Rod Rakic
Chief Operating Officer at EZ Aerospace- Claim this Profile
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English Native or bilingual proficiency
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Serbian Elementary proficiency
Topline Score
Bio
Karen Gold
Rod is energetic and enthusiastic and adds positive energy to any discussion or project. He is always on the cutting edge and is a great technophile. I first worked with him on the Chrysler account as he pioneered their efforts into interactive TV. I've followed him in his career and his new venture "OpenAirplane" is amazing. If anyone is going to change the paradigm of flying, my bets are on Rod.
Dennis Schleicher
Rod Rakic is a trailblazer in the internet jungle. Rod is able to work with the most creative of the creatives and is director of the digital innovation group, the DIG team at Sears. The DIG team is the special forces group that gets tasked with the baddest, hardest, craziest ideas that are dreamed up. Rod is an energetic idea man that is never at a loss for words. His background and broad experience throughout the marketing world gives him the ability to craft campaigns and work with content providers, media outlets, and vendors. His energy even overflows to his own project, myTransponder, a social media web presence for pilots. I highly recommend Rod to spearhead any innovative project that needs a quick jump start.
Karen Gold
Rod is energetic and enthusiastic and adds positive energy to any discussion or project. He is always on the cutting edge and is a great technophile. I first worked with him on the Chrysler account as he pioneered their efforts into interactive TV. I've followed him in his career and his new venture "OpenAirplane" is amazing. If anyone is going to change the paradigm of flying, my bets are on Rod.
Dennis Schleicher
Rod Rakic is a trailblazer in the internet jungle. Rod is able to work with the most creative of the creatives and is director of the digital innovation group, the DIG team at Sears. The DIG team is the special forces group that gets tasked with the baddest, hardest, craziest ideas that are dreamed up. Rod is an energetic idea man that is never at a loss for words. His background and broad experience throughout the marketing world gives him the ability to craft campaigns and work with content providers, media outlets, and vendors. His energy even overflows to his own project, myTransponder, a social media web presence for pilots. I highly recommend Rod to spearhead any innovative project that needs a quick jump start.
Karen Gold
Rod is energetic and enthusiastic and adds positive energy to any discussion or project. He is always on the cutting edge and is a great technophile. I first worked with him on the Chrysler account as he pioneered their efforts into interactive TV. I've followed him in his career and his new venture "OpenAirplane" is amazing. If anyone is going to change the paradigm of flying, my bets are on Rod.
Dennis Schleicher
Rod Rakic is a trailblazer in the internet jungle. Rod is able to work with the most creative of the creatives and is director of the digital innovation group, the DIG team at Sears. The DIG team is the special forces group that gets tasked with the baddest, hardest, craziest ideas that are dreamed up. Rod is an energetic idea man that is never at a loss for words. His background and broad experience throughout the marketing world gives him the ability to craft campaigns and work with content providers, media outlets, and vendors. His energy even overflows to his own project, myTransponder, a social media web presence for pilots. I highly recommend Rod to spearhead any innovative project that needs a quick jump start.
Karen Gold
Rod is energetic and enthusiastic and adds positive energy to any discussion or project. He is always on the cutting edge and is a great technophile. I first worked with him on the Chrysler account as he pioneered their efforts into interactive TV. I've followed him in his career and his new venture "OpenAirplane" is amazing. If anyone is going to change the paradigm of flying, my bets are on Rod.
Dennis Schleicher
Rod Rakic is a trailblazer in the internet jungle. Rod is able to work with the most creative of the creatives and is director of the digital innovation group, the DIG team at Sears. The DIG team is the special forces group that gets tasked with the baddest, hardest, craziest ideas that are dreamed up. Rod is an energetic idea man that is never at a loss for words. His background and broad experience throughout the marketing world gives him the ability to craft campaigns and work with content providers, media outlets, and vendors. His energy even overflows to his own project, myTransponder, a social media web presence for pilots. I highly recommend Rod to spearhead any innovative project that needs a quick jump start.
