Web Entrepreneur with substantial Online Product Management, Strategy and Business Development experience
Montreal, Canada Area
Web Entrepreneur with substantial Online Product Management, Strategy and Business Development experience
Montreal, Canada Area
Co-Founder of a start-up operating in the local/social space, with more than 8 years experience in online strategy, product management and business development. I am recognized for my capacity to create online strategic visions from scratch and deploy them in large or small work environments.
I also write a blog on Local 2.0, the intersection of Local Search and Social Media at www.praized.com/blog.
- Strategic Visioning
- Product Management & Development (both from the user and advertiser point of view)
- Business Development / Partnerships
- Rainmaking / Matchmaking
- Business Plan & Business Case creation
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Online Media industry)
October 2006 — Present (1 year 8 months)
Praized Media is a start-up on the verge of launching its beta release. We're working on a web-based application that will enable you to find and discover local places and merchants with help from people you can trust. It's also a tool that will structure local conversations within blogs (and other social media) and a new platform for local search providers to generate leads from the untapped social media market.
I'm responsible for product management, business development and strategic partnerships.
Praized Media has received a $1M seed round from Garage Technology Ventures (September 2007).
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; YLO_U; Online Media industry)
December 2002 — September 2007 (4 years 10 months)
- Involved in the strategic planning and corporate development activities for the Yellow Pages Group's online efforts (YellowPages.ca, PagesJaunes.ca, Canada411.ca, Superpages.ca, CanadaPlus.ca). This network of sites is in the Top 10 most visited in Canada (around 35% reach).
- Involved with evaluating new business opportunities, partnerships and product line extensions.
- Support the executive team by performing a variety of due diligence, developing financial and operations modeling, writing business plans, and performing market and competitive analysis.
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Internet industry)
October 2006 — September 2007 (1 year)
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Online Media industry)
December 2000 — December 2002 (2 years 1 month)
Oversaw the eDirectory product management team whose responsibilities included P&L for YellowPages.ca and Canada411.ca, the leading Canadian Internet Yellow and White Pages sites. Managed a team of 3 to 6 product managers.
(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Online Media industry)
September 1999 — December 2000 (1 year 4 months)
Managed SME e-commerce solutions. Responsibilities included product requirements, P&L, vendor relationship and channel support.
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Computer Games industry)
April 1998 — September 1999 (1 year 6 months)
- Developed the PC marketing strategy for the US market.
- Successfully launched 5 titles including one of Ubi Softs biggest PC successes in the USA (at the time).
- Participated in US press tours (San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, etc.).
- Negotiated partnerships deals with major industry partners (including Intel, 3dfx).
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Consumer Goods industry)
May 1997 — August 1997 (4 months)
One of only 14 students in Canada selected for a summer internship in Brand Management
(Public Company; 11-50 employees; Computer Games industry)
March 1996 — November 1996 (9 months)
Developed MegaDome pavilion program structure, one of the principal centers of interest at La Ronde amusement park (a Six Flags property). (Summer Internship)
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Retail industry)
May 1993 — May 1995 (2 years 1 month)
- Established an international e-commerce sales network on the Internet in 1994.
- Created and organized a client loyalty program using membership cards.
- Produced extremely successful PR events.
MBA, Marketing/Finance, September 1995 — December 1997
BAA, Marketing, September 1990 — April 1993
Honor Board of the Faculty of Business Administration (Top 7%)
Connect with me in Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=710767190
Official "Save Business 2.0 Magazine" Facebook group Blogger: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2420762508, Montreal Entrepreneur Tech Breakfast, Kelsey Group Conference Attendees, Google Local Markets Symposium Attendees
- Moderator of a social media expert panel at Infopresse's social networking conference (http://tinyurl.com/2bago4)
- Panelist at Google's first Local Markets Symposium in 2007 (an invite-only event)
- Blog listed in the Advertising Age Power 150 list.
- Was named on the Power 150 Canadian MARCOM Bloggers list (via Canada's 1% Blogging Army List, http://tinyurl.com/2uh9d9)
- Speaker and interactive sessions host at the EADP 2007 Conference in Barcelona
- Was invited to Google ZeitGeist in 2005 and 2006