John Grams Email & Phone Number

Kolkata, Wb, In

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

The Red Bari is a heritage building located in Kolkata's historical Kalighat district. As the Assistant Director and Co-Founder, I am playing a crucial role in helping the restoration and transformation of this iconic building into a commercial venture offering co-working; space for events such as banquets, filmography, team meetings, and exhibitions; accommodation; and a coffee shop.My role:• With my partner, crafted a compelling business strategy that differentiates The Red Bari from existing offerings in Kolkata, positioning it as a vibrant collaborative space for entrepreneurs, artists, foodies, and designers, and harnesses synergies between the various business activities.• Spearheaded the establishment of a beverage-centric coffee shop in The Red Bari, overseeing the recruitment and leadership of a highly skilled food service team.• Working with farmers to establish farm-to-table supply chains for key ingredients to support farmer livelihoods while improving the quality, sustainability, and cost efficiency of our inventory.• Collaborating closely with the team to curate a menu featuring a diverse selection of high-quality coffee, tea sourced from our own tea estate, our signature kombucha, gourmet sandwiches, and weekly specials from around the globe.• Designing streamlined food menu options and optimized service operations to enhance cost efficiency and prioritize a customer-centered approach.• Actively contributing to the development of other business activities, fostering synergies and creating a sustainable venture and thriving community.• Demonstrated expertise in fundraising by crafting a meticulous and robust financial model, instrumental in securing the necessary funding to bring The Red Bari to life.• Leading the integration of automated inventory management tools, to enable real-time tracking and reporting to optimize stock levels

Irvine, Ca, Usa

Mana USA, LLC is an import company that connects organic tea growers in India with consumers in the USA. As President and Co-Founder, I am/have:• Developed and executed a highly effective business strategy that centers around personalized B2B sales, combining a high level of personal touch with a streamlined and automated backend office. This strategic approach has propelled the company's growth from a pre-revenue startup to a profitable organization, with annual sales surpassing half a million dollars.• Engineered and optimized a robust supply chain, ensuring smooth and efficient operations that deliver value to customers at cost effective rates.• Implemented automation solutions for approximately 80% of administrative, operational, and marketing activities. Through a suite of Python programs, I coded personally, I have not only streamlined our workflows but also generated cost savings of approximately $60,000 per annum.• Spearheading sales efforts, utilizing diverse channels to raise brand awareness and drive revenue generation.• Assumed personal responsibility for managing key accounts, nurturing enduring client relationships, and consistently delivering exceptional service. This commitment to client satisfaction has been instrumental in securing repeat business and maintaining our reputation for excellence.• Championed a commitment to quality and sustainability, positioning Mana USA as the premier B2B choice for high-quality organic Assam teas in the North American market.

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

The Kombucha Co. India is the result of our unwavering passion for tea and fermentation. We take pride in handcrafting our kombucha in Kolkata, using premium, fresh, and organic teas sourced from our esteemed estates in Assam, combined with locally grown ingredients for delightful flavors. Every recipe undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that only the best reaches our valued customers.Our family has been in the tea business for four generations. We have been producing artisan Assam teas since 1943, which is now enjoyed across the world. After seeing the high quality of kombucha that our partners in the United States were producing with our teas, we decided to introduce the healthful, fizzy, and robust health beverage which can be an alternative to soda/carbonated drink in the tea-loving nation.As the Founder and Managing Director, I have:• Led our strategic positioning as a Kombucha unique for its origins in America, West Bengal and the tea gardens of Assam.• Pioneered the development of a unique kombucha production process by conducting extensive research and experimentation, resulting in the creation of our own expertise and techniques.• Successfully created kombucha recipes to cater to the Indian palate by incorporating local flavors and intensifying the sensory experience, leading to widespread consumer appeal.• Positioned The Kombucha Co. India as the preferred choice for kombucha enthusiasts, offering a distinctive blend of exceptional tea and the healthful benefits of fermentation.

Various

Mana Organics is a social business that connects organic farms to the market. I assisted with planning the scale up of a venture working with small organic farmers in Madhya Pradesh, India. Specifically, I am,• Designed the Monitoring and Evaluation plan for the company’s triple bottom line• Provided support with new data collection systems• Conducted a Discounted Free Cash Flow Analysis of the company’s scale-up plan• Co-designed the company’s new business model in response to the findings of the Discounted Free Cash Flow Analysis

Irvine, Ca

Eva International Development Information Technologies attempted to provide a cloud-based software platform designed to assist NGOs, social enterprises, and government organizations conduct impact evaluations of their activities. Specifically, our product will provide tools for designing projects, collecting and analyzing data, and raising funds. This idea won a Big Ideas prize in 2015.This product never exited the prototyping phase.

