'Executive Entrepreneur’ combining the discipline gained from a brand marketing background with the creativity of entrepreneurial experience, to tackle the toughest brand challenges. Held positions as VP, Sr. Director, and Director, reporting directly to CEO and COO offices, in Fortune 500 companies. Able to effectively collaborate with and present to the C-suite. Drives winning brand strategies - leveraging proven creative, design and marketing tactics. As a client, worked with well known brand thought leaders, David Aacker and Erich Joachimsthaler, solving brand image and portfolio issues. Concepted, scoped and launched user centered design projects with Yves Behar of fuseproject, Johan Liden of aruliden, and the team at IDEO. Immersed in innovation culture, lead the brand strategy for a new offering resulting in the creation of a comprehensive marketing program for a unique brand sold through e-com and traditional channels . Resulted in a successful pilot of a new-to-the-world business for that company. Pioneered the use of Industrial Design firms in the Footwear and Apparel markets. Launched a new product line and gathered $5.0 million of comp advertising from PR efforts. As a business leader, responsible for budgets and P&L’s up to $120 million successfully meeting or beating sales plan, while remaining on budget. Consulting Specialties - Brand and Business Strategy, Marketing, Merchandising, E-Com, Retail Development, Financial and Business Plans.

Responsible for all merchandising, and design, services across a Fortune 50 account base. Accountable for a team of Merchandising, Marketing, and Creative professionals in USA, Canada and India. Reported to C-suite.ACHIEVEMENTS + HIGHLIGHTS• Merchandising: Drove merchandise catalogs of over 1,200 items building 5 years of successful YoY CAGR. Successfully led multiple large merchandise projects growing ad-hoc business by 80%. • Brand Marketing: Developed and executed B2C marketing approach using brand matrices to align all stakeholders on marketing direction, and tactics. Pushed creative execution in a new direction to build excitement for a long-term client, resulting in YoY gains of 22% for the last 5 years.• P+L Responsibility: Built profitable key client businesses by developing effective pricing strategies, assortment planning, category and turn management. Margins continually exceeded target for past 5 years.• Creative: Oversaw team of over 25 creative and studio artists supporting multiple clients in print as well as digital retail marketing. Generated new profitable studio art opportunity resulting in $700k revenue gain at 70% margin.• Team Leadership: Acted as a coach and mentor for the team on all aspects of creative, merchandising and marketing endeavors. Results included the creative team becoming the go-to resource for new business pitches, product ideation and award-winning website designs. • Outside Agency Sourcing and Management: Led scoping, selecting and hiring outside agencies and freelancers.• Sales: Developed and presented pitch decks to win new business. Experienced working with high-level clients and IMS executives.

Led branded merchandise Account, Merchandising, and Marketing team. Responsible for P+L. Reported to C-suite.ACHIEVEMENTS + HIGHLIGHTS• Contract Negotiations. Successfully gained contract renewals for key client resulting in retaining $20million+ of business. Built margin on all accounts, by negotiating costs with key vendors as well as improving pricing models. • B2B Marketing. Directed B2B marketing, and e-commerce strategies reaching more than 200,000 client employees.

Strategic Marketing Team Director responsible for managing key Fortune 50 clients' branded merchandise needs. Responsible for directing the marketing team in all digital efforts, including e-commerce websites, email program development, and execution as well as social media content development.

Pioneered new brand ventures and piloted e-commerce based B2C launches in untapped markets, managing crossfunctional teams in research, marketing, and product development.• Developed and responsible for P&L, from pilot through 5-year forecast including capital expenditures, business model, merchandising, and marketing plan for brand. Result: Presented plan for +10% margin accretive business and gained senior management approval for $7 million annual budget.• Designed and executed brand launch strategy including retail store, e-com website, digital, print and TV advertising, CRM, social media, and special event promotions. Result: Launched pilot, gaining consumer awareness and sales, both online and in-store. Achieved 928 Targeted Rating Points (TRP’s) during market push, gained 42% aided brand awareness, with 14% intent to purchase among aware non-users, and 54% intent to re-purchase among users.• Led development of innovative design studio in Chicago, including immersive store environment design, merchandising plan-o-grams, and POS system support. Result: Successful studio launch, with average consumer visit of over 30 minutes and average initial spend of over $140.• Collaborated with internal and external resources to develop product packaging, merchandising and retail presentation strategy for brand when placed with a major retailer. Result: Exceeded retailer facings productivity goals by effectively communicating brand concept and identity to consumers.• Led research into new, channels of trade, and the tactics to obtain credibility in those channels. Result: Strengthened strategy, and revised channel and assortment plan, to encourage customer entry into the brand.• Led building of B-to-C and B-to-B business structure, including e-commerce website, design tool, order processing and fulfillment in parallel with existing systems.

Responsible for seasonal theme concepts and product design in all gear, decorative accessories, furniture, and lighting programs. • Led development of 6 seasonal themes across multiple home décor product lines. Result: Launched over 400 products per year.• Collaborated with merchants and sourcing on product development. Result: Gained alignment and support from buyers; achieved 20% annual growth.

Responsible for P&L, product design and merchandising for Tabletop division.• Managed 140 suppliers covering 1,000 SKUs. Introduced an average of 300 new products per season. Refined merchandise assortment, focusing on SKU’s with highest productivity. Result: Achieved blended margin of over 70%, topping objectives.• Worked closely with store management and display teams developing assortment themes and plan-o-grams. Result: Cross-merchandised tabletop designs into themed presentations, increasing sales.• Identified, secured, and managed international suppliers. Result: Developed strong vendor relationships that enabled successful emergence from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

Responsible for establishing and operating a landmark San Francisco retailer, and brand consultancy. • Created concept, business, and financial plan for innovative retail store catering to consumers intimidated by most high-end design stores. Result: Obtained funding and commitment from world-renowned design agency to collaborate in creating the store brand experience.• Developed unique store layout with customer as the focus of attention, managed store build-out, including hiring contractors and obtaining permits. Result: Received recognition of store design from fashion and home-style publications including Business Week Magazine Bronze Award in Interior Design Excellence sponsored by IDSA. • Managed over 3,000 SKU’s in categories from accessories to furniture. Result: Consistent year-over-year sales increases, even during the economic down-turn.• Hired and developed retail staff. Result: Beat 20% annual growth goals for first three years of business.

• Led development of merchandising, marketing plans, product design, identification of trends and strategic opportunities. Result: Moved brand towards a market leader, built new outdoor business to 20% of company volume, accounted for 15% of volume growth through expansion of national distribution.• Spearheaded the use of industrial design firms for footwear development including developing RFP, overseeing design process, and aligning sales and retailers for sell-in. Result: Transitioned brand image to innovation, won 2 IDSA Gold Awards in Design Excellence and 8 other international awards and generated editorial coverage worth $5,000,000 in advertising equivalent. • Researched and developed new sales, product, and marketing categories, built first on-line sales platform for the brand. Result: Solidified relationships with retailers, by the development of an online retailer presence. • Developed promotional plans for retailers, partnering with Sales to sell-in programs. Result: Grew core product line volume from $30,000,000 to $60,000,000, delivered most successful pre-sale program in history of company and improved product demand forecasting.

Developed successful products and brands through analyzing market trends and identifying product development opportunities. Traveled overseas to work with production and quality control. Responsible for over $15 million in sales.

Accountable for all aspects of buying, including P&L, sales volume, gross margin, mark downs, marketing, promotions and special events in upscale 27 store chain. Grew sales over 30% per annum to $8 million.