
VP, Chief Operating Officer Akoo International Inc.
Greater Chicago Area

VP, Chief Operating Officer Akoo International Inc.
Greater Chicago Area
15+ years of senior and/or executive level business leadership across several industries including entertainment, new media, ecommerce, travel, healthcare, real estate development and the arts.
Executive Business Leadership
Operational Strategy
Business consulting-specializing in start-ups
New Business Development
Client Services / Solutions
Contract negotiation
Vendor relations
Human Resources
Health Care Initiatives
Residential Construction Initiatives
Strategic Marketing and Design
Television-Animation Production
Line Production
(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
July 2008 — Present (1 year 1 month)
Dreams For Kids is a NFP International Children’s Organization, which empowers young people of all abilities through dynamic leadership programs and life-changing activities that inspire them to fearlessly pursue their dreams and compassionately change the world. Programs Include the Global "Holiday For Hope", "Extreme Recess", "Dolphin Spirit", "Dream Leaders", "Adopt A Dream."
Dreams for Kids is extremely proud to be a supporter and partner in world change with our Canadian brothers and sisters of Free the Children which is the worlds largest organization of children helping children through education and community service. More than 1 million young people in 41 countries have been impacted by their programs. Their Leaders Today program is the number one student leadership program in the world.
(Wireless industry)
February 2008 — Present (1 year 6 months)
Akoo’s m-Venue™ is the first in-store, or “out-of-home” (OOH), marketing and entertainment network fully interactive with more than 243 million U.S. subscribers’ mobile phones and wireless devices.
m-Venue™ enables consumers at participating locations to select pre-approved audio and video content using mobile Internet, text messaging, or Wi-Fi, and have their selections publicly performed – on demand – over standard audio and video systems.
Simultaneously, every m-Venue™ interaction unobtrusively captures valuable consumer usage data, allowing national retailers and major brands to drive measurable mobile marketing campaigns, loyalty & rewards programs, and opt-in targeted marketing initiatives through integrated digital signage and mobile marketing applications at the critical point-of-sale, as well as post purchase, when customers leave participating m-Venue™ locations.
(Fine Art industry)
January 2001 — Present (8 years 7 months)
Studio for mixed-media artist, Syndy Ziegenfuss. www.tigerpuppet.com. In New York and Northern California- Visit Caldwell Snyder Gallery at www.caldwellsnyder.com
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
July 2007 — December 2007 (6 months)
Integrated Marketing Services Agency specializing in website design and development, graphic design and print communications, advertising, branding & positioning strategies, naming, packaging, corporate identity development and online communications.
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Entertainment industry)
2004 — January 2007 (3 years)
SVP of Operations and Production for children's entertainment and education company
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Design industry)
2001 — 2004 (3 years)
Founder, COO, CFO for Chicago design and technology company. Clients include Orbitz, Nike, SamsClub, McDonalds
(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)
2000 — 2001 (1 year)
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Health, Wellness and Fitness industry)
1998 — 2000 (2 years)
1981 — 1983