Experience

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  Career Lion Inc.

  • Ottawa, Ontario

  • President & Co-Founder

    • Apr 2010 - Present
    • Ottawa, Ontario

    Proudly one of North America's highest value providers of career and leadership branding, development and empowerment solutions, Career Lion is a professional service firm for individuals as well as organizations. With executive branding, web/digital (ONLION), and coaching divisions, Career Lion delivers elite communication tools, branding strategies, actionable expertise and strategic support to maximize advantages and success in careers and business (www.careerlion.com).● Focusing 20+ years of executive development and coaching expertise into a personalized resource that helps executives in Fortune 500 to small startups to realize business objectives and career goals through strategy alignment, business advisory, leadership development, coaching, workshop, and branding solutions; ● Co-leading all aspects of national and regional business/corporate development, service delivery, support infrastructure, quality assurance and business administration while overseeing a coast-to-coast network of elite advisors and coaches.ACHIEVEMENTS: ► Co-founded firm to seamlessly fuse elite-level expertise in personal branding, marketing, executive coaching, career planning/advancement, profile assessments, strategic communications and the provision of support for career success ► Deployed tailored personal branding strategies and tools that have advanced the careers of executives at such companies as Husqvarna, Electrolux, Moneris, Grand&Toy, 3M, RBC, Waste Management, IBM, Cascades, TransForce, Servier, MHS, Standish Mellon, etc. ► Delivered transformational development coaching instrumental in securing career advancement, increased compensation, and work/life balance for clients ► Empowered business owners with corporate, market and business development strategies that have significantly increased revenues, capabilities and credibility

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  Canuck Racing Club

  • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  • Co-President & Managing Partner

    • Jun 2022 - Present
    • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    The Canuck Racing Club is a private thoroughbred ownership and racing syndicate that enables select individuals to simultaneously own multiple thoroughbred racehorses.● Leading business development, member acquisition, and the optimization of overall business administration, Club operations, and owner-member services;● Serving as one of three syndicate managing partners along with long-time friends and business partners Rob van Blokland (co-founder of Career Lion Inc.) and Donato Lanni, one the best in the world when it comes to identifying and buying winning thoroughbreds and heralded by the New York Times as “one of the most sought-after thoroughbred scouts in North America”;● Acquiring, developing and racing thoroughbreds trained by the top trainers in North America, ridden by elite jockeys, and selected by a buyer who has found legendary champions that have won the Kentucky Derby, Dubai World Cup, Saudi Derby, six Breeder’s Cups (a year-end international championship when the best horses in the world race), seven Eclipse Awards for outstanding achievement in North America, the Canada’s 2022 Queen’s Plate, and a Horse of the Year award honor bestowed by consensus of the industry’s top organizations worldwide;● Offering select members a unique life experience and the opportunity to make their lives more exciting and extraordinary while all being in it to WIN.

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  Cobblestone Human Capital

  • Ottawa, Ontario

  • President & Founder

    • Feb 2003 - Present
    • Ottawa, Ontario

    Trusted by executives in start-ups through to Fortune 500 multinationals, Cobblestone Human Capital leverages expertise in Ultimate Value Recruitment and HR Optimization to provide a North American client base with the solutions, tools, knowledge, experience and ongoing support that drive performance and success (www.cobblestonepath.com). ● Planning and leading all aspects of business/corporate development, sales, client relations, staffing, consulting, networking, relationship management, solution development, supporting infrastructure and business administration across 3 key lines of business;● Providing daily leadership and direction of strategic, technical and functional business operations while managing high-level account relationships, assessing client needs and targeting/acquiring new business;● Recruiting and leading a team of elite recruiters, HR Development Specialists and consultants to provide exceptional results, value and ROI across a vast array of industries.ACHIEVEMENTS: ► Developed an innovative Ultimate Value Recruiting solution that empowers companies to hire top talent for 50% to 90% less than the costs of traditional recruiting firms ► Established an HR Optimization Solution service that has enabled mid-to-large companies and national organizations to cost-effectively and significantly enhance their HR infrastructures, knowledge, best practices and related communications on a go-forward basis ► Instrumental in the placement of key senior level executives in organizations across Canada and the US ► Secured the trust and repeat business of executives at such organizations as Waste Management, Grand&Toy, MoneyMart, SIGVARIS Corp., MHS (Multi-Health Systems), Total Security Management, Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC), Intellera, The Royal Danish Consulate General - and many more ► Cultivated an exceptionally strong professional network that spans North America_______________

