Experience

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  Intex Recreation Corp.

  • Long Beach, CA

  • Director of Risk Management

    • Sep 2009 - Present
    • Long Beach, CA

    Intex is the world leader in sales of Above Ground Pools, Air Mattresses, and PVC Inflatables. Responsibilities include managing all areas of risk for the Californian based distributor of Intex branded products. Liaison with the factories on innovation, product improvements, quality, regulatory requirements, intellectual property, packaging and product literature. Manage worldwide intellectual property, insurance and litigation. • Support sales teams for Walmart, Target, Sam’s, Costco, Meijer, Lowes, Home Depot, Dicks, Big 5, and all other major accounts• Oversee and approve all consumer facing marketing materials including packaging, point of sale materials, advertising, videos, etc.• Coordinate the worldwide intellectual property protection schemes for new manufacturing technologies and products • Manage all aspects of risk faced by the company including: product safety, product quality, hazard analysis and safety in design, government relations, standards compliance, claim review and analysis, fiduciary exposure, marketing and advertising• Participate in relevant ASTM and ANSI standards writing activities • Manage trademarks worldwide. Manage intellectual property attorneys across the world in prosecution of over 100 patent applications, assertion of patent rights, defense of intellectual property litigation, new product development due diligence, copyright filings, and prevention of cybersquatting: over 155 IP related projects.• Manage product liability litigation throughout the world• Manage the placement of all insurance including property and worldwide general liability• Oversight of human resources department including risk, compliance, placement of health, dental and life insurance, management of the 401K plan, regulatory filings, and worker’s comp

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  SISCO

  • Director of Marketing

    • Jun 2008 - Apr 2010

    SISCO is the worldwide licensee for Honeywell branded safes and shredders.Director of Marketing: position reports to the Owner and the Vice President of Sales. Responsible for all facets of marketing the product line including: Account analysis, both existing and potential, for new business opportunities including product comparisons with competitor’s product, recommend changes to product mix, merchandising stories, point of sale ideation, and exclusive product offerings Customer line-review presentations Innovative packaging for the line and differentiating custom packaging for key accounts Consumer friendly product manuals Managed tradeshows including product selection, booth layout, graphics, advertising and literature New product development based on market analysis and customer input Create in-store artwork, point of sale signage, and buyer’s guides currently in use at Best Buy, Lowes US, Lowes Canada, Orchard Supply, Meijer, and BJ’s Wholesale Drive customer promotions including creation of ad presentation and copy Photography utilizing in-house studio resulting in improved imagery, turnaround, and cost savings Create and build prototype samples for presentations Manage the licensee relationship with HoneywellMarketing victories include 600 store planogram roll out of an 8 foot section at Lowes, chain wide 4 item set at Best Buy, 30% volume increase at K-Mart, won the business at Office Depot with a 12 foot planogram with a category pioneering touch-screen video kiosk, and non-disruptive exclusive ad items at Big Lots and Tuesday Morning

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  Intex Recreation Corp.

  • Director

    • Sep 2005 - Jun 2008

    Director: position reported directly to the owner. Responsibilities include collaborating with senior management on strategy, operating issues, sales and marketing, financial reporting and budgets, and product development issues and opportunities. Chief liaison with the Asian factories on innovation, product improvements, quality control, regulatory requirements, intellectual property concerns, packaging and product literature. Supported sales teams with new product development, marketing initiatives, packaging, cross sell opportunities, in-pack literature, and product quality Redesigned numerous key products Trained sales staff Coordinated packaging presentation with the marketing and packaging group Created all new catalog presentation for the 2007 line Integrated marketing with product development for new product introduced worldwide Created product instruction manuals in a new easier to read format Supervised the content of instructional videos and DVDs Analyzed patent opportunities and coordinated the writing of 12 patent applications. Analyzed existing and new product in light of third party intellectual property and directed patent related litigation Coordinated quality assurance and customer quality assurance departments on all product related questions Wrote procedural and policy manuals Liaison with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada. Voting member of ASTM and member of several standards writing committees Accomplishments include new airbed design awarded 3 patents, 50% reduction in product returns, major account roll-out for pool saltwater system based on new packaging, all new premium pool product line with major account placement, returned the company to profitability, won major patent infringement trial.

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  Baby Trend, Inc.

  • General Manager

    • Mar 1999 - Sep 2005

    Leading importer and distributor of Juvenile Products General Manager: position reported to the owner. Responsibilities included Manage the Company’s internal sales group, independent sales representatives throughout the US, the international sales agents, and the international distributors of the product resulting in 300+% sales growth. Product design based on market research, competitive analysis, and customer demand Marketing plan for the Company including tradeshow presentations; catalog concept, design, photography and content; competitive analysis; and overall design philosophies Product point of purchase artwork, packaging and presentation. Negotiated a major brand licensing agreement and conceived, designed, and executed all new products for the license. Reorganized the company structure to enhance individual performance, teamwork, and personal responsibility resulting in drastic improvements in employee morale. Quality control specifications, testing methodology, consumer safety features Regulatory agency, CPSC and NHTSA, reporting and negotiations Daily operations of consumer service keeping pace with explosive growth of the CompanyAccomplishments include sales growth in excess of 300%, deigned the top rated infant car seat in the market today, created point of sale materials that became the standard for the major retailer in the category.

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  Whalen Associates

  • President

    • Mar 1987 - Aug 1999

    Manufacturers’ Representative serving 12 companies in the Juvenile Products and Furniture Industry. President: responsibilities included: Calling on multiple sales channels including: Specialty Retail, Department Stores, Mass Merchants, Clubs, Electronic retailers, and Military Assisting principals with marketing plans, promotions and product developmentGrew company reputation leading to representation of many industry-leading manufacturers. Directly responsible for over 100 customers.

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  Ernst & Whinney

  • Audit Manager

    • Jun 1980 - Mar 1987

    Audit Manager providing high-end accounting and audit services for Fortune 1000 companies