Partner in a national management consulting firm for strategic marketing, growth and GTM implementation, digital marketing and sales enablement for B2C and B2B firms - with 135+ CMOs and CSOs serving in fractional, interim and advisory roles for nearly 2,000 SMBs and P/E firms.My client experience includes RESTAURANT/HOSPITALITY, PROFESSIONAL/B2B and REAL ESTATE SERVICES, and RETAIL, TRAVEL & CONSUMER GOODS.CURRENT ROLES>Restaurant Expansion/Operations consulting for iconic lifestyle brand (Texas) / 2024>Mexican Restaurant Chain (Southern California) - MIGUEL'S JR. / since 2019>Pizza Restaurant Chain (Chicago area) - SLICE FACTORY / 2024ADVISORY & BOARD ROLES>HR & Employee Content Creation Software (SF) - CHANGEENGINE / since 2024>Exhibit & Corporate Display design & fabrication (Los Angeles) - PRESENTATION MEDIA / 2024>Peer-To-Peer Home & Car Rentals (Atlanta) - P33R RENTALS / since 2023>Customer Experience Strategies & Analytics (Toronto) - ONR.CX / since 2018PAST>Global Specialty Coffeehouse (US) (LA) - COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF / 2023>National Wealth Management Firm (LA) - EP WEALTH ADVISORS / 2021-23>Global Filtration & Membrane Systems (Seattle) - STERLITECH / 2023>Luxury Spa start-up brand (National) - LUM'AIS WELLNESS / 2023>Catering, Hospitality & Events Firms (LA; SF) - SCHAFFER / 2023; BETTY ZLATCHIN / 2022-23>Global Fine Chemicals distributor (LA) - SPECTRUM CHEMICAL / 2020-22>National Hotel brand (DC) - WHYHOTEL rebranded as PLACEMAKR / 2020-21>Shampoo/Haircare brand (HASK) (New York) - INSPIRED BEAUTY / 2021-22>Global money transfer services (LA) - SIGUE / 2022>Natl. Real Estate/Luxury Apts. (San Diego) - FAIRFIELD RESIDENTIAL / 2019-20>Construction equipment rental (LA) - TRENCH SHORING / 2019-21>Restaurant Kitchen Design+Equipment (Costa Mesa CA) - AVANTI / 2019-20>Cancer center/Integrative medicine (Irvine CA) - CCFH/CFNM / 2020>Med-Spa treatment centers (LA) - ORANGETWIST / 2017-18

2024 / "THE MARKETER" PODCAST INTERVIEW with MONTE CLARK> Panelist/Speaker TOPIC: "AI, Marketing & Sales"https://www.linkedin.com/posts/monteclark_the-marketer-harness-the-tech-that-is-shaping-activity-7152690118741360640-5Zob?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop2021 / PODCAST INTERVIEW, WBSROCKS (WBSP056)> TOPIC: Grow Your Business by Aligning Your Customer Experience Strategyhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/samguptausa_customerexperience-cx-strategy-activity-6784556803821858816-9iEU2019 / ANA's B2B MARKETING EXPO (Los Angeles CA) / MasterClass Speaker> TOPIC: How To Be Your Company's Growth Engine / "Cracking the Complexity of Simplicity"2019 / THE CONFERENCE BOARD (Los Angeles CA) / Keynote Speaker> TOPIC: "Cracking the Complexity of Simplicity (Plan-On-A-Page Strategy)"2018 / FORBES COMMUNICATION COUNCIL / CMO Contributor> communications topicshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/11076500/2017 / GLOBAL RETAIL MARKETING ASSOCIATION (St Petersburg FL) / CMO Executive Panelist>TOPIC: "How Technology is Changing The Guest Experience"2015 / ADVERTISING AGE BRAND SUMMIT (Los Angeles CA) / Keynote Speaker>TOPIC: "Building Brand Loyalty in a Post-Social World"2015 / INCITE SUMMIT WEST (San Francisco CA) / Keynote Speaker>TOPIC 1: "Brandocracy: Build a strong brand, now that customers have the power to define it">TOPIC 2: "Marketer as Bridge Builder: Deliver premium customer experience collaborating across depts"2015 / THE ADVERTISING CLUB of NEW YORK (New York, NY) / Keynote Speaker>TOPIC: "Measurement:NOW">VIDEO LINK BELOW2012 / YPULSE, THE MILLENNIAL MEGA MASHUP CONFERENCE EVENT (Miami FL) / Keynote Speaker>TOPIC: Retail & Digital Experiences for Millennial Shoppers2010 / MULTICULTURAL MARKETING, HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION ROUNDTABLE (Chicago IL) / Conference Speaker & Panelist>TOPIC: Diversity Travel Marketing

