Description
Hands-on executive and general manager with 20 years experience and core strengths in strategy.
Jeffrey D. Abbott
Director of Acceleration Services at ASU, Continuous Learner, and Connector
[email protected]
Summary
Hands-on executive and general manager with 20 years experience and core strengths in strategy, marketing and
business development who brings a highly strategic and entrepreneurial approach to creating lean teams,
optimizing internal operations, and growing existing and new revenue streams to produce superior financial
returns and excellent customer experiences. Combines a Socratic style with an analytical and process-driven
approach, bringing bottom-line orientation, a sense of urgency, and deep respect for people to the building of
businesses, brands and teams.
Experience
Director of Acceleration Services, Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Arizona State University
May 2014 - Present (6 months)
ASU was recently ranked Top 50 in the USA for its entrepreneurship programs. As ASU moves into the next
phase of President Crow's vision for entrepreneurship and innovation, as a member of the Office of
Entrepreneurship & Innovation, I belong to the core team lead by Dr. Mitzi Montoya, which seeks to expand
entrepreneurship education to all students, provide entrepreneurial experiences for all students, support
faculty and community entrepreneurs, and grow the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
I am responsible for developing and delivering services that support and accelerate startups across the full
range of ASU entrpreneurship programs, including the Edson Program for Student Entrepreneurs, the Furnace
Accelerator, Arizona Startup Accelerator, faculty spinout ventures and the Alexandria Network of
accelerators in public libraries.
These include: 1) designing and conducting a practical and milestone-driven curriculum known as "Rapid
Startup School" to guide newly formed startup ventures from concept to team and company formation,
through business model definition, customer validation, product and revenue model development, and market
launch and funding. 2) Developing and implementing a scalable project collaboration, curriculum delivery
and milestone tracking capability permitting participation in ASU entrepreneurship programs regardless of
geography; 3) Growing and delivering through an online scheduling tool a broad suite of shared services
available to startups, including access to mentors, vendors, and investors. 4) Working directly with startups to
accelerate their success.
Principal at Arizona Integrated Marketing LLC
October 2008 - Present (6 years 1 month)
Marketing and strategy consultant serving clients from startups to established brands at the convergence of
branding and direct / interactive marketing. Certified partner of Hubspot and Infusionsoft. Services include:
strategy, web, biz dev, content marketing, inbound marketing, email marketing, PR, CRM. Sample
Page1
engagements:
--Advised Board of Trustees of top-ranked private university in digital marketing and customer lifecycle
management strategy, organizational competencies and tools.
--Developed content marketing and e-commerce strategy, implemented tools, and recruited team, for
commercial printer.
--Devised marketing, revenue and biz dev strategy for patented traffic navigation smartphone app startup.
--Garnered coverage for Canadian asset management fund using Cision PR automation and media outreach.
--Achieved category leading organic search rankings using Hubspot for multi-unit restaurant. Launched
loyalty club and grew to over 5000 members employing Infusionsoft marketing automation.
--Developed channel, marketing and biz dev approach for mobile healthcare technology startup.
5 recommendations available upon request
Vice President of Business Development at Passport Health
October 2012 - September 2013 (1 year)
Passport Health, a portfolio company of True North Companies, is the leading provider of Travel Medicine
services in the US. Armed with nothing more than a laptop and a phone, launched b2b sales initiative and
sought to validate go-to-market strategy with customers. Recruited / trained national sales team. Devised and
implemented sales processes. Created marketing content for digital and print media. Developed reporting and
analytical tools. Installed CRM. Developed broad array of relationships with corporate and government
clients through a combination of aggressive outbound calling, trade shows, and search marketing. Grew b2b
sales pipeline revenue from zero to over $20M.
Walker Center For Global Entrepreneurship at Thunderbird School of Global Management
May 2010 - September 2012 (2 years 5 months)
Member of Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship and participant in Thunderbird business incubator
program. Worked to develop innovative technology-based solutions to higher education marketing and
customer lifecycle management. Represented the school in its quest to further engage with the entrepreneurial
ecosystem in Arizona. Guest lecturer in digital marketing & course facilitator for international marketing in
Latin America. Organized Startup Weekend Phoenix at Thunderbird.
Owner Principal at Alignment Consulting
January 2005 - December 2008 (4 years)
Independent management consultancy formed to manage the business turnaround process at Louisville
Stoneware Co (www.louisvillestoneware.com), a role that later evolved into the CEO role. Focused on
strategy, brand and digital marketing and e-commerce, process and operational improvements, and
organizational change management. Additional clients included Holchem de Mexico S.A. de C.V
(www.Holchem.net), R&R Resorts (www.rrresorts.com), Montecastelli Selections (www.montecastelli.com),
and Magnanimus Wine Group (www.magnanimuswines.com).