New Delhi, India

I consulted clients regarding the design of social sector projects. I specialize in cost-benefit analysis, monitoring and evaluation strategy, result frameworks, and impact evaluation. I have provided my expertise to the World Bank, various India government institutions, and Hindustan Zinc.For example, I completed a project with the World Bank and the Government of Karnataka regarding the design of a local public services development project. For this project, I: • Conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed $323 million USD project, including Monte Carlo simulations and sensitivity tests• Worked with stakeholders to design a results framework for the project• Designed a monitoring and evaluation plan for the project with a focus on integrating mobile devices into the tracking of progress participating institutions• Consulted on the design of the impact evaluation strategy of the projectMy other accomplishments in this role include:• Worked with stakeholders to develop a grant award process that will distribute approximately $300 million USD directly to universities and colleges in Madhya Pradesh, India• Developed an eligibility criteria that fairly awards money to higher education institutions that are in need of funding and well positioned to achieve the objectives of the project• Programmed a tablet-based socioeconomic baseline survey of over 18,000 households in Rajasthan, India • Co-authored 16 reports regarding community socioeconomic baselines and project outputs for a corporate social responsibility for Hindustan Zinc• Co-led a workshop for designing the CSR Strategy in response to study findings• Used the Bass Diffusion model and expert interviews to forecast sales for a new information management software product in India

Ahmedabad, India

Rematerials is a manufacturing start-up that transforms used cardboard and ag waste into quality roofing for slum housing in India. As a consultant, analyzed the path to scale up, identifying key challenges, and suggesting strategies to overcome them.Specifically, I:• Conducted a sensitivity analysis to quantify the benefits of potential R&D initiatives• Collaborated on business model development• Designed a portfolio optimization program that minimizes risk and raw materials costs• Projected capital expenses and production payments for the next five years of the company• Found a cost structure change that increases company per unit margins up to 19 percentage points

Berkeley, Ca

While earning my masters degree, I worked as a Graduate Student Instructor for a class on designing technology solutions for pressing social and environmental problems. My role was to provide consultation to two teams of graduate students. I help students test hypotheses, define problems, brainstorm ideas, manage logistics and access outside resources.Group 1 designed a forced-air cookstove that will decrease indoor air pollution by in households burning biomass for fuel, and encourage adoption. One of the key insights I offered was that the goal is decreased exposure to pollutants, which includes not just the amount of emissions coming from the stove, but whether or not people will adopt the stove, and whether they will use it properly. Most stoves focus on reducing emissions only. This group designed a stove that includes two features that overcome user issues with other stoves.Group 2 built a prototype of a dryer for roofing panels made from recycled materials. The tiles produced by this dryer will improve the quality of life in India by providing affordable, durable, temperature reducing roofing materials to those living in urban slums and villages.This is the second semester I have worked as a Graduate Student Instructor of this kind of design class. In the previous semester, I helped guide students through the design and iteration of include projects focused on the socialization and reintegration of inmates, sustainable livelihoods for fishermen, and small business development.

Mongolia

As an Independent Consultant for the UN FAO, I designed and implemented a value chain assessment of Mongolia’s livestock industry. Specifically, I:• Evaluated rates-of-return on the informal supply chain of the four livestock products• Analyzed the impact of risk on herd composition, and developed 4 policy recommendations• Conducted 114 surveys across 7 provinces• Hired and managed a team of 12 enumerators

Santa Ana California

• Provided after-school supplemental tutoring in English and Math to children in low performing schools.• Assisted with the assessment of student needs and the monitoring of student progress.

Thailand

• Designed and facilitated university level, participatory learning activities on Thai culture, conservation, sustainable development, Buddhism, and economic development.• Led groups of university students to accomplish: ◦ The construction of a new school building to serve remote hill tribe communities. ◦ The design and implementation of English and Environmental education activities for primary school students. ◦ The observation and recording the behavior of rehabilitated gibbons. ◦ The feeding, bathing and general care of rescued elephants.• Served as translator and cross-cultural expert for students during community activities.

Thailand

• Designed, and implemented a small business skills training project for middle school students utilizing experiential learning techniques. Worked with students to apply skills learned to start a business.• Lead a youth development class that taught problem solving and teamwork skills through experiential learning activities.• Organized host country counterparts in a participatory community assessment that utilized needs and asset-based strategies to develop sustainable project ideas.• Co-facilitated a Project Design and Management Workshop to help community partners achieve their goal of starting an organic vegetable selling income generation group. • Co-designed and facilitated an organic fertilizer and carbon sequestration training that helped the community meet its goal of promoting organic, sustainable farming.• Proposed the idea, and served on the committee that drafted a manual for small business skills education in Thai schools.

San Francisco, Ca

• Wrote the policy positions for a winning campaign for citywide office in San Francisco, CA.• Drafted a student financial aid proposal to bring millions of dollars in federal and state funds to needy community college students at minimal cost to the college. • Wrote Op-Eds for the candidate's policy initiatives, and other public statements.

Sacramento, Ca

• Designed an investment program to allow families to pre-purchase their child’s higher education.• Managed the passage of legislation that protects the public from improperly conducted fumigation.• Analyzed and made vote recommendations on 54 bills coming before the Higher Education Committee.• Coordinated a coalition, and staffed the legislation, that successfully added $1.2 million in student loan repayment assistance to the legal advocates of foster children, and the disabled.

Master'S Degree, Development Practice

Masters in Development Practice

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Politics

Activities and Societies: California Young Democrats, UC Santa Cruz

High School Diploma

Activities and Societies: Water Polo, Drama