Željko R.

CheddarList

A hired poacher who gets things done. Our working world needs some reworking. That’s why we’re fixing a broken system by flipping the hiring process on its head: We empower employers to apply to vetted talent. 

Fire the old way of hiring. Apply to vetted talent instead of hoping they'll find you.

Founder

The Big Red Balloon

The Big Red Balloon started as a small boutique digital footprint firm that I founded and managed. Since our inception, we have been developing hybrid mobile and web-based applications.

Managing Director

Founder at CheddarList / bootstrapper / I'm pro-opera and love APIs

Hi I'm Željko an entrepreneur on a mission to fire the old way of hiring. Founder of CheddarList and passionate amateur winemaker.

At CheddarList "you're hired" without the tired means that you will escape the hamster wheel of phantom job postings. We believe when people are hired with respect for their time and value, everyone wins.

For both talent and employers, the current hiring process can make medieval torture seem like a Sunday stroll.

Our Mission 
‍To remove the friction from the hiring process.

Our Vision
‍A world where nothing gets between the right opportunity and the right talent.

Ranked #1 in the industry by the owner of the company and his mother. 

Weekdays at around 8PM I write spaghetti code.

Before anything, I am an Orthodox Christian. Revelation 1:8 

P.S. I enjoy playing chess and am quite crafty with the ♞. DM me if you want to play a round.

Monytize

Board Member

Stearn Solutions

-Advise Fortune 500 firms, mid-sized companies, academic institutions, and startups in identifying profitable growth and marketing/branding strategies….currently, focus has been on developing successful digital transformation strategy, execution, and incorporation into legacy businesses.  

-Invest in high potential start-ups.  

-Serve on Board of Monytize, a Los Angeles-based entertainment/e-commerce/social media start-up. 

-Provide social media content creators strategies and tactics to drive subscriber and channel revenue growth and maximize their digital footprint.  

-Assist individuals in developing job search strategies and approaches to be competitive in the ever changing talent marketplace.

Principal | Consultant | Board Member | Investor

4A's

-Advised CEO’s & senior executive teams of approximately 300 Central Region (midwest) 4A's member marketing communications/advertising agencies  (in Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa) on how to get the most from their 4A's membership and address their most pressing business challenges, recruited new 4A's members, and helped association leaders in providing thought leadership to the marketing communications industry.   (Promoted to SVP from VP in 9/2014).  

-Served as the 4A’s staff partner to local 4A’s Boards of Directors (comprised of agency CEO’s and senior executives) in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and St. Louis.

-Helped lead the development and launch (in fall 2017) of an innovative talent initiative that 20 Chicago Advertising Agencies participated in jointly (called Elevated…elevatedchi.com). Elevated helped potential industry talent learn more about marketing communications job opportunities in Chicago to encourage them to start their advertising career in Chicago.  Agencies recruited for Chicago together under the Elevated name…not under their agency name.  Although the initiative met its aggressive goals for over two years, it was dialed back due to other priorities for Chicago 4A’s member agencies during the pandemic.

-Initiated and created well received and innovative symposium (through Elevated program) that helped 50+ college faculty from around the US learn about current advertising/marketing issues/trends to incorporate into the courses that they teach.

Senior Vice President, Member Engagement and Development, Central Region

-Identifed and assisted in executing profitable growth and brand enhancement solutions for clients in a variety of industries (corporate, higher education, advertising agency).

Principal | Consultant

Element 79 Partners

-Led Quaker & Sara Lee accounts, and agency new business development teams—including leading two high profile multi-Omincom agency new business pitch teams.

Senior Vice President, Management Director

Indiana University Bloomington

-Provided first and second-year MBA students with job search strategies and advice (resume writing, job interviews, networking, salary negotiation, etc.)  

-Created and taught first-ever required job search curriculum for 260 member first-year Kelley MBA class. After course introduced, school’s ranking with recruiters/recruiting firms markedly increased.

-Served as the career services advisor/contact for first and second year Kelley MBA Marketing majors.     

-Developed and taught advertising (marketing elective) course (M544) offered for second-year MBAs  (oriented to students who would be soon starting positions on the client side).   
     -Received outstanding teaching ratings in a program known for great teaching… while still following suggested grading curve.

-Served as co-director for Consumer Marketing Academy, helping to develop and deliver curriculum (including immersive learning, field trips, and consulting projects with Fortune 100 firms) for 80 first and second year MBA members.

Senior Associate Director; Co- Director, Consumer Marketing Academy;  and Marketing Instructor

Element 79

-Helped conceive, develop, and build initial and unique agency capabilities and tools in business strategy and consumer insight identification (unique agency “secret sauce”/toolbox to use in new business pitches & with existing clients)—Element 79 was the largest start-up advertising agency in history.  

