Gary Hazen
Coach and Advisor; Board Member; Program Committee Chair at The New Enterprise Forum- Claim this Profile
Click to upgrade to our gold package
for the full feature experience.
Topline Score
Bio
Bill Schildknecht
Gary is one of the few people you’ll come across in your professional career who you’ll not only enjoy working with, but from whom you’ll end up learning how to be more effective and productive in the process. Gary’s genuine, thoughtful and collaborative approach builds stakeholder buy-in and empowers team members to think beyond next steps in order to anticipate opportunities and potential hurdles. His amiable nature and sense of humor combine to create a welcoming, positive work environment that I continue to rate as one of my most rewarding professional experiences to date.
Elissa Grossman
Gary is an exceptionally detail oriented analytical individual who has the ability to see not only a global vision but what it takes to bring that vision to fruition.. His extensive and varied background has enabled him to serve in various capacities and in various industries bringing with him a vast array of experiences.
Bill Schildknecht
Gary is one of the few people you’ll come across in your professional career who you’ll not only enjoy working with, but from whom you’ll end up learning how to be more effective and productive in the process. Gary’s genuine, thoughtful and collaborative approach builds stakeholder buy-in and empowers team members to think beyond next steps in order to anticipate opportunities and potential hurdles. His amiable nature and sense of humor combine to create a welcoming, positive work environment that I continue to rate as one of my most rewarding professional experiences to date.
Elissa Grossman
Gary is an exceptionally detail oriented analytical individual who has the ability to see not only a global vision but what it takes to bring that vision to fruition.. His extensive and varied background has enabled him to serve in various capacities and in various industries bringing with him a vast array of experiences.
Bill Schildknecht
Gary is one of the few people you’ll come across in your professional career who you’ll not only enjoy working with, but from whom you’ll end up learning how to be more effective and productive in the process. Gary’s genuine, thoughtful and collaborative approach builds stakeholder buy-in and empowers team members to think beyond next steps in order to anticipate opportunities and potential hurdles. His amiable nature and sense of humor combine to create a welcoming, positive work environment that I continue to rate as one of my most rewarding professional experiences to date.
Elissa Grossman
Gary is an exceptionally detail oriented analytical individual who has the ability to see not only a global vision but what it takes to bring that vision to fruition.. His extensive and varied background has enabled him to serve in various capacities and in various industries bringing with him a vast array of experiences.
Bill Schildknecht
Gary is one of the few people you’ll come across in your professional career who you’ll not only enjoy working with, but from whom you’ll end up learning how to be more effective and productive in the process. Gary’s genuine, thoughtful and collaborative approach builds stakeholder buy-in and empowers team members to think beyond next steps in order to anticipate opportunities and potential hurdles. His amiable nature and sense of humor combine to create a welcoming, positive work environment that I continue to rate as one of my most rewarding professional experiences to date.
Elissa Grossman
Gary is an exceptionally detail oriented analytical individual who has the ability to see not only a global vision but what it takes to bring that vision to fruition.. His extensive and varied background has enabled him to serve in various capacities and in various industries bringing with him a vast array of experiences.
Experience
-
-
Coach and Advisor; Board Member; Program Committee Chair
-
2012 - Present
Assessing, advising, mentoring, and directing emerging companies and start-ups. NEF Board member. NEF start-ups coached include: - Genomenon - won $5,000 for New Business Idea (1st Place) & Mark Kiel - Top 20 Presenter at MiQuest/GLEQ Business Plan Competition - FoodJunky - Roomations - AdAdapted - obtaining funding through Frankel Fund (as lead to larger investor group) - Coliant/Powerlet - won $25,000 from Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition - Eco-Fueling - ENT Biotech - won Entrepreneur You; won $25,000 from Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition - Fusepoint - GAPro - receiving funding from Start Garden and in the process of receiving funding from other startup funds; I am now serving as COO - ICTouch - Patient Provider Communications - won GLEQ Business Plan Competition prize; received $250K funding from Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund - SurClean - won 4th Brinks Innovation Competition; won $15,000 for Emerging Company (2nd Place) & $12,500 Automation Alley Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Award & Susan Sprentall - Top 20 Presenter at MiQuest/GLEQ Business Plan Competition GLEQ start-ups coached include: - Message Blocks - HealthPointz Also coached PlanReaction through the Accelerate Michigan competition (AMIC) - won $25,000 - and acted as a second in the SPARK Boot Camp - won best of Boot Camp. Show less
-
-
-
GAPro System
-
Germany
-
Business Consulting and Services
-
Chief Operating Officer
-
Nov 2013 - Jun 2016
A member of the start-up management team. Leading the business side of this SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) insurance industry software start-up. Responsible for Business Planning, Organizational Development, Business Processes and Business Disciplines. Operating responsibility for Systems Development and Finance. Additional information available at: www.GAProSystem.com A member of the start-up management team. Leading the business side of this SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) insurance industry software start-up. Responsible for Business Planning, Organizational Development, Business Processes and Business Disciplines. Operating responsibility for Systems Development and Finance. Additional information available at: www.GAProSystem.com
-
-
-
-
Advisory Board
-
May 2012 - May 2016
Member of Advisory Board. Role is to provide input and review of PowerMessage product and product development and marketing strategies. See www.PowerMessagePro.com for more information. See http://www.IntersliceStudios.com/GaryHazen/ for example of product and use for an experience profile. Member of Advisory Board. Role is to provide input and review of PowerMessage product and product development and marketing strategies. See www.PowerMessagePro.com for more information. See http://www.IntersliceStudios.com/GaryHazen/ for example of product and use for an experience profile.