2 recommendations available upon request
CEO at Louisville Stoneware
March 2006 - August 2007 (1 year 6 months)
As CEO, performed successful business turnaround project and returned a historic American company to
Page2
profitability in just nine months after it had suffered ten consecutive years of operating loss. Successfully sold
and transitioned to new owners. Firm was part of Brown-Forman family of companies; $10M manufacturer /
retailer of luxury handmade ceramic tableware & giftware with 120 employees across factory and warehouse
facilities & three retail store locations. Led GE “Work Out” style change management process to dislodge
entrenched culture & build consensus around the need for change, gaining full employee trust and buy-in. On
the commercial side: repositioned brand; opened award-winning new retail concept & overhauled store
merchandising; redesigned logo, collateral materials & packaging; initiated new product innovation program;
launched new eCommerce website; revised sales terms & conditions to weed out unhealthy accounts;
implemented Salesforce.com for wholesale sales & customer service. On the operational side: rationalized
product line by 30% & implemented ABC stocking logic; implemented MS Dynamics ERP (POS, Demand
Planning, Inventory, Accounting & Finance); reduced days inventory by 50% & average custom order lead
time by 2 weeks. Found & corrected numerous process-based root causes of quality problems, reducing
product defects by 40%. Reduced average days receivables from over 100 to 20. Performed extensive
employee skills analysis & conducted cross-training prior to large rightsizing event. Commissioned 120 page
detailed operating manual of every critical job / process to document best practices and ensure sustainability
of operating improvements. (www.louisvillestoneware.com)
2 recommendations available upon request
Director of Corporate Strategy at Brown-Forman Corporation
May 2002 - November 2004 (2 years 7 months)
Co-led 8 member strategic internal consulting group of a $4B global producer and marketer of spirits, wine
and durables. Received “President’s Award” for developing strategies that lead to a $35mm improvement in
Wine Division operating income. Strategies included: supply strategy overhaul; building the empirical
foundation for the need for frequent new wine brand introductions to retain/grow producer share that resulted
in creation of new brand innovation department and numerous brand launches; salesforce and facilities
rationalization, and more. Also developed and launched the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative,
developing strategy and organizational plan, recruiting and hiring VP to lead department. Performed global
industry and competitor portfolio analysis in support of acquisition strategies. (www.b-f.com)
2 recommendations available upon request
Director of E-business, Latin America at Mabe
January 2000 - May 2002 (2 years 5 months)
Leader of GE’s eBusiness initiative in Latin America in partnership with Mabe. Developed strategy and
organization plan, recruited 35 member department. Defined URL and content strategy, employing i2
Technologies CMS to centralize website and e-commerce platforms in Mexico. Created and marketed 12
branded portals. Launched Latin America’s largest online appliance retailer, the Tienda Mabe, developing an
affiliate program of over 60,000 members while expanding sales to $21M first year. Grew sales an additional
$13M by bringing 8 new retail chains into the “Home Delivery” program by coupling retail kiosks with
home delivery. Created online customer service / email call center capabilities. Reduced annual marketing
costs by more than $1M. Managed $5m budget for IT, software, design and web
vendors.(www.geappliances.com). Applied Six Sigma process improvement tools and received Green Belt
certification.
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1 recommendation available upon request
Director of Marketing, Latin America at GE Appliances
June 1998 - December 1999 (1 year 7 months)
Senior GE marketer in Latin America, responsible for $500M in branded sales. Planned & executed GE
brand relaunch in Argentina, Chile & Brazil after 10 year absence, contributing to over $50M in new sales
first year. Managed product line development process to ensure regional and local market product alignment
with GE brand positioning. Cemented regional co-marketing partnerships with P&G. Consolidated
advertising agency relationships to single regional partner for traditional marketing & media, producing first
ever regional TV, print & radio campaigns while reducing ad spend by 30%. Developed & executed annual
calendar of channel/dealer promotions for $120M in US exports to Central America & Caribbean.
1 recommendation available upon request
Director of Trade Marketing at Whirlpool Corporation
July 1996 - June 1998 (2 years)
Led formation of 15 member trade marketing department, with responsibility for brand/ channel pricing
analysis and strategy, point of purchase & co-op advertising, sales operations, development and execution of
all dealer promotions for over $500M in sales. Lead project with Boston Consulting group to optimize
resource allocation leading to increased profits and reduced channel conflict. (www.whirlpoolcorp.com)
Manager of Sales and Product Management, Mexico at Whirlpool Corporation
December 1994 - July 1996 (1 year 8 months)
Managed product development process across five product lines for unique SKUs for Mexican market.
Managed key global accounts SAM's Club, Wal-Mart and Costco in Mexico. Grew sales to SAM's 9x, an
increase of $8M in 2 years. Produced sales and materials in Spanish for Mexico & US Hispanic market.
Responsible for $90M in sales.
Visiting Foreign Professor of International Business at Tecnológico de Monterrey
January 1993 - August 1994 (1 year 8 months)
Developed and taught 4 original undergraduate business courses at Mexico's leading business school:
international marketing, cross cultural management, international advertising & promotions & negotiations.
Co-authored NAFTA: Managing Cultural Differences with Dr. Robert T. Moran.
Debt Derivatives Analyst / Intern at Citi
January 1992 - July 1992 (7 months)
Supported derivatives traders with analytical support and daily reports including time decay, risk exposure
etc.
Rotational Management Trainee at JPMorgan Chase
March 1989 - July 1990 (1 year 5 months)
Completed ABA training in banking fundamentals, and served rotations in Treasury and Internal Audit
Departments at American National Bank of Chicago, which was acquired by First National Bank of Chicago,
which in turn was acquired by Banc One, which merged in 2004 with JP Morgan Chase.
Page4
Courses
Visiting Foreign Professor of International Business
Tecnológico de Monterrey
International Negotiations
International Marketing
Cross-Cultural Management Communications
International Advertising and Promotions
Walker Center For Global Entrepreneurship
Thunderbird School of Global Management
International Marketing, Latin America
Volunteer Experience
Mentor at Venture Catalyst at ASU
August 2013 - Present (1 year 3 months)
Mentor early stage startup companies participating in the ASU Edson Program.
Organizer at Startup Weekend
April 2012 - Present (2 years 7 months)
A once-a-year event that gathers developers, designers, business/marketing and entrepreneurs together to take
an idea from concept to company in 54 hours. Achieved an inclusive mix of sponsors and participants that
brought together the entire Phoenix and broader Arizona ecosystem under a single event for the first time and
secured nearly $100,000 in community sponsorship for winning entrepreneurs.
www.phoenix.startupweekend.org.
Co-Organizer, Idea Funding at Startup Tucson
May 2012 - Present (2 years 6 months)
Established in 1995, IdeaFunding is a Southern Arizona region tradition.
IdeaFunding’s long-term commitment to advance and stimulate entrepreneurial capacity and opportunity has
positioned it as the region’s premier networking, business integration, and knowledge sharing event.
Volunteer Marketing Advisor at TiE
April 2012 - Present (2 years 7 months)
Supported the TiE Arizona chapter in developing membership growth and retention strategies and promotion
of major events. TiEwas founded to inspire, foster and support entrepreneurship in Arizona. Anyone starting
or running a business, and anyone working with an entrepreneur or in an entrepreneurial company will find
Page5
immense value in the educational, networking and partnership opportunities available through TiE - The
Indus Entrepreneurs.
