Eric Riback

Current

Principal at Riback & Company
Director of Marketing at Bella Terra Publishing

Past

Vice President, Sales at National Geographic Maps
Director of Sales & Marketing at MapQuest
Consultant at Riback & Company

Director of Sales & Marketing at DeLorme
Account Manager at Portland, Maine Radio Stations
General Manager at Progressive Radio Network

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Education

New York University

Connections

128 connections

Industry

Publishing

Websites

Eric Riback’s Summary

Versatile sales and marketing professional with broad business skills. Experienced in publishing, consumer packaged goods, outdoor industry and broadcasting.

Eric Riback’s Specialties:

B2B sales and sales management, marketing communications, channel marketing, business development, proposals, product development, packaging, competitive intelligence. Knowledgeable about finance and operations.

Eric Riback’s Experience

Principal

Riback & Company

(Privately Held; Consumer Goods industry)

June 2009 — Present (6 months)

Independent sales representative. Consultant to book and map publishers on sales, marketing and product development.
Director of Marketing

Bella Terra Publishing

(Privately Held; Publishing industry)

June 2009 — Present (6 months)

Manage sales and marketing for this publisher of specialty maps and guides.
Vice President, Sales

National Geographic Maps

(Publishing industry)

January 2001 — June 2009 (8 years 6 months)

This renowned division of the National Geographic Society publishes wall maps, outdoor recreation maps and map software. As Director of Sales, I significantly increased sales of maps to other divisions of NGS, developed original and customized products for them, and more than doubled profit margins on those sales. I revamped and expanded our international distribution and licensing. Promoted to Vice President, in addition to $2 million in personal sales, I managed a team of 5 with sales of $6 million in the retail channel.
Director of Sales & Marketing

MapQuest

(Publishing industry)

January 1997 — March 2001 (4 years 3 months)

Before the launch of its well-known web site, Mapquest was a producer of custom maps and geographic data. In 1996 it partnered with the National Geographic Society (for which I wrote the proposal) to distribute their maps and create a line of branded map products. I played a key role in launching the National Geographic line worldwide, including product development, marketing communication and operations.

I built distribution in niche retail, mass market and newsstand outlets; created a successful sales program in the promotional products industry; proposed and launched the company’s online map store. I managed a team of 5 that had reached $4 million in annual sales when Mapquest exited the publishing business.
Consultant

Riback & Company

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

April 1995 — December 1996 (1 year 9 months)

I authored the successful proposal for Mapquest to partner with the National Geographic Society; performed market research for Thomas Brothers Maps; helped clients evaluate potential acquisitions; created a customer survey for a retailer; conducted competitive shopping research that addressed shortcomings in a spiral staircase manufacturer’s sales process.
Director of Sales & Marketing

DeLorme

(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)

March 1980 — March 1995 (15 years 1 month)

Starting as a one-person sales and marketing department for a regional Maine publisher, I built a team of 18 as we expanded nationally and sales grew from $200k to $8 million. I established distribution in all mass market, office supply, outdoor sports and bookstore chains; created a national telesales program selling to independent stores (each rep’s annual sales average: $1 million); launched a direct-store-delivery program with 500 accounts in our home market; opened and managed DeLorme’s retail store.

As Director of Marketing for the combined print and digital products groups, I led an in-house publicity staff of 2 that delivered results worthy of a national agency and developed trade promotion programs for national accounts. I authored the business plan for the first product linking digital maps to GPS navigation satellites in real-time.
Account Manager

Portland, Maine Radio Stations

(Broadcast Media industry)

1977 — 1980 (3 years )
General Manager

Progressive Radio Network

(Broadcast Media industry)

1975 — 1977 (2 years )

Eric Riback’s Education

New York University

BFA , Film & Television , 1975

Focus on broadcasting, including radio, television and portable video production.

Activities and Societies:

Program Director, Publicity Director, WNYU-FM.

Additional Information

Eric Riback’s Websites:

Eric Riback’s Interests:

Stand-up bass player in folk and blues bands. Former radio DJ. Workshop presenter at trade group conferences.

Eric Riback’s Groups:

President, International Map Trade Association 1993-4
Chair, Gray, Maine Cable TV Committee 1991-2. Launched local access channel.
President, North East Map Organization 1989-90