John Vernagus Email & Phone Number

San Carlos, Ca, Us

Pointcast is an early-stage company focused on transforming the way mobile users engage with the world around them.The Pointcast software suite provides an intuitive, gesture-based way for any smartphone to instantly connect with nearby places and people. Enterprises are offered a custom solution that enables fast and convenient access to geocoded data and follow-on transactions. Developers can incorporate an API to improve the user experience of their hyperlocal apps.The company currently has 6 patents pending or issued.Visit Pointcast.com to learn more about Pointcast gesture-based search and connection engine solutions.

San Francisco, California, Us

NextGen Venture Partners is a pioneering venture capital firm fueled by a diverse mix of proven entrepreneurs and accomplished executives. The firm support's exceptional startups through the collective power of the nation’s top founders, funders and business innovators. Our network accelerates the success of portfolio companies by infusing capital, market expertise and business acumen.

Los Angeles, California, Us

Extra Edge Marketing is a boutique marketing consulting firm offering strategic and executional services in the areas of market planning, brand positioning, offer development, direct marketing and omnichannel design. Founded in 2009, companies ranging from early-stage ventures to established brands call upon Extra Edge to help supplement their go-to-market efforts during critical performance windows such as product launches, staff transitions and/or critical campaigns.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Member of the “day one” leadership team guiding this $2B Media, SaaS and AdTech business created as a private equity spin-off from AT&T. Responsibilities spanned a range of marketing, corporate communications and channel program roles in support of the company's effort to reshape the market perception of it as a legacy print directory publisher to that of a leading digital media and marketing solutions provider. Key areas of focus included branding, public relations, industry programs, community affairs, social / digital media initiatives, executive and employee communications, sales enablement and culture transformation programs. Key activities/results include:-Planned and directed the branding and communication strategy to launch YP, earning significant positive media coverage and mobilizing the employee base to be ambassadors of the new brand. -Appointed by the CEO to serve as Chief Communications and Culture Officer to lead the company’s culture transformation initiative. Created programs that spanned executive communications, workplace design, employee development, recognition initiatives and community volunteerism campaigns. Departmental engagement scores showed improved of 20%+. -Launched channel initiatives framed to best practices on multiple fronts...sales communications, sales incentives, sales recognition, sales scorecards and sales collateral.-Spearheaded internal/external positioning and messaging strategies associated with multiple M&A transactions, including acquisitions, spinouts and divestitures.-Fueled double-digit market share growth by driving favorable trends in brand image, media coverage, customer awareness and social media commentary. -Overall efforts were instrumental in fueling business results that returned $946M in dividends to private equity investors in the first two years of operations.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Served as the top marketing leader for this $1B Internet Search and AdTech subsidiary of AT&T that was incorporated as AT&T Interactive and branded as Yellowpages.com (Division was spun out as part of a private equity transaction in 2012). Led corporate marketing, product marketing, public relations, industry programs and employee communications.Drove integrated marketing initiatives, which included:-Promoting and repositioning Yellowpages.com to fuel its emergence as one of the top 25 most visited US web properties-Rollout of YP Mobile, a highly-rated app often featured as a “must have” in the Apple App Store-Promotion of YP Local Ad Network, which grew to be one of the industry’s largest-Developing and executing customer acquisition / retention programs via digital advertising, social media programs and email campaigns.Ignited awareness via national multimedia advertising campaigns, top-tier press coverage in publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, and social media integrations with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.Designed and executed a comprehensive industry communications program to drive company awareness and valuation. Key elements included analyst outreach programs, trade press interviews, company publications, executive speakerships, association sponsorships and social media presence. Brand and product image tracking metrics showed significant trended improvements.Collaborated with other C-suite executives to develop the company mission statement, operating principles, brand manifesto and team recognition/appreciation programs. Employee satisfaction scores for this newly formed subsidiary significantly exceeded comparative company benchmarks. Contributions fueled a near doubling of the company's annual revenues to $1B and established AT&T Interactive as the 9th largest media company, largest digital local advertising company and 2nd largest mobile advertising platform in the U.S.

