Experience

New Alternative Green Energy, Inc.

• United States
• Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Strategy Lead

  • 2020 - Present

  Provides growth strategy counsel and execution of enterprise-level transformation of this early-stage, global hydrogen energy infrastructure producer, including: * Designed and oversaw complete enterprise digital transformation to support employee and B2B customer experiences journeys, reducing costs by 35%. * Led cloud migration of business-critical systems to ITaaS framework, reducing costs by 28%. * Directed full redesign of existing corporate brand, website and marketing materials. * Developed $2B pro-forma operational budget. * Developed enterprise ESG policy and strategy. Show less



Loyal Lab

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services

• Founder & Chief Loyalty Officer

  • 2016 - 2019

  Provides data-driven growth strategy and digital transformation counsel to help brands redefine customer loyalty through user experience design, voice of the customer, compelling storytelling, engagement optimization, CRM, testing and analytics, and employee engagement. Key clients include: Anglo-American, Deutsche Telekom, Kraft, New Alternative Green Energy, Northwestern Hospital, TendSkin, Tivity Health (formerly Healthways) and others. Provides data-driven growth strategy and digital transformation counsel to help brands redefine customer loyalty through user experience design, voice of the customer, compelling storytelling, engagement optimization, CRM, testing and analytics, and employee engagement. Key clients include: Anglo-American, Deutsche Telekom, Kraft, New Alternative Green Energy, Northwestern Hospital, TendSkin, Tivity Health (formerly Healthways) and others.



Technori

• United States
• Internet News

• Director

  • 2010 - 2016

  Developed the vision and growth of Technori, which played a leading role in cultivating today’s Chicago tech startup ecosystem – featuring more than 300 companies, employing over 1,000 people and raising over $250 million in funding. Technori became one of the top startup showcases in the world, and the third largest monthly startup event in the United States, with over 50 showcases and 24,000+ attendees. Many have gone onto Y Combinator, Techstars, and AngelPad. Developed the vision and growth of Technori, which played a leading role in cultivating today’s Chicago tech startup ecosystem – featuring more than 300 companies, employing over 1,000 people and raising over $250 million in funding. Technori became one of the top startup showcases in the world, and the third largest monthly startup event in the United States, with over 50 showcases and 24,000+ attendees. Many have gone onto Y Combinator, Techstars, and AngelPad.



Cramer-Krasselt

• United States
• Advertising Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• SVP & Director, PR / Customer Experience

  • 2011 - 2014

  Department head for the second-largest independent marketing agency in the U.S., best known for creative B2C integrated marketing/experiential campaigns for Corona, Porsche, Heinz, Maui Jim, Vitamix, Cedar Fair, among others. Oversaw the delivery of a full-range of marketing communications and customer acquisition services, including: customer loyalty, user experience design, content creation and integration, media relations, social media, promotions and special events. Responsible for leading 15+ team members and consultants, and integrating their expertise across the agency with the Brand Planning, Analytics, Creative, Media and Account Management departments. Defined the agency's vision and strategic direction as a member of the senior leadership team. Held P&L responsibilities, and recruited, hired, mentored and motivated team. C-K is the second largest independent agency in the U.S., with 500 employees and $1 billion in billings. Show less



SafetyBook

• Manufacturing

• Founder & CEO

  • 2010 - 2014

  Founded this tech startup and grew it from inception into an internationally recognized technology innovator. SafetyBook.com provides a product registry and safety monitoring service to help protect your family from the danger of faulty products. ▸ Twice recognized by the White House for our safety data innovations. ▸ Oversaw full development process and coding of website and mobile app. ▸ Led the user experience design for digital customer engagement. ▸ Oversaw all day-to-day administrative and staffing needs. ▸ Forged partnerships with federal regulatory agencies, including: Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and Food & Drug Administration. Show less



The White House

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Founding Member - White House Data Community (Office of Science/Technology)

  • 2012 - 2013

  Selected as an inaugural leader to help launch the Obama Administration’s Safety Data Community – a historic effort to optimize government safety data (from transportation and crime to consumer products), make it more accessible, and stimulate development of large-scale mobile apps and services to engage and protect citizens. Ongoing safety data community activities included identifying public safety challenges and brainstorming creative new solutions that leverage open government safety data Selected as an inaugural leader to help launch the Obama Administration’s Safety Data Community – a historic effort to optimize government safety data (from transportation and crime to consumer products), make it more accessible, and stimulate development of large-scale mobile apps and services to engage and protect citizens. Ongoing safety data community activities included identifying public safety challenges and brainstorming creative new solutions that leverage open government safety data



Verakis Associates

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services

• Principal

  • 2008 - 2011

  Cultivated a boutique agency with a team of seasoned professionals providing a unique blend of leadership counsel, strategic planning, communications and media expertise. ▸ The team has produced a wide variety of deliverables for a diverse array of clients ranging from a multi-billion dollar office products manufacturer to a luxury megayacht company. ▸ Key clients include: ACCO Brands Corporation, The University of Chicago, Preeclampsia Foundation, Centerplate, Sandbox Industries and One World Ocean, among others. ▸ Developed a proprietary communications technology platform called “CoNewz” that enables organizations to communicate directly with their key audiences through content aggregation delivered via social media, mobile phones and personal email. Show less



