Long, long ago in a place far, far away, I began my business career managing Swiss Colony Restaurant and Cheese Shop. It was a busy place and generated nearly $1 million in sales annually. A move to Swiss Colony Catalog, as a designer of food products, gave me the opportunity to market seasonal and holiday food products through more than 20 million catalogs per year.

Leveraging this retail and direct marketing experience, I purchased Houseworks, Madison WI, where I sold imported fabrics, home décor, and gifts.

It was my interest in mail, direct marketing, and distribution that lead to a position at the US Postal Service where I advised companies of all sizes on optimum methods of designing and preparing large quantities of correspondence, publications, and products to be carried through the postal system.

Because volume mailing required sophisticated computer technology, I joined software pioneer, Postalsoft. During my tenure, as I progressed to Vice President of Corporate Planning, Postalsoft grew to nearly $30 million in revenue and more than 300 employees. The company name was changed to FirstLogic and it was finally acquired by Business Objects/SAP.

A move to ImageX.com (acquired by Kinkos/FedEx), an early ecommerce company, allowed me as Director of Strategic Marketing to participate in the development of complex online marketing, sales, and distribution of customized products. A year of explosive growth – from 70 to 700+ employees – an initial public offering (IPO) and secondary offering totaling more than $120 million and six acquisitions, honed my skills and encouraged me to open my own consulting business.

I launched Business Strategies Etc. in 2001 to specialize in strategic marketing and business planning, marketing communications and promotion, and technology implementation. Some of the projects I’ve completed include:

• Development of channel marketing and collateral distribution programs incorporating electronic and print-on-demand documents as well as traditionally printed promotional materials and direct mail, for manufacturers offering a wide range of products, including commercial exterior lighting, recreational vehicles, water treatment products, and others.
• Product management, including product launch, of a variety of technology products including software and hardware solutions.
• Management of strategic planning processes for companies in industries ranging from Medicaid claims processing, secure network access appliances, services to the disabled, software as a service, and others.
• Detailed analysis of print procurement and mailing operations resulting in recommendations for operational and procedural improvements to capture cost savings completed for companies in the following industries: insurance, banking, catalog and direct mail, specialty printing, and government.

A nationally recognized speaker on a wide range of subjects, I bring enthusiasm and a unique blend of experiences to the podium. And as an industry analyst and journalist contributing to publications in the US, Canada, India, and Brazil, I’ve covered a number of “beats,” particularly focused on the “good food” system, sustainability, and printing and distribution.