Experience

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  The New York Milk Bank

  • Valhalla, New York, United States

  • Executive Director

    • Jan 2022 - Present
    • Valhalla, New York, United States

    Catalyzed and directed the turnaround of The New York Milk Bank, an organization dedicated to improving the survival of premature infants by providing pasteurized donor human milk when mom’s own milk is not available. Following a period of instability, the need to strengthen and professionalize the organization was of vital importance and a turnaround was achieved over a two-year period by first stabilizing, then enhancing and innovating technology, systems, and the business model.- Stabilized the organization within 6 months fixing production issues and improving cash position. Reduced 90+ days late A/R by 73%. Revamped policies, procedures, and systems by upgrading technology and streamlining workflows.- Achieved key milestones positioning NYMB for exponential growth: reversed three years of operating losses, achieved highest donor milk sales, attained strongest average daily production levels, and onboarded new hospital accounts.- Generated Increased milk (+35%) and financial (+50%) donations through media engagement during formula shortage.- Improved staff morale and retention through empowerment, recognition, and celebrations.

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  Finish Strong Consulting

  • Greater New York City Area

  • Founder/CEO

    • Jan 2018 - Present
    • Greater New York City Area

    Utilize management experience and marketing skills to help individuals, teams, and organizations exceed their goals.• Tufts University: Instrumental in securing Walmart Foundation grant and providing marketing expertise to expand the "You're the Mom" social marketing campaign designed to empower lower-income moms to choose healthier foods/beverages for their children.• Steve Max, Inc: Developed innovative strategy and activation plan to pivot in-person performances to live-video format during COVID-19 pandemic maintaining relevance and attracting new audiences.• Impact100 Westchester: Developed communications strategy, created brand guide, crafted impact stories, and grew social media presence across all major platforms resulting in highest membership to date. (Pro bono).

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  Harlem Children's Zone

  • Greater New York City Area

  • Director, Replication Initiatives

    • Feb 2019 - Jan 2022
    • Greater New York City Area

    Harlem Children's Zone aims to end generational poverty through place-based services and programming designed to promote educational opportunity, economic & social mobility, and health equity.• Conducted strategic planning to scale Healthy Harlem, an evidence-based childhood obesity prevention program, to communities across the U.S. Activities included codifying program components, defining tangible and intangible success factors, developing community selection criteria, creating training & implementation materials, crafting the technical assistance, communications, and evaluation plans.• Secured 3-year, $4 million implementation grant.• Expanded organizational capacity in Systems Science, Group Model Building methodologies, and Implementation & Scaling practices.

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  Tufts University

  • Greater New York City Area

  • Director, Operations & Communications at ChildObesity180

    • Feb 2012 - Dec 2017
    • Greater New York City Area

    Advanced the transformation of a start-up, non-profit into a leading organization recognized as one of the top entities in childhood obesity prevention. By blending scientific evidence with private sector innovation, ChildObesity180 develops, evaluates, and scales high-impact initiatives improving nutrition and increasing physical activity. • Guided strategy development and program design; led marketing, communications, finance & operations functions; enhanced infrastructure and capacity to achieve goals. • Launched and scaled nationally, four evidence-based initiatives reaching over 11 million children. • Contributed to fundraising efforts securing support across foundations, government, corporate, and private sources sustaining a $5 million annual budget.• Oversaw recruitment, training, and coaching of top-tier talent maximizing resources and productivity. • Engaged internal and external stakeholders including 27 CEO-level charter members and 81 strategic partnerships enabling acceleration of program implementation, funding, and research.

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  New York Medical College

  • Associate Project Director, Regional Health Planning Initiative

    • 2009 - 2011

    An alliance between NYMC and the Lower Hudson Valley Departments of Health designed to improve the region’s health; funded by a $1MM NYS Department of Health HEAL 9 grant. Responsible for establishing a regional performance monitoring tool, managing and allocating resources across seven counties, and building partnerships among stakeholders.

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  Kraft Foods Group

  • Senior Vice President

    • 2006 - 2008

    Led long-term strategic planning, developed new revenue-generating services, and managed day-to-day operations for consumer services. Collaborated with Business Units across the globe to accelerate Kraft’s growth by building lasting relationships with consumers. Led team of 150 with $150MM budget.• Developed CRM transformation plan delivering 20% greater pay-back through enhanced targeting, broadening consumer dialogue, and improving organizational capability.• Contemporized products and marketing based on insights from large-scale consumer study.• Modernized customer service infrastructure resulting in risk reduction and deeper consumer insights.

  • Vice President, Marketing - Coffee

    • 2001 - 2006

    Directed $1.2B coffee line: Maxwell House, Gevalia Kaffe, Starbucks, General Food International Coffees and Yuban. Responsible for full P&L and strategic plans; implementation across marketing, manufacturing and sales. Led staff of 20 and cross-functional team of 75 with $300MM budget.• Rejuvenated Maxwell House with long-range strategic plan including $50MM capital investment, product quality improvement, break-through marketing initiatives, and packaging innovation. • New Maxwell House campaign earned highest scores in Millward Brown database and delivered first improved brand image in ten years. Grew share +1.3 points and revenue +10%.• Formed Rainforest Alliance/Yuban partnership delivering +100% margin enhancement.• Directed development of Starbucks new advertising campaign and new products driving +20% revenue and +10% profit growth.• Managed Gevalia to deliver topline (+20%) and bottom line (+40%) growth. Expanded to multi-channel approach. Enhanced infrastructure with supply chain management solution and front-end vendor conversion. • Initiated and led Coffee Passion Team to gain appreciation for the coffee category among employees.Selected to lead project leveraging nutrition expertise providing guidance to sector business leaders on Health & Wellness strategies. Launched South Beach Diet products and product endorsements.

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  Kraft Foods Group

  • Category Business Director, Post Kids

    • 1998 - 2000

    Responsible for $400MM Post Kids portfolio including strategy, marketing, new product development and productivity. Led staff of 13 and cross-functional team of 15 with $100MM marketing budget.• Developed an umbrella strategy to scale and enhance kid relevancy increasing share six percent.• Expanded Pebbles and Honeycomb consumer targets and media objectives delivering focused messages to kids, tweens, adults and Hispanic moms. Repositioned Alpha-Bits and successfully regained “wholesome” image with moms and “fun” image with kids.• Leveraged strategic partnerships to launch limited edition products delivering $12MM revenue. • Established internet presence with Postopia.com resulting in #1 ranked kid CPG website.• Created Category Business Director Peer Forum to share business challenges & experiences.

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  Kraft Foods Group

  • Various marketing positions with increasing responsibilities

    • 1990 - 1997

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  Brigham and Women's Hospital

  • Boston, Massachusetts, United States

  • Senior Research Dietitian, Renal Division

    • 1984 - 1988
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States

    Managed NIH-funded Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study