Jim Caruso

Current

CEO & Chairman at MediaFirst PR - Atlanta
Founder/Chair at InfraStructure Data Management International, Inc.
Founder/Chair at Telecom Alley, Inc.

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Past

Director, Worldwide Sales - Telephony Systems Division at Scientific-Atlanta
Division Director, Senior Manager of Sales & Marketing, Information Systems Division at Byers Engineering
Marketing Rep & Engineer at IBM

Senior Associate Engineer at IBM

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1 more...

Education

Case Western Reserve University
College of Wooster
Hawken School

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Recommended

2 people have recommended Jim

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Public Relations and Communications

Websites

Jim Caruso’s Summary

Mr. Caruso is an executive manager of marketing, sales, and functional areas with a global record of achievement identifying key decision-makers, and leading multi-national teams to sales and partnerships in new media, telecommunications, and computing. He successfully conceived, structured, and won complex, profitable deals of greater than $100 million.

His PR firm, MediaFirst, establishes market awareness and venture positioning that leads clients to success and profitable exit via merger, acquisition, or IPO.

He promoted and/or sold to hot tech companies, such as Aether (IPO), InterVu (acquired by Akamai), Eircom (IPO), Extreme Logic (acquired by HP), LeanLogistics (acquired), Merlot Communications (venture funded), iMedeon (venture funded by Aether & GE), Libit (acquired by TI), PowerTV (acquired by Scientific-Atlanta), and FaxNet (acquired).

He managed direct sales and alliance partnerships that won deals across the global telecommunications industry in Australia, Belgium, China, Finland, France, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Sweden, and Thailand. He is an effective technology evangelist to worldwide audiences of executive and functional managers in telecom, finance, engineering, IT, and marketing.

Experience in development and go-to-market strategy make him effective in the project and product development life cycle and release to market on time at target cost. Wins customer loyalty through effective listening and broad technical knowledge. Communicates value propositions phrased in the authentic terminology and language of the audience. Establishes effective relationships at all levels of an organization.

Jim Caruso’s Specialties:

Convergence: Telecom (wireline, wireless, Internet, cable), Media, & Computing. Engineering, Manufacturing, & Logistics. Global account and industry sales. Deal structure, margin, legal, and alliances. Managing multi-cultural, multi-national teams. Making you (and company spokespersons, offerings, value proposition, etc.) well-known in a target industry.

Jim Caruso’s Experience

CEO & Chairman

MediaFirst PR - Atlanta

(Public Relations and Communications industry)

1998 — Present (11 years )
Founder/Chair

InfraStructure Data Management International, Inc.

(Information Technology and Services industry)

1991 — Present (18 years )

This corporation runs d/b/a MediaFirst PR - Atlanta. When founded, InfraStructure provided global technology and sales consulting in Information Technology (IT), telecommunications, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Clients and project locations include: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, and USA.
Founder/Chair

Telecom Alley, Inc.

(Writing and Editing industry)

January 1991 — Present (18 years 11 months)

International Sales & Business Development. Strategic Consulting, including business plan, sales strategy, market entry, business development, and structuring commercial transactions.
Director, Worldwide Sales - Telephony Systems Division

Scientific-Atlanta

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; SFA; Telecommunications industry)

1994 — 1997 (3 years )

At Scientific Atlanta, Jim managed sales of multimedia access network hardware, software, and services including: optical fiber architectures; video transport via SONET/SDH; telephony digital loop carrier systems; and high speed data access (e.g., cable modem and competing xDSL). He developed the strategic focus and tactics to pursue worldwide telecom investor/operators and system integrators. He also managed business development for new markets, including China, Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and India, and new products, such as cable telephony, high-speed data access for Internet Protocol (IP), and interactive digital video. As the Business Development Manager and Director, he created sales channels through affiliates and headquarters of worldwide telecom firms: Cable & Wireless, BellSouth, Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), NYNEX, Telefonica, Time-Warner, and US West. He partnered with many telecom and IT industry firms including HP and Siemens.
Division Director, Senior Manager of Sales & Marketing, Information Systems Division

Byers Engineering

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Telecommunications industry)

1987 — 1990 (3 years )

Managed sales of over $30,000,000 to domestic and international telecommunications operators. Profitably expanded business by creating new OutSide Plant (OSP) services and opening new markets, including European telecoms and Electric Utilities. Managed projects with as many as 30 staff members for customers including NYNEX and British Telecom. Led teams in conceiving, writing, and pricing proposals worth up to $15,000,000.

Expanded revenues from new clients by over 300%, to over $10,000,000 per year. Increased market share from 10% to 15% in a declining market.
Marketing Rep & Engineer

IBM

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; IBM; Information Technology and Services industry)

1978 — 1987 (9 years )
Senior Associate Engineer

IBM

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; IBM; Information Technology and Services industry)

1978 — 1983 (5 years )

Jim Caruso’s Education

Case Western Reserve University

B. Eng. , Chemical Engineering , 1975 — 1978
College of Wooster

Economics, Chemistry, French 1973 — 1976
Hawken School

1969 — 1973

Additional Information

Jim Caruso’s Websites:

Jim Caruso’s Interests:

earth, humanity, world peace, family, friends, business, technology, skiiing, soccer, travel, rugby, lacrosse, global issues, MMORPG, language, philosphy

Jim Caruso’s Groups:

Member of the boards of directors of for-profit and charitable organizations.

The Greater IBM Connection: IBM's alumni program for past and present IBM employees
MIT Enterprise Forum of Atlanta
On Startups - The Community For Entrepreneurs
Atlanta Renegades RFC
Coworking
! Sales Best Practices
Semantic technologies
The Content Wrangler Community
ThoseinMedia
Semantic Web
Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association
Innovative Marketing, PR, Sales, Word-of-Mouth & Buzz Innovators
South By Southwest (SXSW)
Case Western Reserve University ~ Alumni Association
Case Western Reserve University
IPTV Internet Video Broadcast
Asia NetWork
Social Media Today
SXSW Interactive
Media Professionals Worldwide
Tweeple
The College of Wooster Alumni Association
brandhackers
Drupal Community Network
Scientific Atlanta Alumni
Hawken School Alumni
Semantic Technologies Group
Social Media Club
Atlanta Web Design
Barcamp Atlanta
Think Digital TV - www.thinkdigitaltv.com
IT Atlanta
Atlanta Chapter - Social Media Club
ProductCampAtlanta
ASIS 2009
Social Entertainment Professionals
My Open Archive
The Service Council, Field Service Management Best Practices