Credentials
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Airline Transport Pilot
Federal Aviation AdministrationApr, 2020- Nov, 2024 -
Commercial Pilot Certificate
Federal Aviation AdministrationOct, 2010- Nov, 2024 -
Commercial Drone Pilot
Federal Aviation AdministrationDec, 2020- Nov, 2024 -
Certificated Flight Instructor
Federal Aviation AdministrationSep, 2017- Nov, 2024
Experience
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EZ Aerospace
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Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Chief Operating Officer
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Mar 2021 - Present
EZ Aerospace is pioneering the integration of existing and future aircraft into the air transportation ecosystem, unlocking convenient and affordable on-demand air mobility. We've been contracted by the U.S. Air Force to explore the feasibility of using air taxis to carry Airmen / Guardians and cargo to, from, and between Air Force / Space Force bases starting as soon as this year. In support of efforts like Agility Prime, which is fostering the development of advanced aircraft designs (such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles), EZ Aerospace is focused on building a marketplace for dual-use air taxis that can serve both government and commercial travelers. Berkeley SkyDeck Batch 16 Pad-13 / Bunker Labs Cohort 23B Show less
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Airline
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Chicago, Illinois, United States
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Pilot
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Jan 2020 - Present
First Officer, Embraer 175 First Officer, Embraer 175
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OpenAirplane
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United States
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Airlines and Aviation
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Co-founder
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May 2012 - Dec 2019
OpenAirplane offered a platform to make it easy to find, book, fly, and pay for aircraft rental online or with a mobile device, enhanced by a robust reputation system. OpenAirplane worked with operators to get better utilization of their fleets, increase safety, and help pilots fly more. FlyOtto was the on-demand charter side of the business, which connected travelers with planes and pilots. • More than 19,000 pilots signed up to fly with OpenAirplane; the network offered over 300 aircraft at over 100 locations across the U.S. • Designed the business model and end-to-end commerce user experience. Created user flows, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to support customer and product development. • Leveraged responsive design to deliver a web application that serviced mobile, tablet, and desktop platforms from a single code base. • Built a world-class team dedicated to deploying the first-ever commerce layer for private aviation. • Served as product manager, plus primary visual designer for the application, brand elements, and collateral. • Led customer engagement via social, support, and live event channels. Show less
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Sears Stores
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United States
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Director, Digital Innovation
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Sep 2009 - Jun 2013
Led the Digital Innovation Group, which was focused on delivering innovation that transforms the user experience in measurable ways. Responsible for product management, project management, content strategy, business model development, customer development, and creative direction. • Managed a cross discipline group of principal user experience architects and designers. Grew the team from 2 to 7 direct reports. • Led design, and development of a gesture based interactive window-shopping experience prototype at the downtown Chicago Sears store. Funded by winning an internal enterprise innovation competition. • Led product development for the contextual search bar concept, which improved auto-fill and personalized search. Integrated components of this concept into sears.com core search, increasing sales by 2% or $8.4MM in revenue. • Lead development and implementation of a universal video player solution across multiple properties and platforms. • Developed successful social polling / commerce application deployed across Facebook and embedded Web commerce platforms. • Delivered customer journey roadmaps and strategic insights for a broad range of brands and verticals, from Craftsman, Kenmore, to the Kardashians. Show less
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myTransponder, Inc.
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Chicago, IL
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Founder
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May 2008 - May 2012
myTransponder made aviation more social. myTransponder was a pioneering social utility that helped pilots connect across the aviation community. Thousands of pilots from around the world used myTransponder to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links, join discussions, and share knowledge of aviation. myTransponder made aviation more social. myTransponder was a pioneering social utility that helped pilots connect across the aviation community. Thousands of pilots from around the world used myTransponder to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links, join discussions, and share knowledge of aviation.
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Omnicom Media Group UK
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United Kingdom
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Advertising Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Associate Director for Strategy
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Oct 2008 - Apr 2009
Focused on social media leadership, working with Intel. Primary client client contact, planned and managed media campaigns and sponsorships across a variety of platform including Facebook, Youtube, Yahoo! and C|Net. Focused on social media leadership, working with Intel. Primary client client contact, planned and managed media campaigns and sponsorships across a variety of platform including Facebook, Youtube, Yahoo! and C|Net.