KEY ACHIEVEMENT: built new relevance, share expansion, sales & traffic among millennials and young families by repositioning the IHOP brand, experience, menu and content; successful leader-collaborator with IHOP's franchisees and councils.● Strategic+Implementation lead for national marketing, media, menu innovation & product development; including advertising; broadcast/digital/social media; PR/CSR campaigns; new product pipeline; digital/mobile experience innovation strategies.● Drove significant growth in comp sales and traffic, including strong share expansion among millennials and families, dayparts and menu relevance, consumer engagement and social media fans/followers. + Introduced IHOP "smile" logo & brand promise, "Eat Up Every Moment" campaign & "Breakfastarian" social media; expanded CSR around families/kids/community, with No Kid Hungry partnership, and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals for IHOP Nat'l Pancake Day + Built industry-leading fan/follower social media base; 1st-to-market with emerging social media platforms, incl. Facebook Live to launch summer menu, Snapchat geo-filter download record on Nat'l Pancake Day, 1:1 fan engagement on Twitter, Instagram for food news & behind-the-scenes + Established a product pipeline for all major menu categories, dayparts and regional taste profiles, introducing an array of new menu items and 2 major innovations every year

KEY ACHIEVEMENT: drove share expansion & e-club membership among Shopper Moms/Families, mall traffic and family retailer sales, with new social media influencers, promotions, and in-mall amenities and events.● Strategy & execution lead for Family Shopper marketing, events & retailer traffic for Westfield's 39 upscale US malls, driving traffic & family fashion sales through campaigns tied to key retail seasons and CRM, influencer marketing, in-mall events/amenities and sponsor revenue● Re-set brand program strategy/content direction for WFAMILY e-club, with successful events for Back To School, Easter, Halloween & Holiday; including Mom Bloggers/Teen Vloggers for Back To School teen/tween fashion retailers; and "Merry Makers" mall ambassadors during Holiday Season● Launched family community platform in association with Anti-Bullying Groups, St Jude's Hospitals and the 1st local-driven/local-selected partnerships with local elementary schools

KEY ACHIEVEMENT: relaunched each of Hilton's full-service/luxury for REVPAR, occupancy and development growth - attracting younger business travelers, women, resort and new luxury/leisure travelers, with new media, services and lifestyle partnerships.● Led global marketing teams for each brand, across advertising, branded entertainment, promotional, PR & new service launches. + Drove share/revenue, engagement and purchase intent for HILTON (2006-09). + Introduced Hilton Luxury (WALDORF ASTORIA, CONRAD) with elite PR, Golf, Spa & Entertainment integrations (2009-10). + Relaunched DoubleTree brand, the "cookie welcome" and overall service focus (2010-11). ● Repositioned Hilton globally, with award-winning Travel Should Take You Places advertising & digital campaign, and new lifestyle sponsorships, including tie-ins and bookable room packages via hiltonjourneys.com, for music, food, fitness and pet-friendly partnership amenities● Expanded preference & revenue impact of entertainment & sports sponsorships, through PR/CSR strategies and product integration: + Grammy Awards & Tony Awards and charitable foundations + Film/TV integrations with “Mad Men”, "Next Food Network Star", “Up In The Air”, "Just Go With It" + USOC sponsorship of USA Swimming/Michael Phelps & USA Volleyball/Beach Volleyball for tie-in's with fitness, swimming and sleep wellbeing● Rebuilt/Relaunched Hilton's Luxury Brands (Waldorf Astoria, Conrad) to redefine contemporary luxury with extraordinary service & signatures. Introduced new PR/Media Partnerships tied to Golf & Spa, and an exclusive luxury social influencer network, to drive purchase intent & bookings.● Named 2008 Travel Marketer of the Year by ATME (Assoc of Travel Marketing Executives). Won numerous travel industry advertising/creative, PR and entertainment strategy program awards for all brands, as well as the Yahoo! Innovation Award for Hilton's first experiential microsite.

KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Introduced 2 health & wellness beverages and piloted 3 espresso, specialty & premium coffees and juices in foodservice customers in Europe/US/Asia, and in "restaurant of the future" prototypes with McDonald's in US/Canada/UK.● Built beverage strategies, business & consumer cases, and retail pilots for new products/brands targeting Young Adults/Females and Moms/Kids, with focus on foodservice occasions for juices/juice-drinks, coffees/teas.● Led new beverage strategies and merchandising pilots for US/UK/Canada "restaurant of the future" initiatives with McDonald's

KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Launched "Destination Beverages" platform/toolkit for volume/sales growth for McDonald's internationally, incl. promotions, advertising, menuboard and proprietary packaging; implemented joint sponsorships of Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Disney Animated Films.

KEY ACHIEVEMENT: 10-year progression to agency leadership, new business and forward plan oversight roles, while doubling revenue from the agency's largest account in 3 years.● Managed a wide variety of longterm national, local and non-profit clients, including Coca-Cola USA, AFLAC insurance, Motorola electronics, Atlanta CVB and 1996 Summer Olympics, Georgia-Pacific building products and paper products, CARE international relief● Named 1 of 12 global HK McCann Award winners for excellence, in 1997.