one sales volume.• New Products: Launched DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker schnapps - the most successful new product in spirits industry history; delivered $28MM to year-one bottom line. Ubiquitious “Appletini” was invented based on this product launch.• Tactical Execution: Developed and executed tactical plans across the Jim Beam Brands cordials portfolio with +$173MM annual gross sales; +$13MM marketing budget; $1.75MM event-programming budget and +1,100 events in 100+ markets.

Marketing Manager | 1995-1996 | Product Manager, Dacor Sport | 1994-1996Dacor Sport, Coordinator | 1993-1994 | International Sales and Marketing | 1992-1993Category: Retail Sporting Goods (SCUBA/Water Recreation), Active LifestyleResponsibilities: Marketing, New Product Development, Sales Integration, Production Forecasting• Big-Box Retail: Dacor Sport grew to 33% of corporate revenue in first year through aggressive big-box retail programming.• Bilingual sales/customer service for Latin American and Caribbean customers.

Mba, International Business

B.S., Philosophy

International Student Exchange, Paysandú, Uruguay