Curator at Startup Genome
August 2012 - Present (2 years 3 months)
Startup Genome curators are already leaders in their local startup communities. They organize events, lead
clubs and organizations, or support their community in different ways.
Board Member and Marketing Advisor at KY Opera & Louisville Orchestra
October 2002 - August 2004 (1 year 11 months)
Played a role in strategy development and chaired "Fanfara," the annual season kickoff in 2004. Working
with zero budget, brought together a wide range of community stakeholders to create 3 distinct events to
promote the Orchestra's season and the commencement of the fall arts calendar in Louisville, targeted at
different age groups and demographics. Drove record attendance of over 1500 persons.
Honors and Awards
Rose Award
The Rotary Club of Tucson
October 2011
Received Rotary International Rose Award for exemplary leadership and contribution to the club and
community as Project Leader for the All-terrain wheelchairs project. This project, in partnership with Club
Rotario Sur de Nogales, involved building and distributing all-terrain wheelchairs to disabled persons in
Nogales, Sonora. I led the project for 22 months.
President's Award
Brown-Forman Corporation
August 2003
Received “President’s Award” for playing leadership role in the development of strategies that lead to a $35
million improvement in Brown-Forman's Wine Division operating income.
InterAd Award
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Awarded first prize in juried business plan competition for best international marketing and product launch
plan. Project sponsored by Hershey Corporation.
Senior 100 Honorary Award
The University of Illinois Alumni Association
Award presented by UIUC Alumni Association to the top 100 graduating seniors in a class of over 8000 for
combined scholastic and extracurricular leadership.
Page6
Skills & Expertise
SEO
Content Writing
Content Strategy
Web Development
Interactive Marketing
Branding
Trade Marketing
Event Management
Event Planning
Marketing Strategy
Strategy Development
Product Strategy
Email Marketing
Change Management
Organizational Development
Training & Development
Presentation Skills
Presentation Development
International Project Management
International Trade
International Sales & Marketing
Business Development
Strategic Consulting
Talent Development
Entrepreneurship
Strategic Partnerships
Business Strategy
Public Speaking
Workshop Facilitation
New Business Development
Strategy
Salesforce.com
Management
Leadership
Team Building
Talent Management
Employee Training
Product Management
E-commerce
Sales
Start-ups
Competitive Analysis
Strategic Planning
Integrated Marketing
Cross-functional Team Leadership
Lead Generation
Marketing
Page7
Online Marketing
CRM
Digital Marketing
Certifications
Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE) Level C1 (9/10)
Instituto Cervantes License 14050584036020001 May 2014
Hubspot Certified Partner
HubSpot
Manager Development Course (MDC)
GE
Change Acceleration Process for eBusiness
GE
Six Sigma Green Belt
GE
Publications
NAFTA: Managing the Cultural Differences
Gulf Publishing Company September 6, 1994
Authors: Jeffrey D. Abbott, Dr. Robert T. Moran
Essential companion to those who wish to accept and benefit from the future business and cultural realities
we face. Provides insights into negotiating successfully with Canadians, Mexicans, and U.S. Americans
Uniting North American Business
Reed Elsevier September 15, 2002
Authors: Jeffrey D. Abbott, Dr. Robert T Moran
In today's global economy, NAFTA continues to present unprecedented opportunities for companies in
cross-border commerce. 'Uniting North American Business: NAFTA Best Practices' focuses on best business
practices and lessons learned in the years since the NAFTA agreement was first signed, and their impact on
both the economy and society.
'Uniting North American Business' provides you with the skills and competencies necessary to become more
effective business managers and citizens in NAFTA countries by considering:
* What is the scope of the NAFTA agreement itself?
* What are some of the positive benefits of NAFTA?
* What is really causing job loss attributed to NAFTA?
* What should we know about Canada, the United States, and Mexico to better understand the culture and
Page8
management philosophies of our partners?
* What will society look like if current trends continue?
Presents the opportunities, changes, and case studies of major corporations doing cross-border business in
NAFTA countriesPart of bestselling Managing Cultural Differences SeriesCase studies and clear directions
show you how to make NAFTA work to achieve business success
Languages
English
(Native or bilingual proficiency)
Spanish
(Native or bilingual proficiency)
Portuguese
(Full professional proficiency)
French
(Limited working proficiency)
German
(Limited working proficiency)
Italian
(Limited working proficiency)
Education
Harvard Law School
Certificate, Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Certificate, Advanced Spanish Lanuage Immersion
The University of Chicago
Certificate, Executive Program in Corporate Strategy, Booth School of Business
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Master of International Management, International Management and Marketing
Activities and Societies: German Club, Spanish Club
University of Aberdeen
Economic History
Activities and Societies: Student Government. Second Class Certificate of Merit
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
BA, History & Speech Communications, Double Major
Activities and Societies: Student Ambassadors, Student Alumni Association, Student Government Association,
Co-Chair 1987 Homecoming, Co-Chair 1986 Official New Student Welcome Program, Chairman Student
Election Commission
University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business
Certificate, Net Ready Marketing
Page9
Honors and Awards
Senior 100 Honorary, University of Illinois
President's Award at Brown-Forman, 2004
Rose Award, Rotary Club of Tucson, 2011
Interests
Business Management, Marketing, Learning Languages, Travel, Cross-Cultural Studies, History, Piano, Music,
Hiking, Ashtanga Yoga, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Community Involvement
Page10
Jeffrey D. Abbott
Director of Acceleration Services at ASU, Continuous Learner, and Connector
[email protected]
13 people have recommended Jeffrey D.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Jeff over the last three years, both within the same companies and
on outside projects as colleagues, and have had nothing but positive experiences. Jeff took on a mentoring
position with no agenda of his own, and has been a constant resource and advocate throughout the years that
I've known him. As a leader, colleague, mentor, strategic thinker and someone who gets things done, I
strongly recommend Jeff Abbott."
— Elizabeth Frome, Digital Marketing Manager, Spectrum Printing Company, LLC, worked directly with
Jeffrey D. at Arizona Integrated Marketing LLC
"I have worked with Jeff over the last three years to create a world class Marketing and Recruiting platform to
help Thunderbird attract the best students possible. Jeff has demonstrated strong strategic thinking and an in
depth knowledge of digital marketing. I highly recommend Jeff."
