Paul Helgeson

Current

Sustainability Strategist at Thrive Design Studio
Founder at Egg Module
Sustainability Coordinator at Gold'n Plump

see less...

Past

Consultant at Creditland.org
Sustainability and Business Development at Lift Kids
MTAP Student Consultant at Second Harvest Heartland

Sales and Service Consultant at Qwest Communications

see less...

1 more...

Education

University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - School of Business and Management
University of Denver

University of Denver - Daniels College of Business

see less...

1 more...

Recommended

1 person has recommended Paul

Connections

99 connections

Industry

Food Production

Paul Helgeson’s Summary

To create sustainable and innovative solutions using interactive marketing in a way that strategically leverages the wider adoption of socially and environmentally responsible business practices.

Paul Helgeson has an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Business Management and a BSBA from the University of Denver. He is deeply involved in socially and environmentally responsible business practices, micro-finance and interactive marketing. Paul is has an ongoing consulting engagement with Goldn Plump Poultry as a sustainability strategist. Paul has also developed the "Egg Module" a platform to assist in the creation and management of scalable poultry business in African villages. Additionally, he holds volunteer positions on the leadership team of Net Impact Minneapolis and on the membership committee of the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association.

Paul Helgeson’s Specialties:

Business Management
Business Plan, Corporate Strategy, Environmental Practices, Supply Chain, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability, Cross Functional Collaboration, Idea Management, Innovation Execution

Interactive Marketing:
Adwords, Google, SEO, SMO, Website Design, Marketing, Public Relations, User Generated Content

Paul Helgeson’s Experience

Sustainability Strategist

Thrive Design Studio

(Design industry)

November 2008 — Present (1 year 1 month)

Thrive Design Studio a green building and design firm specializing in sustainability with style. Our work focuses on helping both businesses and homeowners understand the basics and benefits of going green. Our knowledge of green materials and Internet technologies puts us in a unique position to create customized sustainability strategies.
Founder

Egg Module

(International Trade and Development industry)

March 2008 — Present (1 year 9 months)

The Egg Module is an international development organization that uses micro-financing strategies to establish small scale chicken egg production businesses in the developing world. This innovative social entrepreneurial concept uses design experiment methodologies and social media strategies to create replicable small-scale poultry production businesses.
Sustainability Coordinator

Gold'n Plump

(Food Production industry)

June 2006 — Present (3 years 6 months)

Consulted top executives at Gold’n Plump to develop long-term strategies that leverage sustainability, social media, organizational alignment and collaboration, detailed in over $10M in potential profit improvements. Defined long-term business and marketing strategies, including the development of corporate social responsibility and environmental initiates.
Redesign of the Employee Suggestion Program to align with balanced scorecard initiatives creating a platform for innovation and collaboration while reducing implementation time and administrative costs
Applied Six Sigma DMAIC methodologies to improve process consistency, saving in over $300K
Applied statistical methodology to analyze employee turnover and efficiency
Consultant

Creditland.org

(Publishing industry)

September 2008 — October 2008 (2 months)

Advised on the development of the business strategy.
Sustainability and Business Development

Lift Kids

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

May 2007 — March 2008 (11 months)

Developed the “Egg Module” a replicable business plan designed to facilitate the development of poultry egg production in impoverished villages around the world, currently getting over 1200 clicks per month and adding 2 to 3 projects pre week
Applied for, received and managed a $10,000 per month Google grant, which increased site traffic by ten fold
Managed multiple Adword campaigns, designed and optimization web site content, and increased conversions
Created a sustainability model for the organization based triple bottom line principals and Maslow’s hierarchy
Recruited and managed volunteers, interns, contract employees and social entrepreneurs, increase the number of active volunteers from less than 10 to more than 50
MTAP Student Consultant

Second Harvest Heartland

(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

February 2007 — June 2007 (5 months)

Second Harvest Heartland is another client with whom I am assisting to leverage current IT investments. By objectively analyzing their digital order processing and inventory control systems we are developing strategic solutions to improve their business processes.
Sales and Service Consultant

Qwest Communications

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Q; Telecommunications industry)

2003 — 2006 (3 years )

Small Business Group Sales and Service Consultant
Provided sales solutions and customer support for PCS, DSL High Speed Internet, and telephone service
Regularly ranked in the top 5% of sales consultants for sales of DSL and local phone packages
Demonstrated a consistent ability to close sales by overcoming objections
Simultaneously operated more than 20 computer applications while communicating with customers

Paul Helgeson’s Education

University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management

MBA , International Business, Strategy, Marketing , 2004 — 2007

Relevant Coursework: Buyer Behavior, Quality Management and Six Sigma, Industry Analysis and Competitive Strategy

Activities and Societies:

Net Impact, Micro Finance Alliance, Ventures Plus, First Fridays
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - School of Business and Management

MBA , Doing Business in China , 2006 — 2006

Course work focused on China’s business and political environment, as well as a focus on international business.

Traveled to Shanghai for company visits: Shanghai Volkswagen, BAO Steel, Heineken, and Kone.

Also travel extensively throughout Asia, including: Australia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
University of Denver

BSBA , Business, Leadership, Environmetal Sciences , 1998 — 2002

Studied abroad in Copenhagen and London.

Activities and Societies:

Relevant Coursework: Environmental Economics, Human Resources Management, and Marketing. Minored in the Pioneer Leader Program
University of Denver - Daniels College of Business

BSBA , General Business , 1998 — 2002

Undergraduate Study Abroad Semester
American Intercontinental University: London, England
Finance internship at Brandenburg Consultancy: prospected clients for mergers and acquisitions
Denmark International Study Program: Copenhagen, Denmark
Courses on the Business Environment in the EU and 20th Century European History
Study tours to Prague, Berlin, Russia and Estonia to examine effects of EU policy

Activities and Societies:

Pioneer Leadership Program, Study Abroad Semester
Relevant Coursework: Environmental Economics, Human Resources Management, and Marketing

Additional Information

Paul Helgeson’s Interests:

Interactive marketing, international development, and sustainability

Paul Helgeson’s Groups:

Net Impact, MIMA, EcoTuesday

Net Impact
Carlson School of Management
Daniels at DU
University of Denver Alumni
Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association (MIMA)
HKUST Business School Global Alumni Network
Minnesota MBAs (CSOM)
Net Impact Minneapolis
GreenBiz.com -- Green Business Professionals
Justmeans - Green, CSR, Good Work, Sustainability, and Social Enterprise News and Updates
Minnesota CSR Forum
Candy Shop Boulder