David M. M. Taffet Email & Phone Number

Mérida, Yuc., Mx

Fort Worth, Texas, Us

JukeStrat is a purpose-driven consulting group that helps build healthy organizations. As a Venture Builder, my role is to help companies uncover creative paths, evade obstacles, and systematically build and develop the tools, people, and processes to achieve unprecedented success. Whether helping organizations to achieve operational efficiencies, eliminate toxicity, or navigate seismic strategic pivots, I am responsible for accelerating transformations by executing with excellence with and through people.

Oakland, Ca, Us

Rainfactory is a multiple award-winning marketing and advertising agency that specializes in blending traditional marketing and advertising techniques with new media best practices. We’re experts in crowdfunding and e-commerce. We’ve run successful campaigns for everything from gaming consoles to pet products and motorized skateboards. We work with companies of all sizes–from giant ones like Hallmark, Logitech, and Philips to startups that have zero experience bringing a product to market. Our goal is to work with the coolest, kindest clients doing big-picture things, and to amplify their reach with data-proven strategies that excite target markets.

San Francisco, Ca, Us

BetterManager is a Silicon Valley-founded startup with a growing global presence that is poised to become the premier solution for organizations everywhere looking to develop their managers into leaders and grow their people into a source of sustainable competitive advantage. As the SVP for Contract Strategy & Negotiations, I am responsible for creating a strong client and business partner experience; supporting efficient and effective contract operations; negotiating optimal business and contractual terms; and ensuring effective working relationships and partnering across organizational boundaries with delivery, growth, and operational teams to strengthen business results.

Fort Worth, Tx, Us

Co-founded and led the direct-to-consumer pre-sale launch of the world’s first freezer for household waste that has resulted in many triumphs to date, including:*Received media coverage from Fast Company, The Hustle, BBC World Service, and Trend Hunter.*Won two major international design awards:-- 2020 New York Design Awards | Gold Award for Product Design— Homewares-- 2020 GOOD DESIGN® Award | Household Products *Nominated for a prestigious Edison Award for excellence in new product development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation.

The Fossicker Group is a woman-owned research firm that builds thought leaders and inspires paradigm shifts in diverse industries across the globe. It is the first creation of JukeStrat’s venture studio.As the Head of Strategy & Inspiration, I ensure that every project meets business objectives and spurs growth. You can expect me to ask incisive questions and inspire new ways of thinking.

Oxford, Oh, Us

Charged by Miami University's Chief Research Officer to strengthen Miami's commitment to innovation and commercialization, resulting in the following: * Negotiated an agreement between Miami University and both the Wright Brothers Institute of Dayton and the United States Air Force Research Lab ("AFRL") that resulted in the AFRL sharing its entire portfolio of close to 1,000 patents with Miami University and in the creation of the Miami University-AFRL Research Technology Commercialization Accelerator.* Structured and negotiated a successful joint submission by the University of Dayton and Miami University to Ohio's Third Frontier resulting in a $400,000 Technology Validation and Start-up Fund.* Evaluated Miami University's traditional technology transfer operation and proposed a plan the University implemented that included eliminating the technology transfer office, entering a shared services agreement with the University of Dayton resulting in a 90% reduction in expenses, and establishing a Center focused on inclusive innovation and commercialization.Orchestrated successful turnarounds of Massachusetts-based, Indiana-based, and Washington D.C.-based subsidiaries of a Fortune 500 company by working behind the scenes as an "Invisible Man Consultant" to the CEOs of the subsidiaries.Negotiated and structured a licensing and equity relationship on behalf of a lab in the Division of Genomic Diagnostics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with a Hungary-based global molecular diagnostics company on the cutting edge of DNA sequencing. Negotiated and cemented a carrier neutral co-location agreement on behalf of an International IT infrastructure and managed services company that will deliver over $3.6 million in savings over the course of 3 years.

Oxford, Oh, Us

Co-created and jointly operating Miami University's LAB, an innovation studio that leverages academics and business to commercialize idle and underutilized intellectual property.Co-authored a white paper submission to the Kettering Family Foundation that resulted in an award of $100,000 to be used to fund commercialization of regionally derived intellectual property.

Columbus, Ohio, Us

Selected as one of OSU's 15 Executives in Residence.

Platypus Holdings, LLC, served as the holding company for the acquisition and development of millions of dollars in residential, commercial, and mixed-use real estate in NOLA (Treme, Bywater & The French Quarter), Chicago (South Loop) and The Greater Philadelphia Area (Main Line). In addition to acquiring, restoring and developing portfolio properties, Platypus Holdings also developed from the ground up Addiction Coffeehouse, which Eater.com consistently includes in NOLA's top 10; Yelpers rank as NOLA's #1 Coffee & Tea establishment; Spoon University--"The Food Network for the Millennials" --declared one of America's 25 Best Artisanal Coffee Shops; and Gear Patrol--a male-oriented, award-winning on-line and print magazine that monthly reaches 1.9 million unique readers--dubbed one of America's 25 Best Coffee Shops.

