Marketing

Maryam Afshar - Principal, Mahoir Inc.

Dr. Maryam Afshar is the Principal at MAHOIR Inc. an innovation consulting firm. She has led new product development projects and managed teams in qualitative and quantitative research for many years. She has also taught graduate and undergraduate college courses in design and design methodology. Through consulting and coaching Dr. Afshar empowers business leaders to innovate and lead competition in their market.

Sudipto Banerjee - Vice President of HR Operations and Services, Acosta Sales and Marketing

Currently Providing solutions for strategic initiatives to transform businesses to achieve operational excellence. Accountable for the delivery of HR Services to all business that includes HR & Payroll Operations, HR Technology, Compliance, M&A and Governance leveraging technology, process and analytics.

Prior to Acosta Sudipto was the Global Director of HR Services for Campbell’s where he championed the implementation of major HR initiatives.

Prior to that he was an executive consultant with IBM / formerly PwC advisory services and was responsible for many major HR initiatives for fortune 500 clients. 

Jorge Bertran - Retired Partner, PURCEN, Brands & Products, LLC

Jorge is an entrepreneurial-spirited professional with more than 30 years of proven business leadership, as both a consultant and an executive, with extensive international marketing experience throughout Europe, U.S., Latin America, New Zealand and Australia. He was born in Cuba, his parents, political exiles, moved to the USA in 1960. He grew up in Miami and Puerto Rico where his parents eventually settled. He attended College Preparatory Boarding School in Puerto Rico.

Jorge holds a Master of Science MSc - International Management degree from ISCTE Business School, University of Lisbon (Lisbon, Portugal) and a Bachelor of Science, Marketing Management degree from Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University, New York. He also completed the Consultant Development Program, from the Management Centre Europe (Brussels, Belgium) and the Advanced Executive Development Program, from the London Business School, London UK. He is the author of the book, “Competencies for International Managers”.

During his early career years, he progressed through positions of increased responsibility and scope with major consumer product companies, such as Director of New Products Latin America (Coca-Cola Corporate Marketing Division, Atlanta GA), General Manager (Kraft General Foods, Argentina and Chile), Marketing & Trade Director (Colgate-Palmolive Co., Argentina, New York & San Juan PR) and Senior Product Manager, Nestle-Libby’s Company responsible for the Puerto Rican and the USA Hispanic markets.

In 1996 Jorge returned to Europe to become Managing Director of Fonterra Dairy Group (Anchor Foods), the multinational dairy cooperative owned by New Zealand dairy farmers that account for 30% of world’s dairy exports. He was based in Lisbon, Portugal, where he established and directed business operations for all non-UK consumer-branded businesses throughout Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, and the rest of Europe. In 1999 he moved to Swindon, the UK as the European Category Director, New Zealand Dairy Board. Jorge was promoted to lead the complete startup and launch of a new product line throughout several European countries while retaining full responsibility for Portuguese operations.

In 2000 Jorge returned to Portugal as Consultant and Principal of Business and Marketing Consulting Group, a private consulting practice that provided business development and marketing strategies for venture capitalists and corporations throughout Portugal, Spain, and Latin America.

In 2001 Jorge was hired as a Partner by PURCEN, Brands & Products LLC, full-service sales, and marketing agency that provide end-to-end services for clients in the consumer packaged goods industry in the Iberian Peninsula. Clients included General Mills, Palmer’s, Rapid White, and private-label companies. In that position, he was part of the team that took the organization from the ground floor and made it into a thriving distribution and marketing company with 2011 annual sales of approximately €19 million (U$25 million).

In 2015 Jorge moved with his family back to the USA. He is married to Hye Yon Pak, originally from South Korea and they have a 10-year son, Lucas.

Since 2017, Jorge is a visiting lecturer at the ISCTE Business School Graduate School, International Management Program in Lisbon, Portugal. He lectures in Cross-Cultural Management and how culture affects ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility. In 2019 Jorge was the 2019 Keynote Speaker at the 31st Annual International Academy of Business Disciplines Annual Conference in Jacksonville.