— Mike Hecomovich, Owner, GLOBAL MARKETING SERVICES, was with another company when
working with Jeffrey D. at Arizona Integrated Marketing LLC
"Over the past 2 years I have worked with Jeff establishing a not for profit business in Mexico through our
Rotary club. During the entire process I have been impressed with Jeff's dedication, communication skills and
ability to help direct a brand new venture from the planning stages to execution. Always professional and a
"big picture" thinker. His fluency in Spanish and knowledge in the Mexican culture were critical elements to
getting this business started. He is particularly skilled in marketing and business plan development. Jeff has
the ability to develop and execute strategy and would make a valuable addition to any corporate marketing
department."
— Jim Lubinski, Vice President/CFO, Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, worked directly with Jeffrey D.
at Arizona Integrated Marketing / Whole New Web
"Jeffrey worked on a marketing project for my firm in 2009 and I found his work of high quality. He
understood well the message the firm was to put forward and performed his tasks with dilligence and
professionalism."
— David McLean, was Jeffrey D.'s client
"Jeff Abbott is one of the strongest and most competent individuals I have ever had the opportunity to work
with. He has excellent planning and strategy development skills and is a natural leader and organizer of
Page11
people and resources. His integrity and work ethic drives a level of ownership of a client’s experience that
creates maximum levels of trust and assurance for each client. He sets out to get the job done right. Count on
Jeff to make the right things happen. He brings positive energy combined with intelligence and deep
experience to enable success."
— George Arden, Partner, AIM Integrated Marketing, worked directly with Jeffrey D. at Whole New Web
"I have worked with Jeff on two different projects in the last few years. The first was while he was CEO of
Louisville Stoneware. I worked as a consultant assisting in the finanancial and strategic analysis of the
turnaround and ultimate sale of the company. The company faced significant operational changes when he
joined and he approached them with energy, vision and compassion. He was a very thoughtful and grounded
leader. Most recently, I've worked with Jeff on a business valuation consulting project. As a leader, he
supports and encourages his subject matter experts to be full members of the team, but he also does his own
research and is able to challenge long-held assumptions."
— Carmen Barrett, Independent Consultant, Carmen V. Barrett Consulting, was with another company
when working with Jeffrey D. at Alignment Consulting
"Jeff Abbott and Alignment Consulting have assisted us on different occasions in getting timely and expert
business development advice in Latin America. Jeff's experience in this field is obvious and leads to hands on
executable solutions which are both efficient and effective. We will definitely contract them/him again for
our business development and implementation needs in the near future. Sincerely, Bertil Duinhouwer
Holchem de Mexico SA de CV"
— Bertil Duinhouwer, was Jeffrey D.'s client
"Jeff had what could be described as a unique approach to turning around the operation at Louisville
Stoneware, after it had experienced many years of losses consecutively. I was retained as an independent
financial consultant to play an ever evolving administrative role in his excellent turnaround program that
succeeded in returning the company to profitability, from the very unhealthy base he inherited when initially
taking over as CEO. His approach was very collaborative by design, and gave equal value to all parties
involved in the production and sales of products at Louisville Stoneware. The employees came to trust him
for his open style and sharing of information, and morale improved greatly. As was intended, the company
was sold to new owners, and is still in business today. I would highly recommend Jeff as someone capable of
bringing a struggling or failing company back to life with a very human touch"
— Jim Bradley, Controller/HR Administrator, Louisville Stoneware, reported to Jeffrey D. at Louisville
Stoneware Co.
"I would highly, and without hesitation, recommend Jeff Abbott for any postion he seeks. He is an individual
of the highest integrity, with outstanding leadership abilities. As a consultant to him in his capacity as
President/CEO of Louisville Stoneware Co., I often witnessed these qualities in-action, and have seen his
employee-motivating skills at work. He is extremely resourceful and would be of untold benefit to any
organization."
Page12
— Mark Bird, VP, Architectural Marketing, Power Creative, was a consultant or contractor to Jeffrey D. at
Louisville Stoneware Co.
"Jeff Abbott brought thought leadership, insightful analysis, and bottom-line impact to corporate strategy at
Brown-Forman. His work was always based on a solid analytical foundation that allowed him to gain insights
rarely seen by others. He laid a very strong analytical foundation for a new brand development initiative and
launched the company's corporate social responsibility initiative when it was in its infancy. Jeff possesses
high integrity, has the capability to go great work, and the courage to defend his ideas. I heartily recommend
Jeff for those looking for these attributes."
— Phoebe Wood, Vice Chairman and CFO, Brown-Forman Corp, managed Jeffrey D. indirectly at
Brown-Forman Corporation
"Jeff Abbott provided valuable support in the area of new product and service innovation and strategy to me
and the members of my board and leadership team at Hartmann Luggage. His knowledge of consumer
products industries, and effective application of strategic frameworks, led to the development of a number of
new business initiatives that contributed to the bottom line. Jeff is able to effectively challenge the team to
expand their vision and thought process while balancing this with the realities of the business environment"
— Dave Herman, Chief Executive Officer & President, Hartmann, worked directly with Jeffrey D. at
Brown-Forman Corporation
"Jeff is an excellent professional who has a drive to create and manage change even in the most complex
corporate environments. He has the ability to present his ideas and solid strategic plans in a clear and
appealing manner in order to develop team and top management support. While working at Mabe/GE he was
in charge of starting the challenging endeavour of converting a traditional business into an e-commerce
driven one. I'd consider it an honor to have the opportunity to collaborate with Jeff in the future."
— Joaquin Del Rivero Yaniz, Corporate Marketing Director for Latin America, GE
Appliances/Mabe, worked directly with Jeffrey D. at GE Appliances
"Jeffrey D. is a extremely dedicated and results oriented professional. He always delivered and suggested new
creative business formulas that questioned old structures and the way things were done."
— PEDRO ZALDIVAR, MARKETING DIRECTOR, MABE, worked with Jeffrey D. at GE Appliances
Contact Jeffrey D. on LinkedIn
Page13
doc_765665506.pdf
Hands-on executive and general manager with 20 years experience and core strengths in strategy.
