Petal, LLC

Co-founded and led the direct-to-consumer pre-sale launch of the world’s first freezer for household waste that has resulted in many triumphs to date, including:

*Received media coverage from Fast Company, The Hustle, BBC World Service, and Trend Hunter.

*Won two major international design awards:
-- 2020 New York Design Awards | Gold Award for Product Design— Homewares
-- 2020 GOOD DESIGN® Award | Household Products 

*Nominated for a prestigious Edison Award for excellence in new product development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation.

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

JukeStrat Venture Studio

Born out of a pandemic pivot, JukeStrat is a purpose-driven venture studio and consulting group focused on: Business & Workplace Culture Transformation, Venture Building, Brand and Media Positioning, and Social Impact.

As a Venture Builder, my role is to help companies uncover creative paths, evade obstacles, and systematically build and develop the tools, people, and processes to achieve unprecedented success.  

Whether helping organizations to achieve operational efficiencies, eliminate toxicity, or navigate seismic strategic pivots, I am responsible for accelerating transformations by executing with excellence with and through people.

Venture Builder & Executive Whisperer

BetterManager

BetterManager is a Silicon Valley-founded startup with a growing global presence that is poised to become the premier solution for organizations everywhere looking to develop their managers into leaders and grow their people into a source of sustainable competitive advantage. 

As the SVP for Contract Strategy & Negotiations, I am responsible for creating a strong client and business partner experience; supporting efficient and effective contract operations; negotiating optimal business and contractual terms; and ensuring effective working relationships and partnering across organizational boundaries with delivery, growth, and operational teams to strengthen business results.

SVP Contract Strategy & Negotiations

The Fossicker Group

The Fossicker Group is a woman-owned research firm that builds thought leaders and inspires paradigm shifts in diverse industries across the globe. It is the first creation of JukeStrat’s venture studio.

As the Head of Strategy & Inspiration, I ensure that every project meets business objectives and spurs growth. You can expect me to ask incisive questions and inspire new ways of thinking.

Head of Strategy & Inspiration & Co-Founder

LevinThor, LLC 

Charged by Miami University's Chief Research Officer to strengthen Miami's commitment to innovation and commercialization, resulting in the following: 

*	Negotiated an agreement between Miami University and both the Wright Brothers Institute of Dayton and the United States Air Force Research Lab ("AFRL") that resulted in the AFRL sharing its entire portfolio of close to 1,000 patents with Miami University and in the creation of the Miami University-AFRL Research Technology Commercialization Accelerator.

*	Structured and negotiated a successful joint submission by the University of Dayton and Miami University to Ohio's Third Frontier resulting in a $400,000 Technology Validation and Start-up Fund.

*	Evaluated Miami University's traditional technology transfer operation and proposed a plan the University implemented that included eliminating the technology transfer office, entering a shared services agreement with the University of Dayton resulting in a 90% reduction in expenses, and establishing a Center focused on inclusive innovation and commercialization.

Orchestrated successful turnarounds of Massachusetts-based, Indiana-based, and Washington D.C.-based subsidiaries of a Fortune 500 company by working behind the scenes as an "Invisible Man Consultant" to the CEOs of the subsidiaries.

Negotiated and structured a licensing and equity relationship on behalf of a lab in the Division of Genomic Diagnostics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with a Hungary-based global molecular diagnostics company on the cutting edge of DNA sequencing. 

Negotiated and cemented a carrier neutral co-location agreement on behalf of an International IT infrastructure and managed services company that will deliver over $3.6 million in savings over the course of 3 years.

Consultant

Miami University

Co-created and jointly operating Miami University's LAB, an innovation studio that leverages academics and business to commercialize idle and underutilized intellectual property.

Co-authored a white paper submission to the Kettering Family Foundation that resulted in an award of $100,000 to be used to fund commercialization of regionally derived intellectual property.

Entrepreneur in Residence: Venture Building

The Ohio State University

Selected as one of OSU's 15 Executives in Residence.

