The RiverHorse Group is a consultancy dedicated
 to assisting clients in strategy development, optimizing execution, driving leadership excellence, culture evolution and improving organizational effectiveness.At The RiverHorse Group, we are fully committed to working with you to navigate the challenges and opportunities in today’s marketplace. We bring over sixty years experience and expertise in the areas stated above, which allows us to deliver optimal results in an ever increasingly competitive environment.We are passionate about quality in all that we do. Our quest for excellence, value creation, and innovation delivers superior results to our clients and improves all aspects of your business. We understand what’s at stake and our focus on ideas and optimal solutions make the difference.

Appointed to fill a vacated Council Member position from January - November, 2017, then elected by popular vote in November 2017 to serve a 4 year term.The Town of Bermuda Run is chartered as a Council-Manager form of government and is led by a Mayor and five Council Members, who provide leadership through the setting of Town goals and policies. http://www.townofbr.com/

Clarkston Executive Alliance (CEA) is a network of recently retired, in transition, and freelance executives that offer organizations strategic business guidance and innovative solutions based on the successful practitioners’ knowledge and experience.CEA members provide a breadth of experience and a depth of knowledge that our clients find invaluable. These experienced and knowledgeable executives are passionate about delivering superior results and are provided on an as-needed, "pay as you go" basis.

Clarkston Executive Alliance (CEA) is a network of recently retired, in transition, and freelance executives that offer organizations strategic business guidance and innovative solutions based on the successful practitioners’ knowledge and experience.CEA members provide a breadth of experience and a depth of knowledge that our clients find invaluable. These experienced and knowledgeable executives are passionate about delivering superior results and are provided on an as-needed, "pay as you go" basis.

Organizational and business development. Working with company leadership and personnel to enhance business strategy, implementation, and organizational effectiveness.

Played key leadership role in change management development and execution efforts across the organization, including time of merger/acquisition integration, external challenges, and internal re-organizations.Re-structured and realigned organization to meet current business needs AND to better prepare for a changing future operating environment (competitive activity, regulatory requirements, more product innovation, and evolving consumer touch points). Led major initiative to flatten the internal organization to ensure greater individual/team empowerment, transparency of processes, less complexity and greater speed of moving ideas from concept to execution (speed-to-market).Led significant efforts to out-source non-core/non-strategic capabilities to best-in-class partners (e.g. consumer database, marketing materials management, consumer contact center, Supply Chain Management, consumer engagement execution).Skills and Competency Mapping for internal Consumer and Trade Marketing employees.Led and played a pivotal role in integration activities associated with mergers/acquisitions to include portfolio prioritization, cycle plan, work plan, systems/processes and culture evolution.Played key role in the company's initiative for a Customer Engagement Management platform that moved the organization's 2000+ Trade Marketing employees from a transactional role to one for building collaborative relationships with wholesale and retail partners through improved industry knowledge and provision of tools and solutions for addressing customers' business opportunities.Led development of Consumer and Trade Marketing education and certification platform designed to ensure greater and more consistent levels of business acumen, company and product knowledge, customer and consumer dynamics, and information about the external operating environment.Development of workplace practices, policies and procedures.Led and served on Succession and Performance Appraisal Panels.

Played role in major initiative to evolve and standardize customer management protocol to ensure best-in-class capabilities and enhance skills of all personnel in accounts management.Successfully implemented disciplined project management approach which permitted improved transparency, accountability, scope, and resource allocation and an improved on-time success rate of major cross-functional projects.Sponsored and played an integral role in the development of a 10-year marketing Roadmap which clearly articulated assumptions, impacts, resource needs, and strategic imperatives for the next decade. This assisted with development of strategic plans (3-5 year), and more immediate operational plans.Brought continuous improvement to marketing Cycle Plan strategy and execution to drive greater focus on bringing highly innovative products to market, robust learning plans, and disciplined post implementation reviews to maximize effectiveness.Key contributor to a significant shift in a long-standing multi-billion dollar consumer pricing and promotion strategy and execution. Streamlined and improved effectiveness of multi-million dollar trade promotional spend utilizing a strategically driven and targeted Trade Promotion Management approach. Led an aggressive SKU rationalization and complexity reduction initiative, which served as the foundation for a disciplined Product Life-cycle Management approach, and for a resource re-allocation behind brands that represented the best opportunities for long-term business optimization.Streamlined the procurement of multiple data sources and refined strategy for ensuring all acquired information was utilized for developing insights, tracking analytics, and driving business decisions. Streamlined trade customer and employee communications with development of web-based technology thereby allowing stakeholders to access information on a real-time basis and improving the overall efficiency of interactions.

48 Employees/Top level 3rd Party Relationships Direct Budget: >$100 millionStrategic prioritization and operationalizing of all through-the-line marketing initiatives for full portfolio of key brands. Focused on balance between top-line growth and bottom-line impact to achieve objectives.Re-structured Consumer & Trade Marketing Operations organization to meet current business needs (delivering the business plan) AND to better prepare for a changing future operating environment (increased competitive activity, regulatory environment, more innovation in products and consumer touch points). Drove greater visibility across organization, less communication complexity, and greater speed of moving ideas from conception to decision/action (speed to market).Integrated Marketing Cycle Planning – Developed implementation strategies and managed Cycle Plan. Permission Based 1-to-1 Consumer Communications Strategy and Program Development – Developed consumer database strategy and managed large active adult consumer names, DM and Email programs, websites, and Consumer Contact Center. Consumer Engagement Strategy and Program Development – Developed Consumer Engagement strategy for the Trade Marketing organization and agency partners. Pricing and Promotion Strategy Implementation Planning – Ensured marketing strategies relating to retail discounting and retail promotions were planned and executed effectively. Consumer Media Planning and Program Management – Oversight of traditional media plans for brands’ programs, on-going media agency relationship.Marketing Materials Management – Oversight of marketing materials and materials warehouse. Marketing Project Management –Oversight of robust Marketing Project Management office, initiating, managing, and evaluating all marketing led projects.

85 employees Direct Budget: >$70 millionDeveloped and implemented operational strategies to capitalize on marketing plans across majority of consumer and customer touch points. Developed and managed Trade Marketing communications strategies and programs.Integrated previously disparate cycle plan activities, across all touch points, into single cohesive cycle plan streamlining the introduction of new and innovative products, and improving speed to market and overall effectiveness.Re-aligned millions of dollars in resources (promotional spending, Consumer Engagement plans, Direct Mail programs, and retail presence) and cycle plan activities following the re-identification of a key brand from growth to support status.