Jeffrey D. Abbott
Director of Acceleration Services at ASU, Continuous Learner, and Connector
[email protected]
Summary
Hands-on executive and general manager with 20 years experience and core strengths in strategy, marketing and
business development who brings a highly strategic and entrepreneurial approach to creating lean teams,
optimizing internal operations, and growing existing and new revenue streams to produce superior financial
returns and excellent customer experiences. Combines a Socratic style with an analytical and process-driven
approach, bringing bottom-line orientation, a sense of urgency, and deep respect for people to the building of
businesses, brands and teams.
Experience
Director of Acceleration Services, Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Arizona State University
May 2014 - Present (6 months)
ASU was recently ranked Top 50 in the USA for its entrepreneurship programs. As ASU moves into the next
phase of President Crow's vision for entrepreneurship and innovation, as a member of the Office of
Entrepreneurship & Innovation, I belong to the core team lead by Dr. Mitzi Montoya, which seeks to expand
entrepreneurship education to all students, provide entrepreneurial experiences for all students, support
faculty and community entrepreneurs, and grow the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
I am responsible for developing and delivering services that support and accelerate startups across the full
range of ASU entrpreneurship programs, including the Edson Program for Student Entrepreneurs, the Furnace
Accelerator, Arizona Startup Accelerator, faculty spinout ventures and the Alexandria Network of
accelerators in public libraries.
These include: 1) designing and conducting a practical and milestone-driven curriculum known as "Rapid
Startup School" to guide newly formed startup ventures from concept to team and company formation,
through business model definition, customer validation, product and revenue model development, and market
launch and funding. 2) Developing and implementing a scalable project collaboration, curriculum delivery
and milestone tracking capability permitting participation in ASU entrepreneurship programs regardless of
geography; 3) Growing and delivering through an online scheduling tool a broad suite of shared services
available to startups, including access to mentors, vendors, and investors. 4) Working directly with startups to
accelerate their success.
Principal at Arizona Integrated Marketing LLC
October 2008 - Present (6 years 1 month)
Marketing and strategy consultant serving clients from startups to established brands at the convergence of
branding and direct / interactive marketing. Certified partner of Hubspot and Infusionsoft. Services include:
strategy, web, biz dev, content marketing, inbound marketing, email marketing, PR, CRM. Sample
Page1
engagements:
--Advised Board of Trustees of top-ranked private university in digital marketing and customer lifecycle
management strategy, organizational competencies and tools.
--Developed content marketing and e-commerce strategy, implemented tools, and recruited team, for
commercial printer.
--Devised marketing, revenue and biz dev strategy for patented traffic navigation smartphone app startup.
--Garnered coverage for Canadian asset management fund using Cision PR automation and media outreach.
--Achieved category leading organic search rankings using Hubspot for multi-unit restaurant. Launched
loyalty club and grew to over 5000 members employing Infusionsoft marketing automation.
--Developed channel, marketing and biz dev approach for mobile healthcare technology startup.
5 recommendations available upon request
Vice President of Business Development at Passport Health
October 2012 - September 2013 (1 year)
Passport Health, a portfolio company of True North Companies, is the leading provider of Travel Medicine
services in the US. Armed with nothing more than a laptop and a phone, launched b2b sales initiative and
sought to validate go-to-market strategy with customers. Recruited / trained national sales team. Devised and
implemented sales processes. Created marketing content for digital and print media. Developed reporting and
analytical tools. Installed CRM. Developed broad array of relationships with corporate and government
clients through a combination of aggressive outbound calling, trade shows, and search marketing. Grew b2b
sales pipeline revenue from zero to over $20M.
Walker Center For Global Entrepreneurship at Thunderbird School of Global Management
May 2010 - September 2012 (2 years 5 months)
Member of Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship and participant in Thunderbird business incubator
program. Worked to develop innovative technology-based solutions to higher education marketing and
customer lifecycle management. Represented the school in its quest to further engage with the entrepreneurial
ecosystem in Arizona. Guest lecturer in digital marketing & course facilitator for international marketing in
Latin America. Organized Startup Weekend Phoenix at Thunderbird.
Owner Principal at Alignment Consulting
January 2005 - December 2008 (4 years)
Independent management consultancy formed to manage the business turnaround process at Louisville
Stoneware Co (www.louisvillestoneware.com), a role that later evolved into the CEO role. Focused on
strategy, brand and digital marketing and e-commerce, process and operational improvements, and
organizational change management. Additional clients included Holchem de Mexico S.A. de C.V
(www.Holchem.net), R&R Resorts (www.rrresorts.com), Montecastelli Selections (www.montecastelli.com),
and Magnanimus Wine Group (www.magnanimuswines.com).
