EXPERTISE
Enterprise Sales & Business Development
Marketing & Technology Strategic Alliances
Digital Media Solutions Architecture
CXO-level Account Management in Complex Environments
Startup-to-IPO Experience
Extensive Media & Entertainment Contacts
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
President - October 2001 to Present
Align Business:Development – Hollywood
Align is a technology-savvy business consultancy which provides executive level sales execution, partnership brokering, and bridge management services for emerging and established digital media technology companies. The consultancy focuses on tactical execution and results - not vision and strategy. Since its inception, Align has increased revenues and book values of over a dozen technology companies that required hands-on experience to penetrate the lucrative Media & Entertainment industry.
Align principals attend all major media technology trade events worldwide covering every platform of digital distribution. We directly target domestic and international companies whose technology (once fully vetted) shows promise as a marketable solution within the ecosystem of file-based digital content acquisition, distribution, and monetization.
Partial Consulting Client List:
ACD Systems Ltd. – A publicly traded consumer software company headquartered in Victoria, BC Canada - creators of ACDSee and Canvas software.
• Directed global OEM business development for all photo-management related product lines. Business lead on development and launch of Partner Edition of ACDSee, designed specifically for OEM licensing.
• Closed the largest OEM deal in the past five years, worth close to $3 million in annual revenue, integrating ACDSee with the innovative U3 USB platform for distribution worldwide.
MESoft, Inc. - MESoft is a media technology software developer that helps production companies and film studios streamline workflow process with intelligent software and systems - often eliminating the need for tape duplication during production review and approval cycles.
• Contracted as Vice President, Solutions with responsibility for global business development, sales, and account management, while contributing to corporate business strategy in a boot-strap startup environment.
• Presented company to five major film studios and dozens of potential clients, partners, and strategic funding sources.
• Contributed to development of Java and HTTP client applications.
• Drafted client-centered proposals, agreements, and marketing materials for all product lines.
• Closed five major deals representing <20% of FY 2005 revenue.
• MESoft recently closed $6 million of first-round VC funding.
Dremedia LTD, an Autonomy Co. – U.K. based media asset management software firm that generates automated, concept-searchable meta-data with advanced voice-to-text conversion and Bayesian inferential logic.
• Created marketing strategy and collateral for U.S. market penetration; introduced company to two major broadcast networks, and brokered strategic alliances with Leitch and Blue Order.
Streamride Inc. – a systems integration and development group that specializes in licensing emerging technologies for use in defense, manufacturing, and media applications.
• Lead business development, contributed to product development
• Brokered deals with Kraft, US Department of Defense, and lead a strategic alliance to create a new platform for web-based video conferencing.
• Technology platforms include J2EE application frameworks for web services, advance voice biometrics systems, and Zero Instruction-set Computing (ZISC) imbedded chip designs for rapid processing of massive pattern-matching tasks.
Interactive Television Alliance – The ITA is an independent, vendor-neutral and self-funding, trade and professional organization representing the broad interests of the entire Interactive Television industry.
• Currently serving as Industry Relations Chair and as an advisor to the executive committee.
• Leading sales of corporate membership and event sponsorships.
Songdog Network – a digital media content and applications company providing massive contemporary licensed song libraries for MP3 Karaoke, polyphonic ring tones, and professional backing tracks.
• Developed go-to-market strategy for new MP3 Karaoke player for PC/CE platforms, structuring first major licensing deal with Microsoft's Windows Media Group – resulting in $500k in license revenue.
Mobile Streams Inc. – a global mobile media services company listed on the London AIM and 22% owned by Liberty Media.
• Contracted for sales and business development. Project scope is a short term, high intensity introduction of Mobile Streams to the top 10 broadcast and media companies. Strategic introductions included Yahoo, DivX, and Google.
• Deals in process represent $5-10 million in repeat business from software licenses and services.
Full Time Employment History:
Manager, Business Development - September 2000 to September 2001
Avid Technology Inc., Internet Solutions Group - Santa Monica, CA
Developed new market initiatives and alliances. Lead Western U.S. business development and sales strategy securing media, entertainment, and managed hosting clients.
• Negotiated and managed key resale, OEM, and application integration relationships for Trilligent Storage Area Network product.
• Major deals with Compaq (HP), Real Networks, Microsoft, Streaming 21, KPMG (BearingPoint), Exodus, Broadwing(Cincinatti Bell), WorldCom (MCI),and Razorfish.
• Developed and managed Avid’s Digital Media Partner program - providing a platform for media & entertainment customers to access cutting-edge applications, hardware, and services from key Avid partners for digital media distribution projects.
Director, Sponsorship Business Development - November 1998 to August 2000
webcasts.com/iBEAM Broadcasting - Santa Monica, CA
Reporting to the founder and president, and served on the startup team as division director for webcasts.com - an early-entry provider of streaming media production, application, and distribution services to clients worldwide. Company ramped from seven to 100 headcount in 11 months and merged to IPO with iBEAM Broadcasting Corporation valued at $155M (22.5 times FY99 revenue).
• Lead and managed strategy and sales team packaging streaming media content with national sponsorship marketing programs, leveraging a value-added services model for digital media content owners and major consumer brands such as Kraft, GM, Lotus, Microsoft, and others.
• Secured and managed strategic alliances with leading interactive agencies and vendors for sponsorship sales and third-party value-added services targeting emerging broadband streaming delivery initiatives. Sponsorship division closed $1.6M or 32% of webcasts.com’s $5M in gross revenue for 1999, including a two-year sponsorship deal with Microsoft for college sports conent.
Vice President, Sales 1996 to 1998
Strategic Alliance Management Corp (SAMCO) - Santa Barbara, CA
“SAMCO” provided contracted marketing and PR services for Internet technology, manufacturing, and business services companies - including strategy development, sales process innovation, new product introductions, and corporate communications.
• Developed and managed online branding and e-commerce, and site re-launch strategies for Alba Natural Cosmetics, International Sports Sciences Association, AYSO, NEXXUS Hair Care, and the International Polo Federation.
Senior Account Manager 1984 to 1996
Marketing and Financial Management, Inc. - Woodland Hills, CA
“M&FM” is a mid-sized marketing firm credited with creating some of the very first corporate sponsorship and event strategies for targeting specific demographic segments – beginning in the late nineteen seventies.
• Developed and executed marketing and corporate branding initiatives reaching diverse demographic markets through nationally sponsored event marketing campaigns.
• Managed operating and promotional budgets exceeding $2M.
• Diverse client and project management experience servicing General Motors, National Association of Realtors, Pepsi, Saturn, General Mills, Mitsubishi Motors, 3M, Pace Foods, Ford, American Heart Association, MCI, and other leading consumer brands.
• Recognized by General Motors Worldwide Purchasing with the prestigious QSP Award for marketing - presented to tier-one vendors which demonstrate excellence in quality, service, and price.
EDUCATION
California State University, Chico - B.Sc. Management, Hospitality Concentration
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Active presenter and panelist speaking on digital media technology and business models at UCLA, Streaming Media East/West/Europe, eTV World, IEG Sponsorship Forum, National Association of Broadcasters, Digital Hollywood, and the Interactive TV Alliance Reinventing TV Summit.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• Global Society for Asset Management (G-SAM) - Founding Board Member
• Interactive Television Alliance – Founding Executive Committee Member
• Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) – Member, Interactive Media Peer Group
• AFI Digital Content Lab – Mentor, 2007-2008 Project Cycle |