Orchestrated 8 successful turnarounds on behalf of U.S., Canadian and German public and private corporations, including two on behalf of Actua Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTA) (Formerly Internet Commerce Group) and one on behalf of Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB). These enterprises included high tech, biometrics, International outsourcing, communications and not-for-profits.On behalf of Actua Corporation, retained by the CEOs of both the public company and of the United States subsidiary then-named ICG Commerce to evaluate and address long-standing financial issues and complex managerial and operational incompatibilities between ICG Commerce and its then German Division hpi GmbH. Working with the German management team, restructured the division and extracted significant employee concessions. Secured approval for the concessions from three company unions and, in turn, from the German National union. Orchestrated and negotiated the sale of the newly restructured division to a German competitor on terms that included an assumption of liabilities by the purchaser and a reduction in and favorable treatment of a trade payable owed by ICG Commerce to hpi.Also on behalf of Actua, led a team of 8 senior executives in a bottom-up analysis that included, among other things, interviewing close to 100 team members, mapping the current state, creating the future state, developing a skills matrix, tying roles to sub-processes, constructing a detailed process flow with hand-offs and metrics and devising an implementation and communication plan. With senior executives of D&B, restructured Purisma, a then recently acquired San Francisco-based subsidiary that offers a master data management platform for D&B enterprises and customers. Streamlined the organization, integrated the operations into D&B, and reduced the projected loss from operations by over $15.5 million over 3 years while delivering a modest profit versus a projected $8+ million loss in the then following year.

Contributed and raised $12 million in debt and equity to purchase a majority stake alongside Capital Source (NYSE: CSE) in Lippincott, LLC, a 20-year old national jewelry reclamation company that depended on televised and Internet-based direct marketing to generate business. Profitably increased annual revenue from approximately $17 million to $50+ million. Conceived and launched new brands that received positive national attention from, among others, the Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, The New York Times, Financial Times, The Huffington Post, DailyCandy.com and The Consumerist.

Brooklyn, New York, Us

With committed funds from Microsoft, Rohm & Haas Company, and The William Penn Foundation, co-launched this not-for-profit organization committed to ensuring that other not-for-profits could effectively use technology to better serve their communities and constituencies. As Treasurer, imbued the organization with a for-profit orientation and a drive to deliver an ROI on deployed capital.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Us

Rose from one of over 30 board members at large to a member of the finance committee, a member of the strategic committee, the head of the tactical committee and, ultimately, to one of 6 outside directors elected to serve on the Executive Board, the body charged with dictating the direction and ensuring proper governance of the University City Science Center, which has over 30 institutional shareholders, controls significant real estate holdings in West Philadelphia and, at the time, was the home to over 150 emerging companies. Selected by the members of the Executive Board to serve in an interim role as CEO to turn the organization around and to facilitate the transition between the then outgoing leadership to the replacement leadership. As an Executive Board Member and as the interim CEO, facilitated the elimination of over $2 million in annual expenses, identified previously forgone revenue from under utilized commercial space and parking facilities, engineered the institution’s move for the first time in its history to a cash flow positive operation, and recognized the need for and supervised the refinancing of the real estate holdings resulting in over $10 million in working capital and a strong balance sheet.

Raised $100 million from the Steinmetz Diamond Family's multi-billion dollar single limited to support buy-out activities in the distressed and turn-around environment. In conjunction with the single limited, launched a division called Fossicker Japan focused on funding acquisitions of U.S. private companies through investments in publicly traded Japanese companies. During the life of the fund and of the Japanese strategy, reviewed hundreds of deals and met with tens of management teams to evaluate the merits of acquiring the company at issue. In the end, shelved the fund but maintained the relationship with the single limited after jointly concluding that the buy-out market had become too efficient (i.e. over saturated with funds and under populated with quality deals) to deliver in a tight enough window the returns sought.

Raised $6.5 million in venture capital to develop, build and operate a profitable carrier neutral co-location company. Raised $24 million in institutional funding to participate in an auction to purchase 8 data centers from a bankrupt competitor and ultimately came in 2nd in the bidding amongst a field of 9 competitors. Raised $110 million in debt and equity to successfully outpace 4 competitors in a bid to purchase the data center assets of an International communication company. Architected a transition plan for an enterprise with over $100 million in revenue, hundreds of clients, approximately 80 employees and 9 geographically dispersed centers. Secured from a distinct International communication company management rights to three geographically dispersed facilities. Managed the operations to a foreseen conclusion as a result of 3 distinct bankruptcies by core clients. Wound down the operations without any financial repercussions to the parent company, transitioned the remaining client base to competitors’ facilities without incurring any business interruption on the clients’ behalf and facilitated subsequent employment for the remaining employees. In a tumultuous and unforgiving market, outpaced industry giants like Exodus, PSINet, Verio and Colo.com by avoiding bankruptcy, reporting 12 consecutive EBITDA positive quarters and selling the business for a multiple of positive cash flow.

Infusion assisted under-represented and smaller public and private companies in securing capital, making acquisitions, and developing market presence.

Equisition was a seed capital fund that invested in smaller public and private companies.

Des Moines, Iowa, Us

Served as an investment professional along side Bankers Trust's investment bankers. Facilitated financing, secured assets, and managed the same.

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Practiced environmental and civil litigation on behalf of corporate clients and governmental agencies. Developed an International and regional client base.

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Practiced environmental, civil rights and other civil litigation on behalf of corporate and private clients. Served as a policy analyst on behalf of Sam Katz, a gubernatorial candidate backed by the firm. Worked full time and studied independently while preparing for and ultimately passing on the first try both the Pennsylvania and the New Jersey Bars.

Us

Attended and analyzed congressional hearings. Cultivated contacts with congressional staff members. Developed legislative status reports. Conducted legislative and legal research.

J.D.

Bachelor Of Arts, Public Policy