2 recommendations available upon request
CEO at Louisville Stoneware
March 2006 - August 2007 (1 year 6 months)
As CEO, performed successful business turnaround project and returned a historic American company to
Page2
profitability in just nine months after it had suffered ten consecutive years of operating loss. Successfully sold
and transitioned to new owners. Firm was part of Brown-Forman family of companies; $10M manufacturer /
retailer of luxury handmade ceramic tableware & giftware with 120 employees across factory and warehouse
facilities & three retail store locations. Led GE “Work Out” style change management process to dislodge
entrenched culture & build consensus around the need for change, gaining full employee trust and buy-in. On
the commercial side: repositioned brand; opened award-winning new retail concept & overhauled store
merchandising; redesigned logo, collateral materials & packaging; initiated new product innovation program;
launched new eCommerce website; revised sales terms & conditions to weed out unhealthy accounts;
implemented Salesforce.com for wholesale sales & customer service. On the operational side: rationalized
product line by 30% & implemented ABC stocking logic; implemented MS Dynamics ERP (POS, Demand
Planning, Inventory, Accounting & Finance); reduced days inventory by 50% & average custom order lead
time by 2 weeks. Found & corrected numerous process-based root causes of quality problems, reducing
product defects by 40%. Reduced average days receivables from over 100 to 20. Performed extensive
employee skills analysis & conducted cross-training prior to large rightsizing event. Commissioned 120 page
detailed operating manual of every critical job / process to document best practices and ensure sustainability
of operating improvements. (www.louisvillestoneware.com)
2 recommendations available upon request
Director of Corporate Strategy at Brown-Forman Corporation
May 2002 - November 2004 (2 years 7 months)
Co-led 8 member strategic internal consulting group of a $4B global producer and marketer of spirits, wine
and durables. Received “President’s Award” for developing strategies that lead to a $35mm improvement in
Wine Division operating income. Strategies included: supply strategy overhaul; building the empirical
foundation for the need for frequent new wine brand introductions to retain/grow producer share that resulted
in creation of new brand innovation department and numerous brand launches; salesforce and facilities
rationalization, and more. Also developed and launched the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative,
developing strategy and organizational plan, recruiting and hiring VP to lead department. Performed global
industry and competitor portfolio analysis in support of acquisition strategies. (www.b-f.com)
2 recommendations available upon request
Director of E-business, Latin America at Mabe
January 2000 - May 2002 (2 years 5 months)
Leader of GE’s eBusiness initiative in Latin America in partnership with Mabe. Developed strategy and
organization plan, recruited 35 member department. Defined URL and content strategy, employing i2
Technologies CMS to centralize website and e-commerce platforms in Mexico. Created and marketed 12
branded portals. Launched Latin America’s largest online appliance retailer, the Tienda Mabe, developing an
affiliate program of over 60,000 members while expanding sales to $21M first year. Grew sales an additional
$13M by bringing 8 new retail chains into the “Home Delivery” program by coupling retail kiosks with
home delivery. Created online customer service / email call center capabilities. Reduced annual marketing
costs by more than $1M. Managed $5m budget for IT, software, design and web
vendors.(www.geappliances.com). Applied Six Sigma process improvement tools and received Green Belt
certification.
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1 recommendation available upon request
Director of Marketing, Latin America at GE Appliances
June 1998 - December 1999 (1 year 7 months)
Senior GE marketer in Latin America, responsible for $500M in branded sales. Planned & executed GE
brand relaunch in Argentina, Chile & Brazil after 10 year absence, contributing to over $50M in new sales
first year. Managed product line development process to ensure regional and local market product alignment
with GE brand positioning. Cemented regional co-marketing partnerships with P&G. Consolidated
advertising agency relationships to single regional partner for traditional marketing & media, producing first
ever regional TV, print & radio campaigns while reducing ad spend by 30%. Developed & executed annual
calendar of channel/dealer promotions for $120M in US exports to Central America & Caribbean.
1 recommendation available upon request
Director of Trade Marketing at Whirlpool Corporation
July 1996 - June 1998 (2 years)
Led formation of 15 member trade marketing department, with responsibility for brand/ channel pricing
analysis and strategy, point of purchase & co-op advertising, sales operations, development and execution of
all dealer promotions for over $500M in sales. Lead project with Boston Consulting group to optimize
resource allocation leading to increased profits and reduced channel conflict. (www.whirlpoolcorp.com)
Manager of Sales and Product Management, Mexico at Whirlpool Corporation
December 1994 - July 1996 (1 year 8 months)
Managed product development process across five product lines for unique SKUs for Mexican market.
Managed key global accounts SAM's Club, Wal-Mart and Costco in Mexico. Grew sales to SAM's 9x, an
increase of $8M in 2 years. Produced sales and materials in Spanish for Mexico & US Hispanic market.
Responsible for $90M in sales.
Visiting Foreign Professor of International Business at Tecnológico de Monterrey
January 1993 - August 1994 (1 year 8 months)
Developed and taught 4 original undergraduate business courses at Mexico's leading business school:
international marketing, cross cultural management, international advertising & promotions & negotiations.
Co-authored NAFTA: Managing Cultural Differences with Dr. Robert T. Moran.
Debt Derivatives Analyst / Intern at Citi
January 1992 - July 1992 (7 months)
Supported derivatives traders with analytical support and daily reports including time decay, risk exposure
etc.
Rotational Management Trainee at JPMorgan Chase
March 1989 - July 1990 (1 year 5 months)
Completed ABA training in banking fundamentals, and served rotations in Treasury and Internal Audit
Departments at American National Bank of Chicago, which was acquired by First National Bank of Chicago,
which in turn was acquired by Banc One, which merged in 2004 with JP Morgan Chase.
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Courses
Visiting Foreign Professor of International Business
Tecnológico de Monterrey
International Negotiations
International Marketing
Cross-Cultural Management Communications
International Advertising and Promotions
Walker Center For Global Entrepreneurship
Thunderbird School of Global Management
International Marketing, Latin America
Volunteer Experience
Mentor at Venture Catalyst at ASU
August 2013 - Present (1 year 3 months)
Mentor early stage startup companies participating in the ASU Edson Program.
Organizer at Startup Weekend
April 2012 - Present (2 years 7 months)
A once-a-year event that gathers developers, designers, business/marketing and entrepreneurs together to take
an idea from concept to company in 54 hours. Achieved an inclusive mix of sponsors and participants that
brought together the entire Phoenix and broader Arizona ecosystem under a single event for the first time and
secured nearly $100,000 in community sponsorship for winning entrepreneurs.
www.phoenix.startupweekend.org.
Co-Organizer, Idea Funding at Startup Tucson
May 2012 - Present (2 years 6 months)
Established in 1995, IdeaFunding is a Southern Arizona region tradition.
IdeaFunding’s long-term commitment to advance and stimulate entrepreneurial capacity and opportunity has
positioned it as the region’s premier networking, business integration, and knowledge sharing event.
Volunteer Marketing Advisor at TiE
April 2012 - Present (2 years 7 months)
Supported the TiE Arizona chapter in developing membership growth and retention strategies and promotion
of major events. TiEwas founded to inspire, foster and support entrepreneurship in Arizona. Anyone starting
or running a business, and anyone working with an entrepreneur or in an entrepreneurial company will find
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immense value in the educational, networking and partnership opportunities available through TiE - The
Indus Entrepreneurs.
