Professional summary
TALENTED & PROVEN OPERATOR/ BOARD EXECUTIVE, ADVISOR AND INVESTOR
A competitive strategist, hands-on, charismatic change agent, team builder & visionary leader, I have driven success for high growth, turnaround and startup businesses. Leveraging this expertise in managing and analyzing companies, I offer critical path consulting, advisory & BOD services, interim management and selective investments. I have also developed expertise in the social enterprise/non-profit space.
Assembling superior teams, I built or revitalized category-leading, respected brands in both B2C and B2B markets and in retail, e-commerce, direct marketing, service and, recently, non-profit arenas:
In my current position as President & CEO of Columbia industries, Read more
TALENTED & PROVEN OPERATOR/ BOARD EXECUTIVE, ADVISOR AND INVESTOR
A competitive strategist, hands-on, charismatic change agent, team builder & visionary leader, I have driven success for high growth, turnaround and startup businesses. Leveraging this expertise in managing and analyzing companies, I offer critical path consulting, advisory & BOD services, interim management and selective investments. I have also developed expertise in the social enterprise/non-profit space.
Assembling superior teams, I built or revitalized category-leading, respected brands in both B2C and B2B markets and in retail, e-commerce, direct marketing, service and, recently, non-profit arenas:
In my current position as President & CEO of Columbia industries, I have assumed responsibility for stabilizing and finding growth opportunities for a mission-based, hybrid non-profit that is of significant community importance. Following the creation of an entirely new strategic plan, we are in the process of expanding two for-profit subsidiaries, launching two client-focused social enterprises and adding important mission programs. I have also directed the change to a new finance/accounting system and construction of improved financial statements.
As President/ CEO of Right Start, I implemented a much-needed re-branding and re-positioning of this retail, eCommerce & catalog purveyor of infant goods . We revamped the merchandise assortment; opened new markets; repositioned e-commerce operations; and, re-launched a mail order catalog. Same store sales, transaction size and margin grew double digits each year; eCommerce sales tripled; and, profits were restored.
In 11 years running Leslie's Poolmart I built an effective, customer-centric organization and diversified sales channels. Revenues ballooned from $57MM to $285MM, EBITDA from $2MM to $20MM and store count from 66 to 385. We created a category-dominant retail, e-Commerce, direct marketing, B2B and service operation that today numbers nearly 1000 locations.
As Interim CEO and Chairman of BusyBody I orchestrated a successful exit, achieved by creating the premier U.S. retailer of high-end branded fitness equipment. Revenues grew from $57MM to $117MM, expanding profits from $2.4MM to $9 MM and increasing store count from 30 to 80.
As CEO of PartsAmerica.com I finalized venture financing, built a Best Practice organization and directed the development of an award-winning e-Commerce platform. Offering 1-hour nationwide fulfillment of 1MM auto parts SKU's and utilizing creative co-branding and bounce-back techniques, we achieved 5%-10% sales response rates in initial marketing programs.
Engagement overview
Flexible on structure of engagement. Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly engagements and rates are available, plus potential interim management assignments. Highly circumstance-dependent; I attempt to tailor tenure and costs to degree of need and availability of company resources. I can also provide differing levels of involvement, from governance-focused, Board-level insights to very detailed, hands-on involvement. I have run companies from start-up to $300 Million in revenues, executed successful turnarounds and led high-growth businesses to many multiples of revenue and profit increases. I understand and respect the challenges of managing companies facing both opportunities and challenges to growth.
Clients
All company names are confidential. Descriptions follow.
• E-commerce and catalog seller of outdoor furniture, accessories and related indoor lifestyle items. I served as Interim CEO, Advisor and Consultant during a "restart" of this established but resource-constrained business.
• Start-up creating a whole new affinity and service concept in the real estate industry. Investor, BOD Member, Advisor.
• Technology start-up in the health and wellness arena. Advisor/Consultant and impending investor.
• Start-up developing new technology for maintenance and sanitation of public and private recreational water applications. Interim COO, Advisor.
• Start-up developing and commercializing new technology applicable to mental health and wellness needs. Advisor.
All company names are confidential. Descriptions follow.
• E-commerce and catalog seller of outdoor furniture, accessories and related indoor lifestyle items. I served as Interim CEO, Advisor and Consultant during a "restart" of this established but resource-constrained business.
• Start-up creating a whole new affinity and service concept in the real estate industry. Investor, BOD Member, Advisor.
• Technology start-up in the health and wellness arena. Advisor/Consultant and impending investor.
• Start-up developing new technology for maintenance and sanitation of public and private recreational water applications. Interim COO, Advisor.
• Start-up developing and commercializing new technology applicable to mental health and wellness needs. Advisor.
