A c-suite level executive who still loves to be hands on…

Let’s start with a little bit about me…

“It’s just like that, but different.”
Stephen-ism #863

Some days, I can’t believe it myself when I say I was “born in the mid-60’s.” But I can reflect back on my time living through some of the best (& interesting) decades, and just smile.

And now here we are in 2024…

Going part of the “way back,” I left a position in retail banking in 1990 in Texas and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. After some minor roles – and a lot of odd jobs – I realized while I loved the craft, the industry was not for me.

Looking for something new, I accepted a job in 1995 as an assistant to the head of creative at Giorgio Beverly Hills fragrances (a division of Avon and then P&G) and quickly moved into purchasing. Within 3-months I was writing million-dollar purchase orders for holiday gift programs for multiple fragrance brands sold in 10,000+ stores. Shortly thereafter I became a designer of those programs. I was then recruited by one of our licensors, Hugo Boss, GmbH to merchandise and build out stores worldwide.

After growing weary of constant travel, I once again joined my previous Giorgio/P&G “boss” as she recommended me for a role at Herbalife, Int’l. There I redesigned and managed both a $20M+ a year gift program and a $50M+ promotions program in 75+ countries within a $3B company. We spent 2 years reworking the lines making them some of the highest contribution margin programs in the company.

Much like my years in banking I realized after 5 years in a multi-billion-dollar international company, the environment was too soul crushing for me. I departed and created my own manufacturing company (and parent holding company) gathering a fantastic roster of large brands. After 7+ years I sold it to a Korean conglomerate looking to gain a foothold with both my American clients and my Chinese manufacturers. It was my first private sale/acquisition. This rounded out my time in the 2000’s and introduced me to a new decade.

Pre- and post-sale of my company and through the 2010’s I was consulting with select clients including previous employers. Multiple one-off projects for P&G and other new companies like KAO Global. Other companies small and large reached out for me to assist with various projects. Whether it be post asset purchase turn around, rebrand, scaling, growth issues, digital education platform, celebrity brand product management, and more – people who knew of me came to me for help. I like to help.

I’ve taken various short and longer term C-Suite roles since focused on re-organization, re-creation, and re-direction. I have also gotten my “hands dirty” in a few start-ups/growth companies as I can literally do almost every role there is to do in a company. Being dyslexic, just don’t ask me to code.

I sat down one day out of curiosity and added up the retail value of the programs I was responsible for during the times I was responsible for them and it totaled well over $500M.

In hindsight it doesn’t really seem like a lot when you consider the scale and reach of some of the brands and companies I’ve had the pleasure of working in/with. But it is also not “nothing.” Many of those products are a distant memory. And like those products, in today’s world, no one really cares about what was relevant last year – much less 5, 10, or 20 years ago. Thanks much, social media. It is about the here, the now, and the next.

During my career I’ve run a gamut of companies and brands. Each came with distinct learnings shaping my next steps forward.

Ask me anything…I’ll share some insights. Just don’t expect me to not be direct.

After all these years, I love the process of it all. It keeps me coming back.



The easiest way to succinctly wrap up 30+ years of a career in consumer packaged goods is to remember – it is about the “consumer.”

It has already been said, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have lead and been part of teams that created and sold 100’s of products in mulitple categories with 100s of millions of units sold.

Those items have lived all over the map in category, price point, distribution model, demographics, and more. Many of the products I liked and used. A majority are still on the market today.

A client once asked me if I had a favorite company or product that I loved more than any other. The short answer is yes and no.

I replied in summary that it is not, and should never be, about what I like, what I want, my opinion, or how I may value an item. It is ALWAYS about what the customer wants. My job is how to create it, market it, and get it to the consumer. Over and over and over. Without exception. When you forget this, you walk through risk.

The ones I think fondly of were core items which contributed to the success of the brand or the company.

Below are highlights that come to mind for one reason or another:

A Strong core is everything

We all care about something.


Giving back. Making the time. Doing the work. Donating what you can. It all makes a difference.

Contributing to anything bigger than ourselves is a goal we should all be working toward. It is one of the most important activities we can do in our lives. Having lived in one of the most ego-centric cities in the world for decades, it became an important part of my life to always make certain I was getting outside my own comfort zone and looking beyond my own bubble.

Pick something you care about that moves your soul…and do whatever you can, whenever you can.

It may not always easy, but it is always rewarding. Volunteering is a privilege & a responsibility.

UNLEASH YOUR INNER ADVOCATE!

Yep, I’m still making new stuff!

Creative Projects