The Grossman Group

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Vice-President

  • 2007 - 2008

  Oversaw daily agency operations, including 20+ employees, while leading the business consulting and leadership training/communications counsel to drive client growth hacking goals. Clients included McDonald’s Corporation, Abbott and Lockheed Martin, among others. ▸ Co-led the agency's vision and strategic direction, business development efforts, P&L responsibilities, and recruiting, hiring, mentoring, motivating and managing teams. ▸ Led organizational business consulting practice, including assessing, understanding and translating business strategies and challenges into solutions. ▸ Applied consumer and employee engagement models and change management principles to client situations. ▸ Functioned as a primary go-to resource for clients for strategic thinking; anticipating client and team needs, and focusing on achieving long-term objectives. ▸ Led new business development efforts by growing existing business incrementally, as well as identifying and pursuing new business prospects. Show less



Whirlpool Corporation

• United States
• Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Manager, Global Corporate Reputation

  • 2005 - 2007

  Global cross-functional, leadership responsibilities included helping lead Whirlpool’s first, innovation-driven customer loyalty strategy, and creating and leading the deployment of the company’s first strategic corporate and brand reputation management process. ▸ Created and maintained a corporate and brand messaging platform for all stakeholder groups – routinely managing consumer engagement strategies with senior management, brand marketing teams and regional communicators worldwide. ▸ As part of a matrix organization, routinely managed strategic communications efforts with brand marketing teams and regional communicators worldwide.▸ Worked closely with investor relations to manage financial communications, including quarterly earnings announcements and the company’s annual report to shareholders. Show less

• Senior Manager, European Corporate Reputation

  • 2003 - 2005

  While based at the company’s EU headquarters, established and managed pan-European communications and consumer engagement / experience programs to drive and support operational goals, media relations, special event management, organizational restructuring and change management for the European, Middle Eastern and African region.▸ Played a leading role in the organization of Whirlpool Europe’s 15th Anniversary celebration – a $4 million, 10-day customer experience event for 2,000 pan-European trade partners and 100 journalists in Cannes, France.▸ Led the crisis communications strategy for a product recall across 10 international markets.▸ Led the communications strategy and press conference with the Prime Minister of Poland (and other government officials) announcing a Whirlpool €100 million manufacturing investment. Show less



Gagen MacDonald

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Consultant

  • 2000 - 2002

  Designed and executed employee engagement and change management programs to motivate and align employees behind operational objectives. Designed consumer experience and engagement strategies to help accomplish business objectives. Client work included: ▸ United Airlines: Served on multiple integration teams in Washington D.C. and Chicago, each responsible for communications and customer engagement strategy of United’s attempted $12 billion merger with US Airways. Helped design and execute a $70 million customer engagement merger program. Led the development and user experience design of a special consumer website for both airline brands. • Managed employee and labor union engagement during United Airlines’ adversarial pilot union negotiations in 2000, including a face-to-face operations outreach program with employees to discuss union/merger issues. ▸ Baxter International Corporation: Drove operational culture change throughout the organization with employee engagement strategies for clear and consistent leadership communication of a new corporate vision to all employees. ▸ Ajinomoto U.S.A., Inc.: Managed ongoing media relations, issues management, crisis communication planning, consumer affairs management, industry association interfacing, customer brand promotion and website development for one of Ajinomoto’s main food ingredients: aspartame sweetener. Show less



Monsanto Company

• United States
• Farming
• 700 & Above Employee

• Corporate Public Affairs, Senior Manager

  • 1999 - 2000

  Directed or supported strategic communications efforts associated with national and international media relations; crisis management strategy; corporate litigation matters; and investor relations efforts for this leading life sciences company.▸ Served as a primary corporate spokesperson with top-tier national and international media outlets. ▸ Managed corporate and financial media relations activities for over $30 billion in merger, acquisition and divestiture activity, including: the spin-off of Monsanto’s $3 billion chemical business; $6 billion in acquisitions over 18 months; the $23 billion failed merger attempt between Monsanto and American Home Products.▸ Created and led a Global Technology Issues Team responsible for external strategy. ▸ Managed multiple external public relations agencies simultaneously. Show less

• Corporate Public Affairs Manager - Europe

  • 1998 - 1999

  Assigned to coordinate issues management of Monsanto’s role in agricultural biotechnology – one of the most controversial, nation-wide issues in the UK. Established a strategic public affairs operation to communicate UK-specific issues and strategies with the media and Monsanto senior executives worldwide.▸ Served as a primary corporate spokesperson with top-tier national and international media outlets. ▸ Named “The Man with the Worst Job in Britain” (Sunday Observer Newspaper).▸ Managed multiple external public relations agencies simultaneously. Show less

• Corporate Public Affairs Manager

  • 1996 - 1998

  Managed general corporate communications efforts to support ongoing business needs and new corporate strategy to transform this 100-year-old chemical company into a life sciences enterprise. ▸ Led production of investor relations materials, including two award-winning Monsanto annual reports articulating the company’s transformation from a traditional chemical manufacturer into a life sciences enterprise. ▸ Managed Welfare-to-Work program launch with White House staff including a St. Louis visit from President William Jefferson Clinton. ▸ Led communications strategy for the company’s $20 million corporate philanthropic foundation. Show less