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WHITTMANHART Interactive
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Technology, Information and Internet
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1 - 100 Employee
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Strategist
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Nov 2007 - Oct 2008
Delivering audience insight driven strategy for clients including Harley-Davidson, Sears, Culligan, AT&T, and Haworth. Driving innovation and measurable results to help clients win. Delivering audience insight driven strategy for clients including Harley-Davidson, Sears, Culligan, AT&T, and Haworth. Driving innovation and measurable results to help clients win.
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Critical Mass
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Canada
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Advertising Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Manager, eMarketing
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Dec 2005 - Jun 2007
Managed both senior client contacts and publisher relationships. Provided online media strategy, planning, and buying for Mercedes-Benz and Moen brands. • Lead development of, “The Hive,” a media laboratory dedicated to the implementation of emerging platforms. Managed a number of emerging media initiatives across iTV, gaming, and mobile platforms. • Substantially grew online media budgets across national and regional accounts by consistently demonstrating value. Realigned legacy media buying strategy to better meet client needs. Drove innovation in deploying user generated content and long tail media opportunities. • Mentored new members of the media team, helping them transition quickly into new roles. Guided integration of new tools and work flows. Show less
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Performics
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Mexico
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Advertising Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Manager, Media Services
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Mar 2004 - Dec 2005
Lead the development of a new media planning and buying practice. A key client-facing media team leader. Developed new publisher relationships. • Provided strategic insight and leadership across a number of emerging publishing models including blogs, social networking and behavior targeting. • Integrated tools and processes from DoubleClick, Nielsen, and ComScore. Lead the development of a new media planning and buying practice. A key client-facing media team leader. Developed new publisher relationships. • Provided strategic insight and leadership across a number of emerging publishing models including blogs, social networking and behavior targeting. • Integrated tools and processes from DoubleClick, Nielsen, and ComScore.
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Wire Stone – Part of Accenture Interactive
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United States
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Marketing and Advertising
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1 - 100 Employee
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Account Manager (for Strategy & New Business)
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Mar 2003 - Nov 2003
Provided strategic direction to existing clients. Established a pipeline of new business opportunities. Pitched new business across a number of sectors. • Resuscitated the ConAgra account, rebuilding credibility and billings. • Deployed new sales tools and processes across 6 offices. • Revamped sales collateral and messaging. Provided strategic direction to existing clients. Established a pipeline of new business opportunities. Pitched new business across a number of sectors. • Resuscitated the ConAgra account, rebuilding credibility and billings. • Deployed new sales tools and processes across 6 offices. • Revamped sales collateral and messaging.
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Adversoft
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Chicago
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Director, Business Development
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Jan 2002 - Dec 2002
Helped launch one of the first mobile marketing agencies in the US Market. Responsible for client contacts across the entire sales cycle. Generated new opportunities though various published articles and speaking engagements. • Awarded @d: Tech’s “Best Wireless Campaign” for 2002 for Sony Pictures. • Developed the Discover Card’s first mobile marketing, an acquisition program using ring tones in the college market. Helped launch one of the first mobile marketing agencies in the US Market. Responsible for client contacts across the entire sales cycle. Generated new opportunities though various published articles and speaking engagements. • Awarded @d: Tech’s “Best Wireless Campaign” for 2002 for Sony Pictures. • Developed the Discover Card’s first mobile marketing, an acquisition program using ring tones in the college market.
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Account Director (and Interactive Strategist)
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Jan 2001 - Nov 2001
Worked across all agency assignments, managing accounts, leading interactive strategy, or both. Created competitive advantage for the agency and clients by developing both strategic vendor relationships and new intellectual property. • Lead strategist on the Circuit City account, rated one of 2001’s Top Ten fastest growing e-commerce sites by Media Metrix. • Collaborated on accounts across a wide array of disciplines, including work on Gatorade, Kraft, Archer Daniels Midland, Quaker Oats, Blue Cross, Circuit City, John Deere, Scudder Financial, Hoover, and Coors. • Recognized with FCBi’s first Pillar Award, “To acknowledge extraordinary contributions in the area of Leading our Clients.” • Won new business through outreach to the entertainment industry. (Award winning assignments for Warner Bros.’s Any Given Sunday, Comedy Central’s South Park, and The Man Show.) Show less
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Education
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1991 - 1996
Western Michigan University
Community
