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Work Background
TuVistoBusiness Development
Jan. 2018 - Jan. 2022We help companies find the best possible pictures and videos to grow their business. TuVisto is an Instagram-approved SAAS platform that finds your customer’s pictures and videos and gets you the rights to use them for anything. We simplify and speed up all tasks and processes for User Generated Content search, collection, curation, usage rights procurement, optimization, web posting, and image management. TuVisto is fast, easy, effective, and affordable. I work directly with the founder of this start-up to help develop the product for the market and specifically to design the B2B sales strategy and structure.
Baby Otter Swim SchoolPartner/Director
Jan. 2017The Baby Otter Swim School changed the swim lesson world forever with their revolutionary Turn, Kick, Reach® program, a proprietary, trademarked drowning prevention and learn to swim program created in 1975. Today, Turn, Kick, Reach® is recognized as The World’s Fastest Learn To Swim Program® and has successfully taught tens of thousands of children from 8 months all the way up to adults how to swim, save their own life, and enjoy the water forever! Since 2017, I’ve been a partner/director in this business with a focus on strategic planning, branding, and B2B sales and business development with the hospitality sector.
LegemdaryChairman, Board Of Advisors
Jan. 2017 - Jan. 2022LeGEMdary.com is a true disruptor to the retail and wholesale diamond industries with our new and revolutionary, exclusive reverse-auction platform. We are the first true B2C, wholesale to consumer direct platform. Through the LeGEMdary portal, verified diamond wholesalers blind-bid for the diamonds our customers are looking for. It’s a simple, but amazingly powerful, platform ensures the lowest prices on GIA certified diamonds and settings for our customers. Our wholesale partners benefit by making private offers, 100% on their own terms, to verified buyers. Since 2017, as a partner, I’ve chaired the owner’s Board of Advisors and been focused on strategic planning to bring the business to market, specifically in the areas of branding, marketing, and partnerships.
The Ultimate Island GuideDirector
Jan. 2016 - Jan. 2022West Palm Beach, Florida AreaA unique disruptor in today’s Online Travel Agency (OTA) space, The Ultimate Island Guide (UIG) is the first island-specific, online travel guide and direct booking engine sending all user traffic directly to our member’s websites, 100% free of any commission and any OTAs. UIG is a robust, mobile first, image based platform that puts our users in direct contact with the most comprehensive business listings for every destination. Membership is complimentary to any island business in good standing. Our members control their own listings and receive all inquiries and bookings direct and commission-free. UIG even pays our members by the click to use and recommend the site. The Ultimate Island Guide’s unique approach allows users a highly relevant and cost effective experience, unencumbered by search engine bias, and, without OTA middlemen, our members are free to offer their best pricing and build personal relationships directly with our users. Since 2015, I’ve worked directly with the founder of this start-up to develop the site for market and specifically to build the client base and the sales and marketing strategy.
Privé PorterConsultant
Jan. 2015Miami/Fort Lauderdale AreaThe Key To Authentic Luxury Founded in 2008, Privé Porter prides itself on being the largest and most trustworthy source for brand new Hermès handbags and accessories. These rare, limited editions are widely considered to be the most exclusive accessories in the world and unequivocally the most difficult to acquire. Before Privé Porter’s social media revolution on Instagram, the ultra-elite consumer relied solely on the antiquated bidding processes of traditional auction houses, offering predominantly used bags. Today, Privé Porter has earned the trust and respect of this global 1%, becoming the world’s largest secondary-market seller of unused Hermès handbags, reaching clients in over 50 countries. Since 2015, I’ve consulted directly with ownership on a variety of strategic projects for the company.
IRG-Island Retail GroupConsultant
Oct. 2014 - Aug. 2019West Palm Beach, Florida AreaIn 2014, Island Retail Group (IRG) was created as a boutique division within Island Company to provide additional services to luxury hotel, resort and spa properties. Focused solely on retail and amenity merchandise, IRG provided everything from single skus to “turn-key” private label programs, specializing in custom made or exclusively sourced bags, apparel, gifts, and accessories, all at significant values. My focus was primarily on the start up, product design, sourcing, and selling the program to luxury hotel partners.