Stephen De Bever - President & CEO, Standard Precast Inc.

Stephen has 20+ years in executive positions with sales, manufacturing, distribution and construction related business success, including P&L responsibility for private, public and PE held companies based in both the US and Europe. Accountable for multi-site manufacturing operations, focused on creating shareholder value through product innovation, sales growth and operational profitability.

Owned by private equity, SPI is a concrete precast manufacturing company with operations located in both Jacksonville and Tallahassee. The Company serves the North Florida area producing products for site contractors, municipalities and private developers in the applications of storm and sanitary infrastructure. The Company started in 1965, and recently sold to a private equity firm. Stephen is commissioned with the objective to grow the business organically and acquisitively for the current investment partners, and successfully transition it through a sales transaction under new ownership in the future.

Nick Doyle - Area President, Gallagher Affinity

Nick started his career as a business consultant for IBM’s Hong Kong practice supporting website optimization, attribution modeling, marketing, web analytics, and e-commerce implementations. While with IBM, he was engaged in system integration testing, business user support, client education, and consulting on the IBM WebSphere Commerce and CoreMetrics platforms. Upon joining DTPH, Nick implemented modern web analytics and reporting, and enhanced technology usage across the insurance business lines. He was responsible for the consolidation and quantification of all future IT projects, including buy or build analysis, IT project management, social media management and ongoing optimization.

Nick moved into a managing director and COO role with DTPH in 2016. In this capacity, he managed the planning and build-out of DTPH’s proprietary IP, including solutions to enhance the Company’s InsurTech business. Nick was successful in improving the site-specific conversion rate from 7.67% to 14.53% (an 89% increase).

Since March 2018, as CEO and Chief Revenue Officer Nick has primary responsibility for revenue growth through 1) deeper penetration into DTPH’s current health and wellness classes; 2) the addition of multiple new classes with similar risk profiles and similar premium levels to its current program; and 3) expansion into new higher premium classes potentially including doctors of chiropractic leveraging DTPH’s 60-year old Chiropractic Economics franchise and other similar classes (e.g., podiatry, dentistry, audiology, etc.) utilizing a content and audience acquisition or joint venture strategy. Nick has overall responsibility for setting strategy for all marketing channels including SEO, PPC, social media, email, affinity / affiliate, ad specialty, etc.

John Graham - Founder, Triton Strategy Partners

John Graham is the founder of Triton Strategy Partners working with high-growth companies to maximize B2C and B2B channels. John helps clients create and align with a brand framework, channel strategy and organizational structure. Prior to founding Triton Strategy Partners, John worked as Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Align Technology, Inc. He also held similar CMO positions at Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare and Johnson & Johnson.  

Courtney Hughes-O'Connell - Vice President, HR, The Adecco Group

Courtney specializes in optimizing organizations by aligning human capital capabilities with organizational culture and strategy. She has proven success in partnering with leaders from various industries to quickly assess and execute on organizational change.

Courtney has been recognized as a leader who takes the time to understand her client’s needs and who possesses the courage and finesse to guide leaders and teams through transformational change. Her powerful intuition blended with her practical business experience creates a valuable partnership between herself and the client. Courtney is skilled at cutting to the heart of issues and using her experience, judgment and creativity to solve them.

Courtney’s passion is around global human capital needs and challenges. Her global perspective and nearly 20 years of progressive experience at several Fortune 500 corporations gives her the unique opportunity to apply proven human capital strategies to the everchanging landscape of the global workforce.

Courtney continues to be in demand for her expertise in: strategic workforce planning, organizational design for businesses at each stage of the business cycle, leader effectiveness, team building and conflict management, and building a company culture that attracts and retains the best talent.

And, best yet, Courtney brings high energy and an element of fun to all of her projects.

