Executive Profile

• Innovative and highly driven marketing research executive offering 20+ years of continuous success
• Area of expertise in retail and shopper insights
• Skilled at translating research results into actionable shopper marketing programs
• Extensive experience in project design and execution
• Comfortable with client contact and establishing strong relationships with both internal and external clients
• Proven history of building and managing successful business units
• Strong presentation and communication skills

Accomplishments

• Cambridge Who’s Who 2008 Executive of the Year
• Braintrust panelist member of RetailWire, a selected panel of retail marketing experts
• Published article in American Demographics, “Meet Me in Aisle 3”, 2/2001
• Presenter at Shopper Insights Conference “To Be In-Store or Not To Be In-Store: An Alternative to Analyzing Customer Behavior”, 7/2005 “Contextual Marketing: Manufacturers and Retailers Working Together to Create Category Growth”, 7/2006 “Creating Category Growth by Understanding the 3 Types of Shopper Motivation”, 7/2007

Professional Experience

Ascension Growth and Innovation Strategies, Inc.

Research Consultant 2/2009-present

Member of highly experienced consultant group able to cover all industries research needs

Synovate, Inc.

Vice President, Retail and Shopper Insights Chicago, IL 12/2000-2/2009 Global marketing research and business intelligence firm

• Recruited in a VP capacity as an internal consultant to establish a Business Solutions group responsible for the design, sales, proposals, analysis and implementation of in-person strategic and tactical initiatives
• Generated $3M-$4M in annual revenue
• Instrumental in implementing in-store data collection via ION EveryWare™ technology
• Responsible for supporting internal and external clients in the CPG, restaurant, retail, telecommunications, technology, automotive and various other industries
• Based on in-store experience, built “Mystery Shopping for the Americas” division and provided executive direction
• Effective in high-profile executive roles within emerging global markets leading revitalization and growth

Elrick & Lavidge, Inc.

Vice President, In-Store Research Westchester, IL 10/1990-12/2000 Marketing Research division of Equifax, Inc.

• Built and managed a highly successful in-store research unit
• Managed staff of eight (8) project managers
• Spearheaded development and growth of new Shopper Insights division
• Responsible for new business development with internal and external clients
• Provided strategic direction through creative innovation to solve operational problems in pricing and budget control

The Test Marketing Group

Research Project Manager Chicago, IL 3/1979-10/1990 Custom Marketing Research Company

• Prepared strategic marketing reports to include sales volume, market share and competitor data from independent research
• Record of accomplishment based on ability to motivate staff, conduct effective training sessions and achieve bottom-line results
• Assisted with new product development projects to include positioning, package design, test marketing, collateral development and product launch
• Lead development and growth of company’s products and services working on a 1:1 basis with employees and clients

Education

University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, IL B.S. Statistics, Minor in Market Research