C-Suite Advisors Group offered marketing, business development and sales activation support for new venture initiatives and early-stage companies in the technology sector. Engagements included:-Interim CMO assignment at Macquarie Telecom with a mission of accelerating the company’s expansion across Asia. Outcomes included the doubling of product revenues, capture of industry awards for business innovation and the launch of a new suite of web hosting services-Interim CMO / COO assignment at Regenesis Power, a venture-backed solar energy start-up, in support of funding efforts and initial product roll-outs. The company offered a portfolio of solutions that enabled local utilities to market a turnkey national "white label" product and service platform. Outcomes included the capture of additional venture capital, securing of pilot stage customer contracts and ultimately the acquisition of the business by an industry competitor-Short-term advisory engagements at companies including Rocket Info (online newsfeed), Helio (mobile phone service) and AirCell (public WiFi) to conduct marketing audits and provide brand positioning recommendations.

Sydney, Nsw, Au

Served in an CMO role, an interim executive assignment, at this information and technology company headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Working as part of the leadership team for the organization's Singapore subsidiary, the role was focused on expanding the company's enterprise communications, hosting and networking management products across Asia. Outcomes included the launch of a new suite of web based products, capture of industry awards for service/innovation and the doubling of customer revenues.

Dallas, Tx, Us

Promoted to a CEO direct report role with mass market accountabilities encompassing branding, marketing and corporate communications in support of the consumer business unit as well as all corporate-wide brand initiatives. Achieved 150%+ of market profitability goals during each plan year via notable initiatives such as the "AT&T Nationwide Local Service" rollout, “AT&T CallVantage VoIP Service” launch, “AT&T Wireless MVNO” trial and the “AT&T 21st Century Brand Transformation” campaign. Corporate marketing responsibility, in addition to traditional positioning and promotional functions, included general management oversight for a growing $75M per year brand licensing business.The position was transitioned effective 1Q06 following the acquisition of the company by SBC.

Dallas, Tx, Us

Recruited to serve as the business unit’s chief Marketing executive, accountabilities spanned advertising, analyst relations, brand strategy, channel enablement, marketing communications, marketing research, offer positioning, product marketing, sales programs and sponsorships. Major breakthroughs included the development of a new business positioning strategy, "The World's Networking CompanySM," the expansion of world-class event sponsorships with the PGA Tour and Formula One Racing, the implementation of automated channel support tools and the global product launch of a new technology suite of “managed service” networking solutions. Budget responsibilities encompassed a $150M program portfolio.

Recruited to take on the position of Business Unit leader for this $1B per year Concert division. (Concert was the global joint venture formed by AT&T and British Telecom to offer IP networking solutions to multi-national businesses.) Directed an organization of several hundred team members located throughout the world.Completed the build-out of a globally positioned distributor network supporting US multi-nationals, implemented robust channel enablement programs and delivered country-specific leads via a robust demand generation programs. Results reflected double-digit revenue growth spanning multiple periods. Regional performance was ranked #1 within the company.

Dallas, Tx, Us

Appointed as the Regional Executive for this $800M per year multi-state operating unit that was a part of Pacific Bell/Southwestern Bell Mobile Services and generated 25% of the company’s revenues. Directed a team of 800 line and staff employees.Exceeded objectives for subscriber growth, cost per gross subscriber addition, retail channel build-out and operating profit margin as well as increased all aspects of brand equity through an active community involvement and sponsorship program.

Appointed as a Corporate Officer by the acquiring company's leadership team to spearhead the business' launch into wireless services with responsibilities for brand positioning/promotion, product/market management, demand generation, industry relations initiatives and the development of non-traditional industry distribution channels including affinity sales, direct marketing, e-commerce and telesales. *Efforts fueled the company's outstanding financial performance, brand attribution ratings that surpassed established competitors and the solidification of the GSM digital wireless standard in the US. In addition, new benchmarks for success were established for direct marketing campaigns. Overall subscriber counts were grown to over 2M with corresponding annual revenues approaching $1.5B.

Recruited as a CEO report to direct cross-organization programs guiding the business’ transformation from a highly regulated entity to a customer-focused competitive service provider via initiatives that included the implementation of new product lines; development of bundled offers and associated segmentation strategies; introduction of a customer loyalty and retention program; and establishment of foundational plan for entry into long-distance and wireless marketplaces. *Turnaround results were delivered for revenue growth, customer satisfaction metrics and overall customer base retention for this $3B business unit. In addition, a new pre-paid calling card business was launched during the period.

Overland Park, Kansas, Us

Early career rotational roles at GTE, and Sprint as an acquiring company, spanning marketing, product management, sales and business operations reflecting progressively increasing job responsibilities. Hired off of the college campus into the GTE Marketing Leadership Program for structured career development across a mix of company-wide assignments.

Master Of Business Administration (Mba), Marketing

Bachelor'S Degree, Management