Business & Organizational Leadership Experience

Courtney currently serves as the Vice President, Human Resources Business Partner at The Adecco Group, the world’s largest temporary and permanent staffing organization headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. In this role, Courtney heads up the Human Resources group for the $1B Modis brand. Her primary focus is on: organizational development, performance management, compensation design, executive development and change management.

Prior to this role, Courtney supported the IT division of Florida Blue, and spent 10-years as a Human Resources Executive with Bank of America where she formed strategic partnership with business leaders to create and enable business strategy through the most effective and efficient use of human capital. Earlier roles included HR for ADT’s customer service call center and collections group as well as a junior HR generalist at Decutsche Bank on Wall St., NYC, supporting sales and trading.

Courtney lives in Florida, USA, with her husband, two sons and their two (big!) dogs.

Joey Janssen - Chief Employee Benefits Specialist, Benefit Advisors

"Benefit Advisors allows me to make an impact in my community. Day by day, business by business, we partner with our clients to build benefits, to engage our community, and to change lives."

Joey’s lifelong passion has been connecting people. His belief that collaboratively, our community can build something great have allowed him to flourish at Benefit Advisors. Connecting clients with the right support team is at the heart of all he does.

Born in Orlando, Joey is a rare native Floridian who may love the Red Sox, but would never trade in his flip-flops for snow boots. A graduate from the University of North Florida, Joey and his wife Adrienne live in Jacksonville while raising their two young daughters.

Dedicated to challenging the status quo, Joey can often be found on his computer scouring professional literature at all hours of the day to learn everything he can about his profession. Or he’s setting his fantasy football line-up. Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Charles Johnston - Owner, HeartWired Digital Solutions 

Charles is a self-proclaimed and well earned "digital ninja". Charles after spending the last few too many decades in the IT industry started a boutique web design agency called HeartWired Digital Solutions, where they focus on putting compassion back into technology. Charles has a heart for nonprofits and small businesses that are doing good in their local or global communities. After his first of what has now been many mission trips, Charles knew that he had to use his gifts, his talents, and his passion for technology for good. Rather than just offering web design services, HeartWired provides web design and technology solutions with heart.

Hugh H. Jones, Jr. - Retired Chairman & CEO, Barnett Bank of Jacksonville

Hugh Jones is the retired chairman and CEO of the former Barnett Bank of Jacksonville. Following his retirement from Barnett Bank in 1993, he then served as the president of the Baptist Health Systems Foundation for five years.

Mr. Jones began his banking career with Chemical Bank in New York and was promoted to leadership positions with Chemical Bank before joining Barnett Bank of Jacksonville.

Mr. Jones has a long history of active volunteerism in the community. Among his many activities, he founded the Korean Heart program which arranges and provides heart surgery for Korean children with congenital heart problems and the Korean Caring Foundation that helps organize fundraising efforts to support education and medical needs for Korean children. Other beneficiaries of his time and talent include the I.M. Sulzbacher Center, the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville, UNF Foundation and Wolfson Children’s Hospital Center for Pediatric Cardiology. Mr. Jones holds degrees from Lafayette College and New York University and is a graduate of the Stonier School of Banking at Rutgers University.

Faris Kishek - McKennson, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Faris Kishek is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt at McKesson Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. McKesson distributes pharmaceuticals and provides health information technology, medical supplies and care management tools. Faris has worked high complexity, cross-functional process improvement projects which generated millions in financial savings, mentored and coached Green Belts on award-winning projects, and trained hundreds of Yellow Belt and Green Belts on Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. Also, Faris is an Adjunct Instructor at Florida State College at Jacksonville where he teaches in the areas of Project Management, Logistics, Operations Management, and Supply Chain Management. In 2013, Faris achieved a Bachelor in Business Administration degree, with a concentration in Transportation and Logistics, from the University of North Florida. He was a board member on the Transportation and Logistics Society. In 2015, Faris achieve a Master of Business Administration degree from Jacksonville University.