-
-
-
-
Chief Operating Officer
-
Feb 2009 - Dec 2013
Led SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) social compliance software start-up. Responsible for Business Planning, Organizational Development, Business Processes and Business Disciplines. Operating responsibility for Sales, Pre-Sales, Marketing, Customer Support, Consulting, Training, and Finance. Developed marketing plans and collateral based upon customer segments and product benefits. Assigned internal responsibilities and mentored team members to sell based upon client needs rather than just product features. Planned and assisted with client visits and presentations. Show less
-
-
-
Video Me, Inc.
-
United States
-
Chief Operating Officer
-
Mar 2012 - Jun 2013
Advisory responsibility for Operations, Strategy, and Finance for this video sharing website startup. Advisory responsibility for Operations, Strategy, and Finance for this video sharing website startup.
-
-
-
Artisan Lifestyle LLC
-
Technology, Information and Internet
-
Principal/Owner
-
2006 - Jan 2013
Principal/Owner of product sales website (ArtsandCrafts-Lifestyle.com) specializing in the Arts & Crafts era of the early 20th century. Produced business plan, website design, website graphics, and website content. Executed website development and testing with off-shore (India) resources. Established supplier and services relationships with third-party providers: Amazon.com, PayPal, Constant Contact, FedEx, UPS, and USPS. Established Wordpress blog as means to interact with site users and establish marketing links to the website. Brought website live and maintains product and marketing content. Show less
-
-
-
-
Program Manager, Project Director, Project Management Office
-
1998 - 2005
Responsible for consulting sales, proposal preparation, and C-level relationship management, successfully closing million-dollar engagements and add-on work. Hands-on project leader for non-standard and leading-edge ERP system implementations and upgrades: resolved scope issues, ensured success, sold add-on work, and ensured client satisfaction. Recruited internally to be part of the Project Management Office: co-developed PeopleSoft's "Compass" implementation methodology Reduced project write-offs wrote guidelines used by consulting sales team to estimate proper size, staffing and pricing of projects. Developed and delivered front-end Strategy and Planning workshops to C-level client executives that set scope, managed risk, and drafted the Project Charter. Mentored project managers in methodology and client management. Tapped to pilot eCommerce applications at Worldwaters.com and Petopia.com: addressed initial go-live issues and established software relationships with outside services and proved ability to handle large volumes. eCommerce product incorporated into base product offerings. Show less
-
-
-
-
Program Manager
-
1997 - 1998
Intrepid Systems was a start-up developer, seller, and implementer of integrated accounting and merchandising systems for retailers and was acquired by PeopleSoft. Gary was the C-level relationship manager for Montgomery Ward and advisor to their implementation partner, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, for a $3M a beta DB2 retail merchandising and data warehouse software implementation. Put advanced capabilities on the desks of 300 executives, planners, buyers, and merchandise managers. Addressed issues that allowed Intrepid to be acquired and for client to be successful: - Pre-sales: executed volume testing to demonstrate software's ability to process high volumes. When product did not actually support required volumes, identified areas that could be addressed to exceed requirements -- contract signed, supporting acquisition of Intrepid Systems by PeopleSoft. - When PeopleSoft decided not to address volume issues, worked with a hand-picked set of ex-Intrepid and Wards resources to identify and execute code changes to meet Ward's high volume requirements. Changes made, and system brought live. Show less
-
-
-
-
Senior Director - International Financial Systems Implementation
-
1995 - 1997
Executed $6 million, London-based implementation of PeopleSoft Financials. Assembled and managed team to deliver international functionality when PeopleSoft failed to deliver the functionality when promised. Led Gap project team, partnered with PeopleSoft developers and Accenture consultants, to design, code and test $1 million of custom code while keeping the project within budget, on schedule, satisfied pilot objectives, and provided the basis for company-wide implementation. Executed $6 million, London-based implementation of PeopleSoft Financials. Assembled and managed team to deliver international functionality when PeopleSoft failed to deliver the functionality when promised. Led Gap project team, partnered with PeopleSoft developers and Accenture consultants, to design, code and test $1 million of custom code while keeping the project within budget, on schedule, satisfied pilot objectives, and provided the basis for company-wide implementation.
