Vice President of Marketing
Senior Marketing Executive with demonstrated success in designing and implementing creative strategies to position US/global companies for renewal, growth and a sustainable competitive edge. Experience spans technology startups to one of the country’s largest new residential homebuilders – both client side and agency side experience as well.
Solid business leader who delivers strong market growth and revenue performance.
* Increased weekly gross sales by 300% through implementation of new market / competitive analysis tool while managing an $8.5M marketing budget, co-managing 40+ sales force and a marketing staff of six (Neumann)
* Increased retail sales revenues by 25% by conducting extensive customer satisfaction survey for the Internet appliance market resulting in a refocusing of marketing communication initiatives to target specific consumer segments. (3Com)
* Established new records for operational marketing achievements by producing record numbers of qualified customers taking the Division from #7 to #2 in one of the most competitive markets in the country – instrumental in driving revenues to exceed $50M for the first time in the divisions history. (Centex)
* Improved market share by as much as 10% in one year through the creation of a new global strategic offer marketing organization for targeting unique total solutions to specific customer segments. (Lucent)
Creative thinker who boosts profit through organizational development and improvement
* Established three to five year land acquisition, product and customer focus strategy for division through an extensive, in-depth supply/demand and segmentation analysis of the local housing market (Centex)
* Optimized company’s Internet presence yielding 30% increase in web based sales leads within 90 days (Neumann)
* Created first competitive intelligence position for division whose contributions were directly attributed to saving the corporation over $4M (Motorola)
* Created strategic tool for assessing and prioritizing international markets on a basis of opportunity versus risk that optimized resources for pursuing additional business in foreign markets garnering over a 30% gain in international business prospects. (Lucent)
“Erik is an exceptional leader who achieves great financial results based on a rigorous understanding of customer needs. Erik lead the "what should the user experience be" research and competitive benchmarking efforts for our Internet Appliance Division at 3Com for the 3Com Audrey which was named a "Best Product of 2001" by Business Week. As a GM, you love to have a leader on your team who knows how to get the homework done that creates a clear picture of the "customer need" that can be met profitably. Erik totally fits that bill! He is a phenomenal team player. I would recommend him highly for any business that needs a senior leader who knows his way around customer insights, competitive analysis and mobilizing a cross functional team to achieve sustained profitability based on meeting well understood customer needs!”
- Don Fotsch, GM, Internet Appliance Division, 3Com Corp.
P&L Management
Lifestyle Marketing
Brand Image/Management
International Marketing
Startups
Thought Leadership
Integrated Promotion
Corporate Communication/PR
Community Relations
Innovation
Revenue Generation
New Product Concepts
M&A Support/Integration
Employee Communications
Negotiations
MBA
Strategic Marketing emphasis
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Lake Forest, IL
Bachelor of Science
Urban/Economic Geography
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL
Professional Experience
President/Owner
2007 to present
Strategic Management Solutions, Barrington, IL
Sole proprietor management consulting business with wide range of specialization. Among the list of most recent clients: Caterpillar, Volvo Heavy Duty, Eaton Corporation, Arvin Meritor, Mahle, and BP Amoco. Assignments have included such endeavors as brand awareness, distribution channel assessment, new product/market development, aftermarket pricing analysis and market share/market penetration studies.
National Vice President of Sales & Marketing
2007 to 2007
Neumann Homes, Warrenville, IL
Recruited by CEO for turnaround team to co-manage sales force and supervise a staff of six encompassing both strategic and operational marketing departments responsible for: land acquisition analysis, customer research and segmentation, product research and development, all retail sales and advertising collateral and media development (newspapers, brochures, sales centers, press releases, radio/television, signage, and Internet), all retail sales office locations and model home presentation including but not limited to: sales center location, layout, décor and display materials, model selection, decorating and merchandising all determined by a detailed target consumer analysis including demographic and ethnographic research.
* Managed and optimized $8.5M operational and strategic marketing budget yielding 20% increase in prospects. Prospect quality also increased demonstrated by 3% boost in sales conversion rate.
* Demonstrated quantitatively the Internet was responsible for approximately 75% of sales leads and revamped the company’s web presence increasing web based leads 30% within first 90 days of implementation.
* Designated as interim Division President of northern region in the Chicago market responsible for all day-to-day operations including construction, sales, customer service, warranty and marketing for nine communities.
Division Senior Marketing Director (Department Head)
2004 - 2007
Centex Homes, Elgin, IL
Managed a $4.2M budget while co-managing the sales force and supervising a staff of five encompassing both strategic and operational marketing departments with responsibilities that included, but were not limited to: land acquisition analysis, customer research and segmentation, product research and development, all retail sales and advertising collateral and media development (newspapers, brochures, sales centers, press releases, radio/television, signage, and Internet).
* Completed Illinois Division’s first Strategic Market Assessment (SMA) of the Greater Chicago area establishing the strategic direction of the company for the next three to five years for land acquisition, product type, price, performance and target customer base focus
* Nominated for 2006 Marketer of Year Award by Sales & Marketing Council of the Homebuilding Association of Greater Chicago
* Created dynamic online reporting system for continually monitoring all active communities and their associated competition allowing management to react quicker to rapidly changing market conditions resulting in improved key business performance measures (.i.e. increased sales pace, profit margin, and asset turns)
Director, Business Intelligence, Internet Appliance Division
2001-2004
3Com Corporation - Rolling Meadows, IL
Created flagship competitive intelligence group within the business unit responsible for all strategic marketing research and analysis regarding the company’s entire line of consumer based retail products and services. Partnered with senior executive management team in plotting retail business strategy, market direction and pricing. Formulated aggressive marketing strategies targeting specific customer segments in the consumer electronics market.
* Performed key competitive, retail market and ethnographic research efforts that streamlined the product roadmap for the Internet appliance product group, which increased their market share an estimated 18%.
* Increased retail sales revenues by 25% by conducting extensive customer satisfaction survey for the Internet appliance market that caused a revamping of marketing communication materials to target specific market segments.
* Directed research efforts that resulted in an average increase in profit margin of 12% due to optimization of channel partners and better outsourcing of specific product components.
* Member of core management team that pursued venture capital funding to continue development of flagship Internet appliance product (Audrey) after company had officially dissolved the business group (formed Datatricity LLC)
Senior Market Intelligence Manager, AMPS/PCS Division
1998-2001
Lucent Technologies - Naperville, IL
Managed startup organization responsible for global market segmentation and analysis of the wireless voice and data telecommunications markets, manufacturers, competition, service providers and end-users. Coordinated competitive intelligence, market research, forecasting, benchmarking and related efforts. Developed core strategy initiatives for the business unit’s turnaround efforts.
Previously:
Motorola - Schaumburg, IL (International Business Development, Competitive Intelligence, Strategic Marketing)
MacKay & Company - Lombard, IL (Management Consultant/Market Research)
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