-Assisted with insight and business opportunity identification on numerous high profile new business pitches.  

-Developed first-ever Element 79 summer intern program in conjunction with Northwestern University’s Medill Integrated Marketing Communications graduate program.

-Served as adjunct professor at Medill/Northwestern IMC program) co-teaching capstone graduate class in advanced integrated marketing communications.

Senior Vice President, Director of Intellectual Capital

Walt Disney World

-Successfully launched a new internet division within the Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online).  Responsible for the development/management of core branded websites for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disney resort hotels, and Disney Cruise Line.   Led website strategy development, a major website revamp/re-design, website project prioritization, methods to drive visitors to the websites, user interface design, content strategy, e-commerce engine modifications/upgrades/incorporation of e-commerce capabilities into website, resort-wide system/database integration, and CRM system integration with websites. 

-Served as the Parks & Resorts marketing team representative to “Destination Disney” task force…Destination Disney laid the foundation for the current Disney Parks & Resorts CRM strategy & execution.

-Directed domestic and Florida marketing efforts for the world's leading vacation destination.  Plans created/presented/executed were the framework for Walt Disney World’s record attendance and revenue growth in the late 90’s/early 2000’s.

-Led senior executive team in the development of the first-ever five year marketing and sales plan that served as the foundation for the 5 year Walt Disney World financial plan beginning with FY ‘99. (note:  During my tenure, Walt Disney World had record attendance and profit levels.)   

-Led development, sell-in, and management of the first-ever Walt Disney World marketing intern program for students from top MBA/Masters marketing programs starting in May 1999.  The program was considered a lynchpin in helping Walt Disney World attract/acquire the best high potential marketing talent.

Director, Internet Marketing;  Director, Marketing Strategy; Director, Brand Management

Leo Burnett

-Moved through progressively responsible client service management roles on Kraft, McDonald's kids/family and Walt Disney World national advertising accounts. On each of these demanding & fast-paced accounts, helped lead multi-disciplinary teams in development of strategies/plans/campaigns that drove goal shattering/record business results. 
     -Disney & McDonald’s campaigns awarded with top industry recognition (Effie) in Travel & Tourism & Quick Service Restaurant categories respectively ( Gold Effie Award).

-Promoted to Vice President most rapidly (5 years) in 1989 account management/client service training class and in the agency up to that time.

Vice President, Account Director

Junior Achievement of Santa Clara County, CA

-Created and led successful execution of high school company program approach which received noteworthy national recognition--students and program won 25 national awards in 4 years, unequaled before or since.  

-Contributed significant increase to area financial condition, volunteer recruitment levels/engagement, and overall program quality.

Senior Manager

As a creative and innovative consulting/marketing executive, I advise c-level leaders at major global companies and academic institutions on branding, marketing, and business strategies.

Currently, I provide guidance across 3 major areas: 1) branding, marketing, and business strategy, 2) digital marketing (including advising content creators on monetizing their digital presence), and 3) career coaching & personal branding.

Previously, I served at a number of companies/institutions, including the 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies), Element 79 Partners, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, The Walt Disney Company, The Leo Burnett Company, and Junior Achievement. 

I have made significant contributions to these organizations’ success including: 

-Serving on the board of Monytize, a startup; advising on hiring decisions, marketing and PR strategy, government relations, employee training, financing sources, and other critical operations.

-Consulting with a wide range of clients including Fortune 500 companies, startup companies, entrepreneurs, YouTube content creators, academic leaders, and job seekers, helping them grow their brands, boost revenue, and launch their desired careers.

-Spearheading high stakes multi-Omnicom agency new business pitches across varied industries at Element 79 Partners, the largest advertising agency startup in history; guiding an internal team and external agency partners to implement innovative strategies, engaging in successful negotiations, and devising creative solutions to complex problems.

-Leading a team of 12 in revamping and redesigning 3 major Walt Disney Company websites (disneyworld.com, disneyland.com & disneycruise.com) yielding 36.6 million visits in 2001 (a 100% YoY increase) and boosting combined revenue 150%.

-Creating and teaching a newly required job search course for 260 first year MBA students at the Kelley School of Business—course helped boost the school’s reputation with recruiters.

My career has been devoted to working with major clients and organizations across a wide range of industries assisting them with branding, marketing, organizational growth, employee development, and general business strategy.  If you are interested in connecting with me, you can email me at laurie.stearn@gmail.com.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
-Board of Directors
-Brand Strategy
-Content Creator Monetization and Subscriber Growth 
-Web Development
-Strategic Marketing
-Digital Strategy and Execution
-Business Strategy
-Trend Identification and Optimization
-Account Management




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Željko R.

Laurie Stearn

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