Michael Bills Email & Phone Number

Columbus, Ohio, Us

VENN is a growth, branding and innovation practice. We help businesses grow and brands thrive. Our rigorous process integrates data-driven analysis with creative ingenuity to deliver operationally sound and emotionally compelling strategies. Envisioning the future is challenging when you’re buried in the here and now. To win in today’s hyper-competitive economy businesses need a growth partner who can focus on the opportunities ahead. At VENN we align business strategy with brand marketing to create work that is both fact-based AND intuitive. Our proprietary tools facilitate collaboration and we co-create with our clients because it’s internal stakeholders who determine whether a strategy succeeds or fails.

Columbus, Ohio, Us

Responsible for the management of entrepreneurship and innovation - based curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular programming including redesign of the University-wide Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the integration of the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Innovation Initiative. Teach graduate and under graduate courses in Innovation and entrepreneurship and consult with leading companies and brands on innovation and brand positioning.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, Us

Senior Vice President and Interim Chief Marketing Officer for Minneapolis - based manufacturer and retailer (425 locations) of premium sleep solutions and one billion dollars in annual revenues following six year consulting relationship with company, CEO and internal marketing team. Member of executive team, managed 60 associates and nine-figure media budget, responsible for brand positioning, advertising (print, online, broadcast television and radio, outdoor, circular/insert ), media buying and placement, omni-channel consumer experience, digital (website,social and mobile), public relations and employee communication, in-store communication and retail store design. Hired new associates, consolidated media buying, developed and launched new campaign, redesigned organizational structure and branded significant new product (including naming, identity development, positioning and launch strategy).

Columbus, Ohio, Us

Founded and manages the Innovation Initiative, a multi-dimensional center of excellence at the Fisher College of Business focused on corporate innovation, top-line growth and value creation through the development of new products and services. The Innovation Initiative includes a Corporate Innovation Forum an advisory board comprised of a diverse mix of leading businesses, a student MBA organization - Innovation Fisher, various academic research initiatives in innovation, a felllowship/internship program, Innovate Columbus - an annual innovation symposium co-sponsored by TechColumbus and InnOSU - deans and department chairs from various colleges working to develop a University-wide ideation lab. Instructor in the departments of Marketing & Logistics and Management & Human Resources. Developed and teaches four innovation, digital marketing and multi-channel marketing courses within the MBA and Executive Education programs.

Managed 7 U.S.studios on behalf of WPP and a team of 330 associates from eleven disciplines and $40M in annual revenues, in the delivery of market research, brand positioning strategies, marketing communications, retail design and product development for leading, Fortune 500 brands in the North American market. Services included qualitative and quantitative consumer research, segmentation and persona development, naming, identity development and application, brand standards and guidelines, merchandising, marketing collateral, store design and architectural documentation and product innovation. Oversaw acquisition by WPP and integration of RPA into Fitch business, reorganized organizational structure and redefined service offer. Posted record revenues for U.S. studios for over two years and recognized for excellence in design with over two dozen industry awards and accolades. Recognized as industry expert in consumer- centered marketing and innovation, keynote speaker at leading industry events and consulted with the executive teams of leading companies in over 17 countries. Multiple appearances on CNN, CNBC, Sky Radio and quoted in publications including BusinessWeek and Time. Directly managed multi-million dollar, global engagements in the apparel, technology, mass retail, entertainment and CPG including BCBG, adidas, Microsoft, Dell, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Trump Enterprises, the National Football League, Sears, Kmart and Wal-mart.

Oversaw dramatic re-invention of business with fellow owners and business partners and executed turnaround of organization that had been forced into receivership, returning it to industry leading position within a two-year period. Responsible for operations including strategic and creative services.• Directed strategy engagements for Sprint, Kodak, Kmart, and SBA (Lithuania) • Managed creative design engagements for Adidas, Home Depot, Circuit City and Toys R’ Us, • Created new services and proprietary branding models and processes utilized by 100 clients • Authored and designed new brand positioning, marketing materials and environment, which dramatically increased client acquisition and received over 20 national design awards• Grew staff by 33%, associate retention by 35+% and client retention from 26% to 83%• Won six national design awards, a first in four years including “Store of the Year” for E*Trade.• Posted largest profit in 48 months and double-digit percentage improvement of SG&A.

Santa Monica, Ca, Us

Managed eleven-person team overseeing creative and strategic deliverables, client relationships, account growth and business development. Hired as Vice President, Account Executive. Promoted to Sr. Vice President in 1995. • Co - managed consumer insights & brand strategy engagements with Universal Studios, Anheuser Busch, Playboy Enterprises, Calvin Klein, Apple and Limited Brands • Co- managed creative direction and execution for engagements with DKNY, Disney Sport, Kids Footlocker, Sony, Glidden, Frederick’s of Hollywood, Hewlett Packard, Wal-Mart and 3M • Established company’s first retainer agreements with Microsoft, Dockers, and Levi Strauss• Acquired and Managed over 85 client relationships and $16,000,000 in business over 6 years.• Exceeded annual goals for both team and individual responsibilities from 1993-1999 by 130%• Achieved substantial client results including 67% sustainable sales increase for Microsoft across global program and a 500 “door” sell through of Levi Strauss men’s, women and children’s program

Bachelor Of Science Degree In Industrial Design, (Environmental Design, Product Development, Graphic Design & Marketing)

High School Diploma