Curator at Startup Genome
August 2012 - Present (2 years 3 months)
Startup Genome curators are already leaders in their local startup communities. They organize events, lead
clubs and organizations, or support their community in different ways.
Board Member and Marketing Advisor at KY Opera & Louisville Orchestra
October 2002 - August 2004 (1 year 11 months)
Played a role in strategy development and chaired "Fanfara," the annual season kickoff in 2004. Working
with zero budget, brought together a wide range of community stakeholders to create 3 distinct events to
promote the Orchestra's season and the commencement of the fall arts calendar in Louisville, targeted at
different age groups and demographics. Drove record attendance of over 1500 persons.
Honors and Awards
Rose Award
The Rotary Club of Tucson
October 2011
Received Rotary International Rose Award for exemplary leadership and contribution to the club and
community as Project Leader for the All-terrain wheelchairs project. This project, in partnership with Club
Rotario Sur de Nogales, involved building and distributing all-terrain wheelchairs to disabled persons in
Nogales, Sonora. I led the project for 22 months.
President's Award
Brown-Forman Corporation
August 2003
Received “President’s Award” for playing leadership role in the development of strategies that lead to a $35
million improvement in Brown-Forman's Wine Division operating income.
InterAd Award
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Awarded first prize in juried business plan competition for best international marketing and product launch
plan. Project sponsored by Hershey Corporation.
Senior 100 Honorary Award
The University of Illinois Alumni Association
Award presented by UIUC Alumni Association to the top 100 graduating seniors in a class of over 8000 for
combined scholastic and extracurricular leadership.
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Skills & Expertise
SEO
Content Writing
Content Strategy
Web Development
Interactive Marketing
Branding
Trade Marketing
Event Management
Event Planning
Marketing Strategy
Strategy Development
Product Strategy
Email Marketing
Change Management
Organizational Development
Training & Development
Presentation Skills
Presentation Development
International Project Management
International Trade
International Sales & Marketing
Business Development
Strategic Consulting
Talent Development
Entrepreneurship
Strategic Partnerships
Business Strategy
Public Speaking
Workshop Facilitation
New Business Development
Strategy
Salesforce.com
Management
Leadership
Team Building
Talent Management
Employee Training
Product Management
E-commerce
Sales
Start-ups
Competitive Analysis
Strategic Planning
Integrated Marketing
Cross-functional Team Leadership
Lead Generation
Marketing
Page7
Online Marketing
CRM
Digital Marketing
Certifications
Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE) Level C1 (9/10)
Instituto Cervantes License 14050584036020001 May 2014
Hubspot Certified Partner
HubSpot
Manager Development Course (MDC)
GE
Change Acceleration Process for eBusiness
GE
Six Sigma Green Belt
GE
Publications
NAFTA: Managing the Cultural Differences
Gulf Publishing Company September 6, 1994
Authors: Jeffrey D. Abbott, Dr. Robert T. Moran
Essential companion to those who wish to accept and benefit from the future business and cultural realities
we face. Provides insights into negotiating successfully with Canadians, Mexicans, and U.S. Americans
Uniting North American Business
Reed Elsevier September 15, 2002
Authors: Jeffrey D. Abbott, Dr. Robert T Moran
In today's global economy, NAFTA continues to present unprecedented opportunities for companies in
cross-border commerce. 'Uniting North American Business: NAFTA Best Practices' focuses on best business
practices and lessons learned in the years since the NAFTA agreement was first signed, and their impact on
both the economy and society.
'Uniting North American Business' provides you with the skills and competencies necessary to become more
effective business managers and citizens in NAFTA countries by considering:
* What is the scope of the NAFTA agreement itself?
* What are some of the positive benefits of NAFTA?
* What is really causing job loss attributed to NAFTA?
* What should we know about Canada, the United States, and Mexico to better understand the culture and
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management philosophies of our partners?
* What will society look like if current trends continue?
Presents the opportunities, changes, and case studies of major corporations doing cross-border business in
NAFTA countriesPart of bestselling Managing Cultural Differences SeriesCase studies and clear directions
show you how to make NAFTA work to achieve business success
Languages
English
(Native or bilingual proficiency)
Spanish
(Native or bilingual proficiency)
Portuguese
(Full professional proficiency)
French
(Limited working proficiency)
German
(Limited working proficiency)
Italian
(Limited working proficiency)
Education
Harvard Law School
Certificate, Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Certificate, Advanced Spanish Lanuage Immersion
The University of Chicago
Certificate, Executive Program in Corporate Strategy, Booth School of Business
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Master of International Management, International Management and Marketing
Activities and Societies: German Club, Spanish Club
University of Aberdeen
Economic History
Activities and Societies: Student Government. Second Class Certificate of Merit
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
BA, History & Speech Communications, Double Major
Activities and Societies: Student Ambassadors, Student Alumni Association, Student Government Association,
Co-Chair 1987 Homecoming, Co-Chair 1986 Official New Student Welcome Program, Chairman Student
Election Commission
University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business
Certificate, Net Ready Marketing
Page9
Honors and Awards
Senior 100 Honorary, University of Illinois
President's Award at Brown-Forman, 2004
Rose Award, Rotary Club of Tucson, 2011
Interests
Business Management, Marketing, Learning Languages, Travel, Cross-Cultural Studies, History, Piano, Music,
Hiking, Ashtanga Yoga, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Community Involvement
Page10
Jeffrey D. Abbott
Director of Acceleration Services at ASU, Continuous Learner, and Connector
[email protected]
13 people have recommended Jeffrey D.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Jeff over the last three years, both within the same companies and
on outside projects as colleagues, and have had nothing but positive experiences. Jeff took on a mentoring
position with no agenda of his own, and has been a constant resource and advocate throughout the years that
I've known him. As a leader, colleague, mentor, strategic thinker and someone who gets things done, I
strongly recommend Jeff Abbott."
— Elizabeth Frome, Digital Marketing Manager, Spectrum Printing Company, LLC, worked directly with
Jeffrey D. at Arizona Integrated Marketing LLC
"I have worked with Jeff over the last three years to create a world class Marketing and Recruiting platform to
help Thunderbird attract the best students possible. Jeff has demonstrated strong strategic thinking and an in
depth knowledge of digital marketing. I highly recommend Jeff."