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  The 500

  • Montreal, Quebec

  • Director of Search Operations

    • Jun 2002 - Feb 2003
    • Montreal, Quebec

    The 500 is one of Canada's leading providers of Executive & Professional Search services and staffing solutions (www.the500.com).● Recruited to turnaround and actively manage the Montreal operation to enhance competitive position and firmly re-establish company presence in a major Canadian marketplace;● Managed, mentored and led a 4-person Executive Recruitment staff;● Developed new client-centric sales strategies driven by educational-based marketing and the identification and promotion of highly skilled, high-potential candidates.ACHIEVEMENTS: ► Restructured processes and operations to reduce overhead costs in the Montreal office by 67% ► Spearheaded and led the merger of Ian Martin and The 500 offices to facilitate improved synergies and cross-functional selling ► Successfully increased the inherent value of services to boost sales while justifying increased fees_______________

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  GAAP Financial Executive Recruiters

  • Montreal, Quebec

  • Director of Business Development

    • Jun 2000 - Jun 2002
    • Montreal, Quebec

    Founded in 1972, GAAP Financial Executive Recruiters is a national talent acquisition firm specializing in the headhunting and recruitment of C-suite and senior-level executives (www.gaapsearch.com).● Planned and led client training programs in the areas of Recruitment Best Practices, Employee/Role Definition, Effective Interviewing, Hiring and Retention; ● Developed and trained internal staff on new HR Sales processes to promote improved prospecting/closing, greater consistency in sales methodologies and a stronger perception of the company’s strengths/brand in the market;● Prospected, targeted and secured business in previously untapped industries and market segments; ● Enhanced the firm's brand through initiatives that included development of an optimized Web presence and persuasive sales presentations that enhanced the firm's ability to attract and secure both clients and qualified candidates.ACHIEVEMENTS: ► Delivered $500K+ in new search fee revenues ► Established process that increased search effectiveness by 50% (resulting in revenue growth at reduced costs) ► Effectively networked and built relationships to develop a pipeline of 150+ bonafide sales prospects across multiple vertical markets_______________

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  Ian Martin/The 500

  • Oakville, Ontario

  • Executive Recruiter

    • Jun 1997 - Jun 2000
    • Oakville, Ontario

    ● Hired with the autonomy to establish and implement effective business practices in the recruitment of sales executives across a broad range of industries;● Delivered consulting and recruitment solutions to a portfolio of clients that included Seagram, Steelcase Canada, G.N Johnston, Servier, Johnson & Johnson, Canpar and Citicourier Inernational. ACHIEVEMENTS: ► Delivered year-over-year billing increases of 50% while consistently achieving/exceeding targets and company objectives ► Proactively developed a Client and Candidate Aftercare Program that established a customer service benchmark in the firm ► Developed a new revenue stream via career expos/fairs_______________

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  Purolator Inc.

  • Toronto, Ontario

  • Sales Executive (Financial/Legal Markets)

    • May 1993 - Jun 1997
    • Toronto, Ontario

    Purolator is Canada’s leading integrated freight and parcel solutions provider (www.purolator.com).● Prospected and closed sales in a $4M territory (financial district of downtown Toronto);● Worked in a cross-functional capacity to coordinate client marketing, service and account development.● Trained junior Courier Sales Representatives.ACHIEVEMENTS: ► Increased territory by 17% in 1996 ► Achieved status as Top 15% Sales Representatives in Canada ► Received the region's Sales Representative Honours Award in 1996 ► Awarded the 1995 President's Club Award for Performance Excellence ► Consistently exceeded targets and earned two promotions in less than 24 months