Island Company Rum, Inc.Consultant
Aug. 2014West Palm Beach, Florida AreaIsland Company Rum completely disrupted the concept of ultra-premium rum away from the dark, heavy, “years in a barrel” into one of clean, pure, luxury drink-ability that, for the first time, appeals to women as well as men. In less than 2 years, we developed and brought to market an 80 proof, 3yr old Trinidadian craft rum that was distilled 5 times, gluten free, no sugar, zero carbs and has won Caribbean Journal’s “Best Gold Rum” for the last 3 years running.
Island Company Inc.Consultant
Aug. 2014 - Aug. 2019Founded in 2003 by award winning television commercial director, Spencer Antle, Island Company began as a 13 piece bikini line and grew into a significant luxury travel and resort lifestyle brand featuring men’s and women’s clothing, footwear, sunglasses, accessories, sun care and ultra premium rum. Based in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida, Island Company launched its first branded retail store in November 2008 on historic Worth Avenue in prestigious Palm Beach. Other corporate locations in Naples, Florida, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, Las Vegas Nevada and Fort Lauderdale, Florida were complemented by significant retail partnerships with The Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and many more five star resort properties in the top tropical locales worldwide. To this day, the Island Company mantras of “Escape, Travel, Live,” and “Quit Your Job, Buy A Ticket, Get A Tan, Fall In Love, Never Return” have inspired worldwide wanderlust for the islands. I've known Spencer since long before the inception of Island Company and in 2014 he retained me to lead the Island Company Rum project and develop Island Retail Group along with a variety of other strategic projects for the brand.
Groundswell LtdFounder / Primary Consultant
Jul. 2014In 2014, I founded Groundswell, a private consultancy focused on sales and strategic business development primarily for disruptive companies. With 30+ years in the luxury products, travel retail, wines and spirits, travel and tourism, and media industries, I have a unique perspective to provide service primarily in the areas of: ---B2B and B2C Sales
---Operations for Retail, Wholesale, Sales and Marketing
---Concept Development for Products, Brands and Stores
---Strategic Planning
---New Business Development ---Board Advisement ...and predominantly in the sectors of: ---Luxury, Watch and Jewelry
---Wines and Spirits
---Destination Significant Concepts
---Travel Retail and Duty Free
---Apparel and Accessories ---Travel and Tourism
---Private Label
---Health and Fitness
Active Capital Ltd.Chief Executive Officer
Jan. 2009 - Jan. 2014Grand Cayman, Cayman IslandsActive Capital (Cayman) Ltd (ACL) was the holding and management services company for a variety of investments in the consumer sector, including Island Companies Ltd., The Cayman Distributors Group, Passman and Caribbean Canvas Company. Founded in 2008, ACL was formed out of the Dart Mangament business development department I directed since inception in 2006. I served as ACL’s EVP until my appointment to CEO in 2009. During my tenure I led the re-structring and expansion of Island Companies Ltd, the acquisitions of Blackbeards, Cayman Distributors and Big Daddy’s and the subsequent re-structuring and integration into the current Caymans Distributors Group, the acquisition, re-structring, re-branding and wind-down of Passman, the start up of Caribbean Canvas Company, and a diverse variety of commercial real estate and tenant business development.
Caribbean Canvas CompanyFounder & CEO
Jan. 2009 - Jan. 2014Grand Cayman, Cayman IslandsI founded Caribbean Canvas Company as a West Indies lifestyle brand, served as CEO and Creative Director and was responsible for the company concept, branding and the design of over 200 SKUS of bags, apparel and accessories.