Kevin C. Mackiewicz – SVP | Sr. Client Partner Financial Services Group, Merkle

As Senior Vice President and Sr. Client Partner, Kevin is responsible for leading complex multi-dimensional engagements that combine marketing agency services, strategic consulting, data management, analytics, real-time decisioning, and large technology deployments. 

Leveraging over 20 years of finance services experience his focus is on the development and execution of People-based Marketing strategies and services to optimize personalized marketing for financial services companies; specifically banking, payments and fintech.  Prior to Merkle, Kevin was a Director at Fifth Third Bank where he held a variety of marketing leadership roles during his near 14-year tenure.  His responsibilities included leading the marketing functions for Wealth & Asset Management, Mortgage, Branch Distribution Strategy, Execution and Ops. 

Prior to Fifth Third Bank, Kevin led several successful Consumer Finance loan production offices for Wells Fargo in Jacksonville, FL.  He holds an MBA from St. Leo University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of North Florida. 

Samuel Peluso, Retired Director, Risk Manager - Merrill Lynch and Co.

Experience:

Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation • Director/Manager of Securities Based Lending Department, Jacksonville, FL

Responsible for managing and leading the loan pledge process for MLCC's mortgage customers.

Director, Risk Manager

Secondary Marketing Department, Merrill Lynch Credit Corp, Jacksonville, FL

Designed and executed hedging strategies for mortgage pipeline and warehouse.

• Created new Risk Management function within Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation. Responsible for developing a risk plan and trading limits.
• Successfully managed one billion dollar long and short hedge position.
• Achieved zero trading errors for years consecutively.

Director BCC, Head of Trading

Broadcort Capital Corp., Fixed Income & Equity Trading Desk, New York, NY

Coordinated and executed orders for BCC's introducing Firms, as well as Citation soft dollar accounts.

• Recognized as one of the top three soft dollar firms on Wall Street.

Vice President, Head of Trading

Government Retail Trading Desk, New York, NY

Managed short and long position limits and Profit and Loss for Trading Desk.

• Managed and trained six traders.
• Never had a year where the desk lost money.

Vice President, National Product Manager

Corporate, Government, and Mortgage Bonds, New York, NY

Responsible for coordinating each of the trading desks with the institutional sales force.

• Staffed, managed, and trained 18 specialists to market desk inventory to Merrill's accounts.

Vice President, National Sales/Marketing Manager

Federal Financing Department, New York, NY

Directed the national sales/marketing and origination effort for all Federal Financing Programs, including SBA, Farm Credit, and Title XI Ship Financing.

Assistant Vice President

Government Securities Trading, New York, NY

As a Market Specialist, key area of responsibility was to expand government coverage nationally.

• Developed and conducted a 5-day Bond Seminar for Merrill Fixed Income sales force and clients.
• Trained over 2000 portfolio managers representing Banks, Savings &Loans, Money Managers, Insurance Companies and International Governments.
• Created a highly effective 15-minute training tape for Ginny Mae securities for sales force and clients.

Retail Sales Department, Newark, NJ

Responsible for successfully developing and maintaining accounts at the retail level.

• Ranked in top quintile for both production and opening new accounts.

Education and Licensure and Military Service:

Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

• Bachelor of Science; Economic Major, Accounting Minor

Licenses

• Series 7, Series 63, Series 66, Series 24 General Principal

United States Naval Officer

Professional Associations:

• Member Merrill's Quarter Century Club
• Member of Board of FINRA Arbitrators
• Member of the Navy League of the U.S.
• Past Member of Foster Care Citizen Review Panel in Jacksonville

Dave Reed- Expert in Production and Hospitality 

Dave Reed is an expert in high profile production and hospitality services. He has held top positions with A&M Records and The Jim Henson Company in Hollywood, as well as in a Los Angeles company startup with Kiefer Sutherland. His clients included artists such as Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, the Eagles, Dr. Dre, and Mariah Carey. Dave has 11 Gold and Platinum album credits of his own for engineering with Bruce Springsteen, KISS, Michael Bolton, and Stone Temple Pilots among others.

