• Teach 2 classes for startup founders and entrepreneurs to strengthen their go-to-market plans using growth-strategy methodologies and low-cost, high-impact qualitative and quantitative research techniques. • Mentor entrepreneurs 1:1 in business development, go-to-market strategy, customer discovery, and research plan development.

Promoted with full responsibility for all Operations and to drive and evolve newly created internal business. • Grew from zero to a profitable, $1 million business unit in 7 months by targeted lead generation and rich customer profiling.• Doubled our success rate in converting prospects to customers by refining our pitch based on market research insights and improved awareness of customer needs. • Achieved profitability by growing sales of non-operational, value-added services like packaging engineering, sustainable packaging offerings, marketing and production services, and strategic sourcing. • Created, presented, and gained authorization from CEO and Board of Directors to execute plan.• Successfully drove transportation and material cost reductions in Fulfillment operations driving cost/shipment expense down by 46% boosting competitive advantage in a highly volatile pricing environment.• Crafted selling messages, business development strategy, target customer profiles, marketing budget, and CAPEX requirements.

Brought in to execute 5-year growth plan to go from $500M to $1B. • Managed diverse team through adversity.• Focused on inorganic growth / new ventures; launched two startups to diversify the company.• Identified the total attainable market, defined unique value proposition and target customer profiles, estimated expected revenue and margin contributions, CAPEX, and specified the business development plan to achieve results. • Coordinated leadership strategy deployment and objective setting for top priorities. • Grew profitability by 30% for an established parts and accessories customer by evaluating and modify low-margin programs.

Led exploratory innovation projects with cross-functional, internal teams to deeply understand customers, identify challenges, and generate product enhancements capturing the Voice of the Customer.• Innovation project leader whose innovation-award-winning teams were responsible for dozens of successful product launches, extensions, and redesigns.• Prioritized potential acquisition candidates in multiple industry segments, conducted market research, initial outreach and led various aspects of integration for 4 successful acquisitions.• Created a data-driven, repeatable process to value, rebalance, and redefine sales territories.• Conducted industry analyses, market size/share estimations, product evaluations, and forward-looking financial models to prioritize potential acquisition targets as part of the Mergers and Acquisition team.

Recruited to utilize sales expertise and bring a fresh viewpoint to sales and operations.• Special projects included M&A integrations and new product and service strategies.

• Developed, implemented and enhanced multiple, national marketing initiatives that led to 500% increase in my team’s new business production at the Midwest’s largest reverse mortgage lender. • Built a unique client referral network by networking with Attorneys and Financial Planners.

Launched a reverse mortgage lending practice at a national mortgage lender.Ranked #1 in the Midwest for reverse mortgage originations.• Developed and taught continuing education courses for Attorneys and Financial Planners.• The go-to expert for syndicated author Terry Savage. • Quoted in Chicago Sun Times articles.

Developed and led a successful new business development initiative to promote the company’s unique value proposition at top companies in the Healthcare and Insurance industries. • Closed large-scale initiatives generating over $10M in revenue.• Developed and implemented a business development campaign targeting C-Level Executives.• Ensured alignment with client objectives by customizing deal structure using offshore and onshore operating models to maximize results.

Startup. Prioritized process improvement and outsourcing initiatives across 8 functional areas based on complexity and expected ROI.• Reduced status-check calls and emails into the department by 50%.