Cayman Islands Tourism AssociationBoard Director
Jan. 2008 - Jan. 2014Grand Cayman, Cayman IslandsI served as an elected director to the board for 6 terms. The Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) was formed in 2001, through an amalgamation of the Cayman Tourism Alliance and the Cayman Islands Hotel and Condominium Association. CITA represents tourism businesses from all sectors, including hotels, condominiums and villas, watersports operators, restaurants, attractions, airlines, tourism transport providers, cruise sector businesses, retailers and allied tourism service providers. With over 200 tourism business members, CITA is active in the areas of the industry, government relations, marketing and events, industry development, and education. In 2009, I was responsible for bringing CITA’s signature event, The Taste of Cayman, to its permanent home at Camana Bay and for incorporating the wine tasting experience into the event for the first time. The Taste of Cayman Wine and Food Festival was born that year and has evolved into one of the most important events in the Caribbean. In 2011, CITA was also responsible for the USS Kittiwake dive site. This was the first US Navy warship ever to be sunk by a foreign jurisdiction and instantly became one of the world’s “must-dive-sites.” Working with Oris Watches of Switzerland and their CEO Rolf Studer, we created the Oris ProDiver USS Kittiwake limited edition of 500 dive watches with proceeds to support the ongoing maintenance and management of the site.
Island Companies Ltd.Co-Managing Director
Jan. 2006 - Jan. 2013I served as Co-Managing Director at Island Companies Ltd. (ICL) and was responsible for all divisions of this 20+ location duty-free and travel-retail company, specializing in diamonds, jewelry, timepieces, eyewear, beauty, and accessories. During my tenure, I developed the concept, branding, and store designs for ICL’s proprietary retail concepts Island Jewellers, Island Time, Island Time & Design, Watch.Me, and The Mansion at Camana Bay, opened dedicated boutiques for John Hardy, Swarovski, Pandora, and Philip Stein, secured numerous luxury watch and jewelry brands, and developed a significant number of special sales events to target the local and stay-over customer.
Cayman Distributors GroupManaging Director
Jan. 2006 - Jan. 2013Grand Cayman, Cayman IslandsAt Cayman Distributors Group (CDG), I served as Managing director of all companies from their individual acquisitions through their subsequent group restructuring, re-branding and ultimate consolidation into CDG. CDG owned and operated 15 duty paid and duty-free beer, wine, and spirit stores under the Blackbeards Trading Company Ltd., Big Daddy’s Wines and Spirits, Liquor Outlet, and West Indies Wine Company brands. CDG was also the Cayman Island’s premier wholesale distributor for a vast portfolio of brands in all categories under their Cayman Distributors Ltd. subsidiary.
Starboard GroupLVMH/Starboard - Vice President and Executive Director
Jan. 2001 - Jan. 2006Miami FloridaIn 2001, I was recruited internally by DFS/LVMH to join the executive management team for the newco Starboard Cruise Services formed by the consolidation of the Greyhound Leisure and Alders/Nuance companies. During my tenure, I ran retail operations for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea, Radisson Seven Seas, Seabourne, Cunard, Windstar, and the World of Residensea, was responsible for the marketing strategy of the company, and designed and built the first free-standing onboard boutiques dedicated exclusively to high luxury. At Starboard I also created the first continuous trunk show style merchandise program in the industry, The Special Event Sales Program, featuring lectures, appearances, and special sales events focused on jewelry, gems, watches and objects d’art from our worldwide ports of call. Timeline: 2001-2006: Founder & Executive Director of the Special Event Sales Program
2001-2003: Vice President of Retail Operations, Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Cruises
2003-2006: Vice President of Luxury Operations and Merchandise
2003-2006: Vice President of Marketing
Onboard MediaCompany Vice President & Partner
Jan. 1990 - Jan. 2001Onboard Media was the leader in cruise line port shopping promotions, cruise and hotel private label magazine publishing and in-room video production, working with Crystal Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Crociere, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Sandals Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and Las Vegas Sands (Venetian), As Senior Port Lecturer, I was the company’s first employee and served as Manager of Port Shopping Programs prior to being named company Vice President and partner. During my eleven years, I hired and trained over 150 Port Shopping lecturers, serving over 500 retail and advertising clients worldwide and also created the International Brand Advertising division. I was responsible for opening the markets of Central and South America, Alaska, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean to port shopping programs and wrote numerous articles and features on luxury products and trends for our publications and various travel industry trade publications. In 1998, I led the operations integration of our Abarta Media acquisition and after our sale to LVMH in 2000, I managed our integration into the LVMH Selective Distribution Group and directed the newco strategic planning for our company in conjunction with DFS and Starboard Cruise Services. I remained with the company until 2001 when I was recruited to join Starboard’s new executive management team.
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