Entrepreneur in Residence: Early Stage Technology & Commercialization

Platypus Holdings, LLC, Purchaser & Developer of Distressed Real Estate

Platypus Holdings, LLC, served as the holding company for the acquisition and development of millions of dollars in residential, commercial, and mixed-use real estate in NOLA (Treme, Bywater & The French Quarter), Chicago (South Loop) and The Greater Philadelphia Area (Main Line). In addition to acquiring, restoring and developing portfolio properties, Platypus Holdings also developed from the ground up Addiction Coffeehouse, which Eater.com consistently includes in NOLA's top 10; Yelpers rank as NOLA's #1 Coffee & Tea establishment; Spoon University--"The Food Network for the Millennials" --declared one of America's 25 Best Artisanal Coffee Shops; and Gear Patrol--a male-oriented, award-winning on-line and print magazine that monthly reaches 1.9 million unique readers--dubbed one of America's 25 Best Coffee Shops.

Executive Manager

Platypus Management, LLC, Enterprise Focused Internationally on Turnarounds & Re-engineering

Orchestrated 8 successful turnarounds on behalf of U.S., Canadian and German public and private corporations, including two on behalf of Actua Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTA) (Formerly Internet Commerce Group) and one on behalf of Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB).  These enterprises included high tech, biometrics, International outsourcing, communications and not-for-profits.

On behalf of Actua Corporation, retained by the CEOs of both the public company and of the United States subsidiary then-named ICG Commerce to evaluate and address long-standing financial issues and complex managerial and operational incompatibilities between ICG Commerce and its then German Division hpi GmbH.  Working with the German management team, restructured the division and extracted significant employee concessions.  Secured approval for the concessions from three company unions and, in turn, from the German National union.  Orchestrated and negotiated the sale of the newly restructured division to a German competitor on terms that included an assumption of liabilities by the purchaser and a reduction in and favorable treatment of a trade payable owed by ICG Commerce to hpi.

Also on behalf of Actua, led a team of 8 senior executives in a bottom-up analysis that included, among other things, interviewing close to 100 team members, mapping the current state, creating the future state, developing a skills matrix, tying roles to sub-processes, constructing a detailed process flow with hand-offs and metrics and devising an implementation and communication plan.  

With senior executives of D&B, restructured Purisma, a then recently acquired San Francisco-based subsidiary that offers a master data management platform for D&B enterprises and customers. Streamlined the organization, integrated the operations into D&B, and reduced the projected loss from operations by over $15.5 million over 3 years while delivering a modest profit versus a projected $8+ million loss in the then following year.

Founder & Executive Manager

Lippincott, LLC, National Precious Metal and Fine Jewelry Reclamation Company

Contributed and raised $12 million in debt and equity to purchase a majority stake alongside Capital Source (NYSE: CSE) in Lippincott, LLC, a 20-year old national jewelry reclamation company that depended on televised and Internet-based direct marketing to generate business.  Profitably increased annual revenue from approximately $17 million to $50+ million. Conceived and launched new brands that  received positive national attention from, among others, the Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, The New York Times, Financial Times, The Huffington Post, DailyCandy.com and The Consumerist.

Transformational leader, business executive, executive coach, and turnaround specialist with over 30 years of experience building companies, leading teams, raising capital (almost half a billion dollars in total), and developing cross-sector partnerships for commercial and public gain. 

Successfully led a number of turnarounds in disparate geographical locations: Four on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, eight on behalf of public and private entities, and one for a significant nonprofit.

Proven success in law, investment banking, private equity, startups, buy-outs, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, innovation, and commercialization. 

Skilled in strategic management, conflict resolution, contract negotiation, business plan development, public speaking, and turnarounds. 

Passionate street and photojournalistic photographer focused on foreign and/or marginalized communities to highlight human commonality and promote understanding across cultures. Photographed in all 50 of the United States of America, in 53 countries over 5 continents, and in hundreds of cities, towns, and territories.

Intrepid. Immersed. Inspired.

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