Dave also worked with companies such as ESPN on major events including multiple Super Bowls, X Games, US Snowboarding Championships, and the US Pro Ski Tour. Most recently Dave started two businesses in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla., with the first providing high resolution, large format printing services to regional and national clientele. His current project is a specialty firm for high-end, contemporary home renovations, showcasing his unique problem solving and creative design skills. In 2014, Dave was named to Northeast Florida’s Top 50 Business Influencers.

Dave received an MBA from the University of Florida, and the honor of speaking at commencement. His bachelor degrees are from North Carolina State University in Management and in Communication. He also holds Six Sigma and Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence certifications from the American Society for Quality with whom he served in several leadership posts. Dave resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., where he enjoys surfing, volunteering in the community, and spreading his passion for World Class Excellence. He soon hopes to begin a PhD program in which to further his own research in leadership and integrity across individuals and organizations.

Zachary Schwartz - Founder & CEO, intoGo

With 14+ years creating and developing businesses, Zachary holds a BS in International Business from the University of Cincinnati's College of Business, ranked top 50 in the nation.

Upon validating the need for his latest venture by winning most votes in the Technology category at the world's largest crowd-funding festival, One Spark 2015, Zachary is now set on changing the world through intoGo - What you're into. Where to Go.

Using Data Science, Machine Learning and Predictive Modeling, intoGo is going to shift the entire foundation upon how our world finds fun. intoGo is available on both the Google Play and Apple App store today!

Ashley Testa - Digital Sales Management, Cox Media Group 

Ashley has a unique history in the areas of both management and marketing. Ms. Testa has worked on projects for a variety of clients from Canada to The Bahamas and London to Australia. Ashley holds a fresh perspective on marketing strategy with a  particular focus on integrated marketing campaigns. As a Digital Sales Manager with Cox Media Group, she is responsible for leading the company’s digital revenue development and campaign execution including SEM, SEO, targeted display, online video, mobile, social, and website development. Ashley excels at leading through change. In her tenure as Digital Sales Manager, the CMG sales team accomplished over 1,000% digital revenue growth.

Ashley is a graduate of The George Washington University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Marketing, an International Advertising Association diploma in Marketing Communications, and a Master's in Business Administration from Jacksonville University.

Robert Urwiler - Retired Chief Information Officer

Robert a retired Chief Information Officer with over 30 years of experience building high-functioning teams and driving technology innovation. He was most recently CIO of Vail Resorts, a publicly-traded mountain resort company operating 37 resorts across 15 states and 3 countries. Prior to Vail Resorts, Robert was CIO at Macromedia, a San Francisco software company acquired by Adobe. Prior to Macromedia, he was CIO at Peregrine Systems, a San Diego software company acquired by HP. Robert started his career as a software developer.

In 2016, Robert was inducted into the CIO Hall of Fame. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency in Jacksonville.

Kirk Williams - President & CEO, Proficient Auto Transport 

Kirk Williams has worked in the transportation and logistics industry for 35 years. He was instrumental in putting together the acquisition of Proficient Auto Transport in 2004. The company has successfully grown nearly 700% during the past 10 years and is now one of the 15 largest auto haul trucking companies in America. Mr. Williams was the most recent Chairman of the Auto Haulers Association of America, and a Vice President of the Florida Trucking Association Representing the State of Florida at the national level of the American Trucking Association. 

He has worked for and managed several of the largest logistics operations, engineering, and marketing departments for companies such as Carolina Freight Corp, now ABF Freight Systems, Exel Logistics, Burlington Northern Railroad, GATX and APL Logistics. He earned a B.S. in Transportation and Logistics Management from Kent State University, and served on advisory councils for Stanford and MIT. Kirk currently serves as a member of the selection committee for the Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s including its Student Leaders Program, and serves as a member of the Business Advisory Council for the Coggin College of Business.