Tom Winterstein Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Tom Winterstein has over two decades experience in the educational technology and training industries. He has a proven entrepreneurial and leadership track record in providing learning and training related technology products and services to K-12 and higher education organizations throughout the US, UK, and Australia. Most recently during the past decade he’s focused on providing world class eLearning solutions to both the education and corporate markets.- Serial entrepreneur - Education & Corp Markets- 25+ yrs building companies- Public/Private partnerships- MBA Finance / Marketing

Dc, Washington, Us

Since 2006, Tom has provided independent consulting services to higher education institutions, K-12 Schools and School Districts, the education businesses that serve them, and industry investors. As a Managing Partner for the Gilfus Education Group he combines his practical education and corporate training industry experience to lead the firm’s eLearning and content development practice area. Under his executive leadership Tom and his team deliver consultative services including Strategic Planning, IT Assessments, Vendor Selection Processes including LMS technology platforms, Business Planning, Market Research, Product Development and Review, Go-to-Market strategies and tactics, sales strategy development and implementation oversight, customer engagement review, eLearning strategy and program development, and investor due diligence for the utmost confidential and critical investment decisions. Tom’s role with the firm has developed over time scaling to interact with dozens of clients and leading hundreds of team members to deliver on time and on budget mission critical endeavors. In this capacity he has deployed eLearning strategies, technologies and high quality content capabilities to some of the world’s largest labor organizations converting thousands of physical books and manuals into dynamic online interactive materials.

Sr. Vice President Sales and Marketing - eLearning Content Development and Learning Management SystemResponsible for sales and marketing for this niche oriented software company in establishing online corporate universities focused on the franchise industry.www.Tortal.net (a Driven Brands Company www.DrivenBrands.com) • Hired, trained, motivated, and managed direct sales force (outside and inside) that were geographically dispersed leading to a 30% sales increase during first 12 months.• Implemented and trained sales staff on Mastering Business Development Solution Selling• Conducted strategic market research and launched new vertical sales focus in Healthcare industry January 2009.• Developed organic and paid search strategy resulting in 500% increase in website traffic in first quarter. • Created technology enabled and traditional marketing campaigns including Web 2.0 (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook), tradeshow event management, website design, creation, and management, managed user group forums, launched direct email and print campaigns, created electronic and print collateral for products and services, created and executed marketing communications plan (press releases, newsletters, technical documentation), and managed telemarketing group. Fluent with Google AdWords, Microsoft AdCenter, and Yahoo Overture • Implemented SalesForce CRM system and integrated it with websites, landing pages, Vertical Response email system, Google Analytics, and channel partners. • Prepare monthly sales and marketing reports for senior management meetings including forecasts, actual results, and top opportunities. • Minimized marketing costs by reducing outsourcing and material acquisition costs. • Provide monthly, quarterly, and annual sales forecast and measurements of results vs. plan. • Participate as member of senior management team and assisted in setting company strategy.

Built a marketing and sub contracting company as part of a licensing agreement to promote The CIO Academy, an award winning learning institute offering IT certification programs online and which was originally developed by NetGen Learning Systems, Inc. (via partnership with the College of Engineering and IT at the University of South Carolina).----------As a contractor to a regional IT company, Tom’s business unit was responsible for all aspects of a K-12 data warehouse software product including P&L, development, support, implementation, sales, marketing, business development, and public relations. • Led profitable rollout of existing software product resulting in tripling of gross margin within first 12 months.• Managed team of software developers, product managers, and sales/marketing professionals. Solved NCLB mandates.• Restructured pricing model and software license agreement resulting in 3X recurring revenue stream• Hired, trained, motivated, and managed direct sales force (outside and inside) that were geographically dispersed leading to a 70% increase in total company sales. • Researched, selected, and implemented SalesForce CRM• Contributed to record setting revenue and profitability.----------As a contractor to an international Microsoft Gold Partner, Tom led the company's sales and marketing divisions and grew it's reseller/partner network from 3 companies to 45 companies worldwide. The company's largest client was Microsoft with which it negotiated to distribute the partner's SCORM eLearning software product globally through Microsoft Learning Essentials download in 13 languages.• Established and managed strategic relationships with leading global software providers including Microsoft, Desire2Learn, Blackboard, Angel Learning, and others.

Built and managed a successful e-Learning software company (owned by the University of South Carolina Development Foundation) providing online training in engineering, IT, business, and teacher education. Executed business plan, built the infrastructure, set up business processes and hired/motivated a senior management team. Negotiated and cultivated relationships with investors, customers, partners, vendors and subject matter experts. Chaired a seven-person CIO Academy Advisory Board that included the CIO of PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Managed five direct reports and 45 indirect reports. • Drove revenues in the first 100 days and generated nearly $1 million in revenues during its first full fiscal year. Graduated 100 senior-level IT / business executives (in first 18 months)• Developed company website, created 100-day plan and formally introduced the company at a three-city simulcast press conference including presentations by the SC Commerce Secretary, the President of USC and the Mayor of Charleston, SC.• Collaborated with former Secretary of Education Dick Riley to develop, and launch the Virtual College Of Education (VCOE). Negotiated and secured $250,000 research grant and developed the first graduate level online courses ever offered by USC.• Spearheaded the launch of first major e-learning product within the first nine months of starting the company – completed launch three months ahead of schedule. Recognized as the first to market position-specific executive education for CIO’s and launched strategy to build distribution channel. • Secured relationships with major universities and companies throughout the US • Created 250+ hours of online instruction and secured customers in 28 states and three different countries. • Honored as the winner of the e-Learning Magazine Success Story (April 2002) for partnering The CIO Academy with Emory University's Goizueta Executive Education Program in Atlanta.

Interim Chief Operating Officer (1997) Vice President, Government & Academic Services (1994 to 1997)Earned several promotions with this leading network systems integration company which was acquired in 1996 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of IKON Office Solutions. Promoted to take on P&L responsibility for driving business with the K-12, Higher Education, and Governmental vertical market. Served as Board Member & Corporate Secretary of the company.• Managed 5 of the company's 6 business units while serving as Interim COO and generated over 30% of company revenues as Vice President of Government & Academic Services. • Credited with developing business plan that directly led to $4.5 million in first and second round Angel and VC investments. • Conducted the annual Educational Technology Conference for educators and also authored the state Educational Technology Plan and first internet homepage for SC Department of Education. • Developed and executed national and international K-12 sales and marketing initiatives by leveraging the company’s membership in US Connect, a consortium of independent systems integration companies in North America.• Increased business unit profitability by 25% while serving as VP by initiating the strategic acquisition of a major competitor. Identified acquisition candidate, led due diligence, structured transaction and led negotiations.• Strategized, built and directed the business unit’s Information Technology Consulting Practice, which was instrumental in securing two of the largest deals in the history of the company. • Promoted the offering of the consulting practice to US Connect Partners which services drove large integration projects in the Pitt., Phila., and NY Offices.• Implemented the Demming Quality Management training program, introduced an incentive stock option plan (included 70 individuals) and established a 401K plan for employees.

Worked on the Pathways Project that deployed one computer per school and implemented Osiris School Information System.