— Mike Hecomovich, Owner, GLOBAL MARKETING SERVICES, was with another company when
working with Jeffrey D. at Arizona Integrated Marketing LLC
"Over the past 2 years I have worked with Jeff establishing a not for profit business in Mexico through our
Rotary club. During the entire process I have been impressed with Jeff's dedication, communication skills and
ability to help direct a brand new venture from the planning stages to execution. Always professional and a
"big picture" thinker. His fluency in Spanish and knowledge in the Mexican culture were critical elements to
getting this business started. He is particularly skilled in marketing and business plan development. Jeff has
the ability to develop and execute strategy and would make a valuable addition to any corporate marketing
department."
— Jim Lubinski, Vice President/CFO, Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, worked directly with Jeffrey D.
at Arizona Integrated Marketing / Whole New Web
"Jeffrey worked on a marketing project for my firm in 2009 and I found his work of high quality. He
understood well the message the firm was to put forward and performed his tasks with dilligence and
professionalism."
— David McLean, was Jeffrey D.'s client
"Jeff Abbott is one of the strongest and most competent individuals I have ever had the opportunity to work
with. He has excellent planning and strategy development skills and is a natural leader and organizer of
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people and resources. His integrity and work ethic drives a level of ownership of a client’s experience that
creates maximum levels of trust and assurance for each client. He sets out to get the job done right. Count on
Jeff to make the right things happen. He brings positive energy combined with intelligence and deep
experience to enable success."
— George Arden, Partner, AIM Integrated Marketing, worked directly with Jeffrey D. at Whole New Web
"I have worked with Jeff on two different projects in the last few years. The first was while he was CEO of
Louisville Stoneware. I worked as a consultant assisting in the finanancial and strategic analysis of the
turnaround and ultimate sale of the company. The company faced significant operational changes when he
joined and he approached them with energy, vision and compassion. He was a very thoughtful and grounded
leader. Most recently, I've worked with Jeff on a business valuation consulting project. As a leader, he
supports and encourages his subject matter experts to be full members of the team, but he also does his own
research and is able to challenge long-held assumptions."
— Carmen Barrett, Independent Consultant, Carmen V. Barrett Consulting, was with another company
when working with Jeffrey D. at Alignment Consulting
"Jeff Abbott and Alignment Consulting have assisted us on different occasions in getting timely and expert
business development advice in Latin America. Jeff's experience in this field is obvious and leads to hands on
executable solutions which are both efficient and effective. We will definitely contract them/him again for
our business development and implementation needs in the near future. Sincerely, Bertil Duinhouwer
Holchem de Mexico SA de CV"
— Bertil Duinhouwer, was Jeffrey D.'s client
"Jeff had what could be described as a unique approach to turning around the operation at Louisville
Stoneware, after it had experienced many years of losses consecutively. I was retained as an independent
financial consultant to play an ever evolving administrative role in his excellent turnaround program that
succeeded in returning the company to profitability, from the very unhealthy base he inherited when initially
taking over as CEO. His approach was very collaborative by design, and gave equal value to all parties
involved in the production and sales of products at Louisville Stoneware. The employees came to trust him
for his open style and sharing of information, and morale improved greatly. As was intended, the company
was sold to new owners, and is still in business today. I would highly recommend Jeff as someone capable of
bringing a struggling or failing company back to life with a very human touch"
— Jim Bradley, Controller/HR Administrator, Louisville Stoneware, reported to Jeffrey D. at Louisville
Stoneware Co.
"I would highly, and without hesitation, recommend Jeff Abbott for any postion he seeks. He is an individual
of the highest integrity, with outstanding leadership abilities. As a consultant to him in his capacity as
President/CEO of Louisville Stoneware Co., I often witnessed these qualities in-action, and have seen his
employee-motivating skills at work. He is extremely resourceful and would be of untold benefit to any
organization."
Page12
— Mark Bird, VP, Architectural Marketing, Power Creative, was a consultant or contractor to Jeffrey D. at
Louisville Stoneware Co.
"Jeff Abbott brought thought leadership, insightful analysis, and bottom-line impact to corporate strategy at
Brown-Forman. His work was always based on a solid analytical foundation that allowed him to gain insights
rarely seen by others. He laid a very strong analytical foundation for a new brand development initiative and
launched the company's corporate social responsibility initiative when it was in its infancy. Jeff possesses
high integrity, has the capability to go great work, and the courage to defend his ideas. I heartily recommend
Jeff for those looking for these attributes."
— Phoebe Wood, Vice Chairman and CFO, Brown-Forman Corp, managed Jeffrey D. indirectly at
Brown-Forman Corporation
"Jeff Abbott provided valuable support in the area of new product and service innovation and strategy to me
and the members of my board and leadership team at Hartmann Luggage. His knowledge of consumer
products industries, and effective application of strategic frameworks, led to the development of a number of
new business initiatives that contributed to the bottom line. Jeff is able to effectively challenge the team to
expand their vision and thought process while balancing this with the realities of the business environment"
— Dave Herman, Chief Executive Officer & President, Hartmann, worked directly with Jeffrey D. at
Brown-Forman Corporation
"Jeff is an excellent professional who has a drive to create and manage change even in the most complex
corporate environments. He has the ability to present his ideas and solid strategic plans in a clear and
appealing manner in order to develop team and top management support. While working at Mabe/GE he was
in charge of starting the challenging endeavour of converting a traditional business into an e-commerce
driven one. I'd consider it an honor to have the opportunity to collaborate with Jeff in the future."
— Joaquin Del Rivero Yaniz, Corporate Marketing Director for Latin America, GE
Appliances/Mabe, worked directly with Jeffrey D. at GE Appliances
"Jeffrey D. is a extremely dedicated and results oriented professional. He always delivered and suggested new
creative business formulas that questioned old structures and the way things were done."
— PEDRO ZALDIVAR, MARKETING DIRECTOR, MABE, worked with Jeffrey D. at GE Appliances
Contact Jeffrey D. on LinkedIn
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