Dave Whelan

Current

Managing Director at Bespoke Business Strategy Inc.

Past

Manager, Product Planning & Analysis at Apex Fitness Group
Marketing & Business Development Associate at Mission Ventures/Bullrun Financial Inc.
Principal at Ethos Consulting Inc.

Director of Operations at The Shaw Group

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Education

UCLA Anderson School of Management
London Business School
Stanford University

Carnegie Mellon University
Lewisburg Area High School

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2 more...

Recommended

4 people have recommended Dave

Connections

384 connections

Industry

Management Consulting

Websites

Dave Whelan’s Experience

Managing Director

Bespoke Business Strategy Inc.

(Privately Held; Management Consulting industry)

2006 — Present (3 years )
Manager, Product Planning & Analysis

Apex Fitness Group

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Health, Wellness and Fitness industry)

March 2003 — August 2006 (3 years 6 months)

• Introduced Apex “fitness foods” to traditional retailers, developing new distribution channel anticipated to add at least $2 million to top-line revenues in first year.
• Launched first successful ready-to-drink line at Apex, with estimated first-year sales in excess of $1 million.
• Launched Apex product line in Asia-based California Fitness chain, fastest growing division of 24 Hour Fitness.
• Introduced annual limited-edition holiday snacks to product line-up, creating incremental sales and excitement during normally slow holiday season. Launched other snack extensions. Relaunched core meal replacement powder business.
• Developed strategic plans, pricing strategies, and initial public relations campaign for groundbreaking bodybugg calorie management system.
• Co-developed and -launched retail merchandising program for licensed health clubs, collaborating with sales and account management teams to drive double-digit growth at participating clubs.
Marketing & Business Development Associate

Mission Ventures/Bullrun Financial Inc.

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

June 2001 — May 2002 (1 year )

• Reported to managing partner and acting CEO. Assisted with all company activities, including marketing, business development, product development, and strategic planning. Participated in all board meetings.
• Coordinated marketing, public relations, and sales force management efforts through active interaction with board. Prepared company and product launch plans, from alpha stage through first revenues.
• Conceived and managed product usability testing in direct support of founder and CTO. Evaluated and selected consultants to enhance product development and user interface design.
Principal

Ethos Consulting Inc.

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Staffing and Recruiting industry)

March 1994 — August 2000 (6 years 6 months)

• Managed VP-level searches, including development of position specifications and research strategies, candidate interviews, and client relations and handling. Collaborated on CEO- and board-level searches.
• Developed close relationships with leading technology executives and influencers (venture capitalists, consultants, etc.), with focus on telecommunications and information services industries.
• Collaborated with firm’s partners in strategic planning, business development, and creation of new firm identity and branding, including website and e-commerce initiatives.
• Advised clients and other senior executives on management and organizational strategies.
• Developed and managed advanced database systems that accelerated search process, aided in analysis and tracking of search metrics, and improved quality of client deliverables.
Director of Operations

The Shaw Group

(Public Company; 11-50 employees; Venture Capital & Private Equity industry)

May 1992 — March 1994 (1 year 11 months)

• Prepared competitive and marketing reports for pharmaceutical and surgical instrument markets.
• Managed design and production of marketing and sales materials for portfolio companies.
• Collaborated with legal consultants on contract and stock plan management.

Dave Whelan’s Education

UCLA Anderson School of Management

MBA , Entrepreneurship & Finance , September 2000 — June 2002

• Recipient, Gloria Appel Prize, Patrick J. Welsh Fellowship, and Anderson Fellowship.
• Owner/Manager, Entrepreneur Association 2002 Conference, “(Re)building Blocks for Entrepreneurship.”
• Fellow (teaching assistant), Management Development for Entrepreneurs certificate program.
• Co-founder and Design & Layout Editor, The Invisible Hand (independent student magazine).
• Director, Alumni Communications, Class of 2002.

Activities and Societies:

Entrepreneur Association, Management Development for Entrepreneurs, Invisible Hand
London Business School

n/a , MBA exchange student , September 2001 — December 2001
Stanford University

BS , Symbolic Systems , September 1989 — March 1992

• Coursework included computer science, linguistics, logic, philosophy, and psychology.
• Recipient, Silas H. Palmer Fellowship, awarded by Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace.
• Art & Advertising Director, Montage (groundbreaking Soviet-American student journal).
• Disk Jockey & Promotions Director, KZSU 90.1 FM.

Activities and Societies:

Montage, KZSU
Carnegie Mellon University

n/a , Bachelor of Science studies (transferred to Stanford) , August 1988 — May 1989
Lewisburg Area High School

HS , 1984 — 1988

Additional Information

Dave Whelan’s Websites:

Dave Whelan’s Interests:

photography, travel, genealogy, rock ’n’ roll history

Dave Whelan’s Groups:

Stanford Independent Consulting Network, (Co-founder),
Ryze Business Networking, (Founding Los Angeles Chair),
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, (Former Member, Board of Directors),
Cardinal Young Alumni/Stanford Alumni Association, (Former President, Bay Area Chapter),