Non-executive Director, Harvard Business School Women's Association
2023 – Present
As a NED for HBSWA, I lead the Sponsorship Committee, developing robust sponsorship programs and collateral to support our initiatives.
Board of Advisors, Ceres Food Film Festival
2024 – Present
As a board advisor for the Ceres Food Film Festival, I leverage my expertise in sponsorship and marketing to drive impactful partnerships and elevate the festival's mission.
Chief Commercial Officer, Upcycled Foods, Inc. dba Regrained, Contract
2020 – Present
Fundraising for the latest round and growing new business this b2b start-up with a patented technology developing novel food ingredients from waste streams (upcycling) with the backing of Molson Coors, Griffith Foods and Barilla.
Leading product ideation and development with chefs, food manufacturers and foodservice operators. Spearheading the culinary efforts cultivating an “influencer chef” strategy focused on building relationships resulting in authentic ambassadorship and exposure for the Company’s upcycled products.
Establishing co-branding standards and generate co-marketing opportunities with other brands.
Outperformed the highest year in 128 year history increasing Net Income from 7% to 36%.
President, Windsor Resort, Trimper Rides and Marty's Playland
2020 – 2021
Returned this family-owned middle market entertainment company to profitability by changing visitor’s perceptions, transforming the business model, re-envisioning what the New American Amusement Park might look like, focusing on the families we wanted to attract.
Outperformed the highest year in 128 year history increasing Net Income from 7% to 36%.
Modernized the amusement park while keeping the nostalgia, updated systems, created transparency and accountability. Installed POS, removed cash as much as possible.
Took back revenue producing assets, bought new attractions, reduced reliance on commission rides and games partners.
Dramatically cut the fat, reduced payroll, insurance, and workman's comp.
Restructured $4 million in corporate debt, matching debt service to cash flow, reducing annual principal and interest by 40% ($300k) annually.
Built new revenue streams: Trimper's F&B effort with new outlets: BBQ concessions, Water Store and artisan chocolate shop.
Repurposed underperforming assets, redeveloped the Inlet Village shops into the Inlet Market Food Hall set to open in 2022, creating a new destination for culinary tourism.
Renegotiated tenant leases bringing rents to market rents.
CEO and Editor-In-Chief, StarChefs
1999 – 2020
Led the transformation of the start-up and first-ever on-line magazine into a culinary industry media powerhouse through thoughtfully curated original culinary content. Became the industry change agent revolutionizing the image of chefs from Back of House to Front of House rock stars.
Developed StarChefs vision and mission statement to catalyze food and beverage professionals' success by giving them the tools and resources to overcome challenges.
Transformed the traditional annual advertising business model into long-term strategic partnerships, market research, sampling, product testing and digital marketing initiatives.
Grew sponsorship base while maintaining editorial integrity and independence.
Established the most sought after industry awards, Rising Stars, recognizing young culinary professionals who represent the vanguard of the contemporary dining scene, and a major quarterly event series across the country.
Produced renowned International Chefs Congress annual industry trends symposium for 15 years, gathering thought leaders to present inspiring ideas to 2,000 of their peers.
Raised Series A Preferred Capital round of funding.
Published a profitable highly acclaimed independent quarterly Rising Stars print magazine.
1999 – 2020
Non-executive Director and Board Chair, StarChefs
Board Chair: Corporate Governance and Audit Committee.
Board of Advisors, Seeds in the Middle
2022 -2023
As a board advisor for Seeds in the Middle, I coached, mentored, and organized fundraising and sponsorship outreach, including planning and executing the first Tastes Bed Stuy and Tastes of Williamsburg food crawls, managing everything from restaurant sign-ups to social media outreach and volunteer coordination.
Non-executive Director, Women Chefs and Restaurateurs
2012 -2017
Instrumental in turning around the non-profit to financial stability.
Negotiated away $250k in outstanding debt.
Part of a team that transformed the image and rebuilt the culture of the organization.
Created strategic partnership alliances to lower the association's cost structure.
Established policies and procedures for fundraising. Created the sponsorship brochure and developed a curated list of sponsorship targets. Trained and coached marketing staff for reach out. Envisioned opportunities for sponsorship integration at events.
VP Sales, Nomura Securities
1993 – 1995
Invited by former Salomon director to change the image of a very traditional foreign bank to a savvy Institutional High Yield trading desk.
Hired sales staff, secured prestigious book of institutional clients: Fidelity, SunAmerica, Aetna.
Worked with Ethan Penner as Commercial Real Estate Liaison to introduce High Yield fund managers to CMBS and CDO.
VP Business Development, The Body Shop
1992 – 1993
Recommended by HBS Professor Len Schlesinger and hired by Anita Roddick to analyze the disappointing performance of The Body Shop USA.
Diagnosed and developed a plan to halt growing excess inventory. Established first-ever Body Shop Outlet to dispose of aging inventory. Identified sites and roll-out of new outlet shops across the USA.
Created and began implementation of this billion dollar global retailer's first ever marketing strategy transforming its image away from granola start-up. Launched The Body Shop Hotel Amenities Program introducing the British brand to American travelers.
Aligned the Body Shop's marketing to its corporate mission of social responsibility to capitalize on its history of volunteerism.
Financial Analyst, Chinavest Hong Kong
5 month project
President, Diane Freis. Hired to assess this VC’s $3 million investment into Hong Kong based women's wear manufacturer. Took over as Interim President to return the company to profitability.
Reviewed on-site operations and marketing procedures on three continents to establish viability of maintaining presence in each market.
Formulated action plan, implemented store closures, personnel cuts and re-organized production with the goal of returning the business to profitability within 12 months.
VP Sales, Salomon Brothers
1985 – 1990
Youngest ever recruit and one of 5 women hired in Michael Lewis’ Liar’s Poker training class.
Mortgage Specialist, Total Rate of Return Sales. Worked for Lewis Ranieri at the birth of the CMBS market, conceptualizing new securities, customer appeal, and market impact for Mutual Funds, Banks and Pension Funds.
Increased client business by 35%.
Generalist, Insurance Group. Negotiated purchases and sales of corporates, mortgages, euros, and high yield securities.
Regained a $90 billion client relationship for the firm. Increased client business 65% within two and a half years. Trained junior sales staff.
Founder / President, Puttin' on the Ritz
Founded a small chain of designer women's wear shops. Defined vision for chain's image. Identified and opened new shops.
MBA, 1990 – 1992, 2nd year Honors
Master of Science in Economics candidate. Post-Graduate Diploma in Economics, 1984-85.
Chef Program, Culinary Arts, 1990, Externed with Chef Roger Verge
Avid hiker of the Appalachian Trail, distance swimmer, passion for cooking and photography.