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.

33 Sticks

At 33 Sticks, we specialize in transforming complex data into actionable insights, focusing on data architecture, consumer behavior analysis, A/B testing, and analytics leadership strategy.

We’re not just analysts, we’re business advisors who happen to be really good with data. We work with some of the world’s largest brands, helping them leverage data to improve their teams, products, and customer experiences. Our fully-remote, boutique agency thrives on collaboration, creativity, and delivering measurable impact.

Key Highlights:
► Built and scaled a fully-remote analytics agency with high-profile clients across diverse industries.
► Led data-driven strategies that resulted in measurable growth and improved client performance.
► Fostered a company culture focused on innovation, transparency, and personal well-being.

Co-Founder & CEO

Plenoptic Cognition

As a board member, i provide strategic guidance on business development and data-driven strategies for this emerging company in the AI and cognitive computing space.

Advisory Board Member

East Tennessee State University

In this role, i collaborate with faculty and students to shape the future of data analytics education, focusing on real-world applications and industry trends.

Industry Fellow

As an executive board member, i help guide the strategic direction of the Media and Communication department, fostering industry partnerships and advancing curriculum relevant to today’s digital landscape.

Media and Communication Department Executive Board Member

Keystone Solutions

Expanded Keystone Solutions service offerings through the creation and growth of a new business unit (Digital Intelligence Consulting). This business unit is responsible for in-depth analysis, full service optimization, training & education, social media insights, and data sciences. 

Hired and mentored key contributors in the Digital Intelligence business unit. 

Responsible for brand development, web site traffic growth and lead generation, and overall brand positioning and strategy. 

Developed and fostered Keystone's Client Advisory Board as a means to increase customer success, brand loyalty, and brand recognition.

Generated new business deals through existing personal contacts and community visibility driven by speaking engagements, podcast appearances, and blog posts. 

Established a culture that quickly attracted top level talent from around the country to join Keystone Solutions. 

Created a customer centric business by investing time and resources in client satisfaction, employee success & satisfaction, partner success, strategic messaging, and value based deliverables.

Dedicated to providing amazing experiences to everyone who comes in contact with Keystone Solutions.

VP,  Strategy & Consulting

Adobe Systems

As a member of the Customer Advisory Board, I have worked closely with Product Management to help define and refine the Omniture developer community.

As an early adopter of the Omniture development toolkit and I used my experience to provide meaningful feedback that has helped shape the current offering of developer tools.

Routinely called on to provide insight into the Adobe Marketing Suite (SiteCatalyst, Discover, Test&Target, Developer APIs) roadmap. 

Currently serving on Adobe's Social Marketing Advisory Board. 

Participation in key product planning sessions held in conjunction with Adobe's annual Summit event.

Omniture Customer Advisory Board Member

Numeric Analytics

Created and incubated Numeric Analytics' testing & optimization business consulting practice (new line of business) by defining a consulting framework focused on ROI driven results. 

Negotiated and formalized key partner relationships. 

Responsible for the execution & delivery of all testing & optimization engagements. 

Optimization Subject Matter Expert (SME).

Managed all Omniture Test&Target focused client engagements. 

Trained new consultants on testing & optimization best practices.

Worked to extend the Numeric Analytics brand through participation in industry conferences, blogging about digital measurement & optimization related topics, and engaging in conversations via social media channels such as Twitter.

Senior Analytics Consultant

Spark Networks

Key driver of web analytics initiatives from vendor selection to corporate standards. 

Managed the vendor selection life-cycle from business requirements to RFP to contract negotiations. 

Managed analysis of data and on-going enhancements for over 28 corporate brands. 

Established and managed Spark Networks' optimization practice which was focused on optimizing the visitor maturity path from unknown visitors to registered members to paid members. 

Architected and Maintained custom applications using Omniture's set of APIs (SAINT, Admin, Reporting, Data Insertion, and Discover). 

Built custom application to monitor brand activity on Twitter using Twitter's API and Omniture's Data Insertion API. http://omnituretwitteranalytics.com/

Manager, Web Analytics

Omniture

Routinely tasked with the responsibility of recovering difficult client engagements. This required great diplomacy and technical aptitude in order to deliver a successful solution. 

Successfully guided clients, through an understanding of their on-line presence, business models and objectives and then applying solutions that were both robust and creative. 

With a mixture of attention to detail and attunement to client needs I successfully managed the deployment of many of Omniture’s top clients.

Senior Implementation Consultant

Novell

Designed, configured and implemented Siebel Sales, Siebel Marketing and Siebel Call Center to a world-wide user base. 

Designed and implemented an ETL process to fully integrate Siebel’s data stores with Novell’s corporate party master. 

Successfully built and deployed a custom web interface to the Siebel application to meet business needs. Honored at Siebel User Week for pushing product boundaries.

Siebel Software Engineer

Utah State University

As a lecturer at Utah State University I was privileged with the opportunity to teach an upper division course in Application Design &amp; Development using Microsoft Visual Basic. 

This position required me to develop and publish new course material, author and deliver class lectures and guide students in the creation of a small business application.

Lecturer

TL;DR:
i’m a CEO, author, mentor, and advisor who’s passionate about challenging the status quo and building human-centered businesses. i work to empower data professionals, support students and entrepreneurs, and help others navigate toxic corporate cultures with realism and hope. 

WORK:
For the past 12 years, i’ve been building 33 Sticks, a fully-remote, boutique analytics agency that partners with some of the most recognizable brands in the world to turn data into happy teams and delighted customers.

ADVISOR:
► Executive Board Member at ETSU's Department of Media and Communication
► Industry Fellow at ETSU's Research Corporation
► Advisory Board Member at Plenoptic Cognition
► Data Strategist at Armadillo World Headquarters

INVESTOR:
Plenoptic Cognition

AUTHOR:
“A is for Analytics”

CONNECT:
You can find me in Salt Lake City or LA. i’m always up for good coffee or a legit deli sandwich. Social media-wise, I’m most active on LinkedIn. Or, if you prefer a more personal touch, schedule some time during my open office hours at hippieceo.com.

taplio

The Battle

Željko R.

jason thompson

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