-
-
-
-
Director - Process Reengineering
-
1994 - 1995
Wilsons Leather was a $500 million, 630-store, leather apparel specialty retailer and a subsidiary of Melville Corporation. Based upon Michael Hammer's approach to 'Reengineering the Corporation', Gary led reengineering efforts for responsible for 50% of Wilsons Leather's systems, including POS, Human Resources, and Distribution. Assembled and managed the team that solved operational and capacity problems with a troubled implementation of an RF (Radio Frequency)-based Distribution Management system. Expanded distribution capacity by 100%, out-sourced non-rack merchandise at lower cost, and ensured on-time store distribution of $150 million of holiday volume. Show less
-
-
-
-
VP Financial Planning & Analysis (and interim CFO), VP Merchandise Performance
-
1992 - 1993
Silo was a $1 billion, 230-store, electronics and appliance retailer and a wholly owned subsidiary of Dixons, U.K. Led Financial Planning & Reporting, including monthly performance reporting, variance analysis, and performance improvement programs. Initiated new operating and market analyses that were critical to expense control and and market competitiveness. Partnered with Real Estate to establish market-based improvement programs critical to survival. Asked to take responsibility for Merchandise Sales and Product Performance, including sales and margin planning, service contract marketing, and advertising performance. Expanded marketing and advertising analysis and significantly increased the effectiveness of dollars spent. Analyzed service plan pricing against customer risk profiles and initiated service plan pricing changes with a net potential of $500K dollars per year. Show less
-
-
-
-
Director - MIS, Director - Corporate Planning & Development
-
1985 - 1991
Highland was a newly public $950 million, 90-store, electronics and appliance retailer. Initially responsible for Management Information Systems. Solved immediate critical need for additional processing capacity to get company through the holiday season. Developed and started implementation of a five-year systems plan to support rapid company growth from $400 million to $950 million sales per year. Asked to establish a Planning & Development department to address strategic and operational issues and led resulting tactical efforts in areas of market investment analysis, planning & control, and process reengineering. Partnered with Merchandising to improve control over buying (open-to-buy) and replenishment (both warehouse and stores); reduced inventory 5% without impacting sales. Partnered with Real Estate to prepare store sales estimation models and location plans; identified $30 million of market-level improvements. Played a key role working with Management Horizons and McKinsey & Co. to prepare Highland's business plan and survival strategy. Co-led cross-functional team efforts to implement tactical solutions that resulted in $60 million of annual expense savings and $40 million of inventory reductions. Show less
-
-
-
-
Consultant, Manager, Senior Manager
-
1974 - 1985
Over 10 years of progressive responsibility for consulting projects, client relationships, and practice development. Designed, developed and implemented fully integrated retail systems, including Sales Audit, Merchandise Planning & Open-to-Buy, Inventory Management, Accounts Payable, and General Ledger. Systems became firm-supported software. Selected to work with clients to pilot and develop firm-wide methodologies and tools for: Transaction-Based Auditing, Profit Improvement Reviews, Store Labor Scheduling, and Strategic/Business Planning. Firmwide expert in areas of strategic planning, profit improvement, retail store staff scheduling, organization studies, and operations reviews. Prepared strategic business plan for rapidly growing retail chain; chain went public while executing plan. Prepared organizational reviews for large retail and manufacturing companies that identified paths to growth without additional personnel. Implemented improved store staffing schedules with multiple retailers resulting in 10% staffing reductions while improving customer service. Conducted profit improvement reviews with average profit improvement opportunities of 10% of sales. Assumed responsibility for Detroit office retail consulting practice and was a member of the firmwide retail industry team. Show less
-
-
Education
-
Harvard Business School
M.B.A. -
University of Michigan
B.S.E., Industrial Engineering
Community
