Don Merrill Email & Phone Number

San Diego, California

Company bakes and sells gourmet pies through multiple channels: Tootie Pie Gourmet Cafés, telephone, internet via Company’s website.★ Created and launched a nationally recognized retail and wholesale brand; garnering positive press from prominent media: Rachael Ray “Every Day”; Southern Living; Food Network. ★ Won a ADDY award (national advertising award) for logo and packaging design in 2008. ★ Led company to obtain high profile corporate clients like: Fox Studios, NY Yankee Stadium, Neiman Marcus, Winnebago, Chase Bank.★ Grew sales from zero to $3M through online, wholesale and retail sales channels; utilizing all forms of social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and online viral marketing on YouTube.★ Created and launched successful viral marketing video campaign utilizing social media.★ Opened and operated seven Tootie Pie Gourmet Cafe locations throughout the state of Texas. ★ Designed full menus, established distribution through six states using SYSCO and Ben E Keith wholesale distributors. Presented in food shows, including the annual Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, CA.★ Raised over $4M in capital; arranged a $1M credit facility, by soliciting and securing funding from US and internationally based hedge funds and private equity.

$110M privately held convenience store Company that owned, built & operated under “Valero” brand, until its successful sale in 2010.★ Participated in the identification, negotiation and acquisition of multiple rollup locations throughout Texas; taking company from 3 locations to 120 in three years; growing revenue from $15M to $110M. ★ Helped to build management team and establish financial controls and reporting.★ Raised over $3M in private equity, plus negotiated credit facilities up to $10M.

$150M public company that provided telecommunications services between the U.S., Mexico and Latin America.★ Helped company go public on NASDAQ, doing presentations all over US to increase shareholder awareness.★ Raised approximately $25M in public/private equity; negotiated credit facilities.★ Secured strategic alliances with AT&T, Sprint and TelMex.