Thanks for visiting - In support of my executive coaching and business development consultancy practice I have 30 years of corporate leadership experience spanning multiple business sectors.

My business acumen includes leading sales, marketing, product management and technical services organizations, with companies ranging from entrepreneurial startups to small- and medium business to international enterprises, across industry sectors such as information technology, resources and manufacturing, consulting and engineering services.

Business development through tiered sales channels is a specialty of mine, with multiple projects covering hardware, software and services.

As an executive coach I'm known for my ability to identify and clarify the key issues in situations faced by clients, and I draw on my extensive management and coaching experience to provide a strong leadership performance context to my coaching engagements.

My CV reads as follows:

Well-wired, cyber-savvy, creative Executive and Coach who can develop and execute business and organization strategies, with demonstrated achievement in: Channel Business Development, Dynamic Leadership.

Accomplishments

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION

Mobilized multiple on-line music stores to partner with a leading MP3 Player manufacturer in a national marketing campaign. Spearheaded the development of a software subscription model to sell MS Office as part of an Internet services suite to small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Directed the on-time/on-budget implementation of a Web-based computer disaster recovery business, complete with e-commerce, subscription services, customizable reseller on-line storefronts, call centre interface, and a North America-wide computer service network.

Released a CD, 100% digital in both format and means of distribution.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Led the management team in major strategic vendor signings and subsequent sales channel development resulting in incremental $41MM revenue.

Created a North American sales organization and implemented channel strategies for computer memory products in a highly competitive market.

Proposed and developed a new distribution sales department that grew an existing set of reseller accounts from $4MM to $15MM in one year, allowing the company to achieve overall business targets.

Played a key role in growing a $3MM retail-oriented computer store into $7MM respected network integrator with national accounts.

DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP

Championed and implemented cross-departmental teams to improve market share, revenues, and inventory management for Canada 's largest computer distributor.

Reorganized a 100-strong team into four sales divisions in response to market conditions, a segmentation that was subsequently adopted by competitors across North America .

Professional Chronology

Director, Strategic Initiatives - Bell Canada/Puretracks Inc. - 2004 to 2006
(Puretracks is a B2B digital services provider with majority ownership held by Bell )

Initiated and coordinated a national marketing campaign partnering Samsung, Bell Sympatico, Puretracks and Future Shop's on-line music store to roll out the Z5 MP3 Music Player.

Facilitated new customer acquisition strategies for Bell Sympatico's DSL Marketing team through computer retailers - Key partners were Future Shop, Staples and Dell

Created a new vendor management team to deliver hosted applications and ISP services to Canada 's small- and medium-business segment.

Entrepreneurial Initiatives - 1998 to 2004

• Vice-President, Keep-Running Inc. - 2001 to 2004. Partner in Internet-based business continuity / disaster recovery company. Accountable for web site development, marketing, and providing consultancy services to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• President, Bernie Schmidt Consulting - 1998 to 2001. Self-employed consultant engaged in market surveys, business case development, product management and contract management assignments. Projects included: Sizing the Canadian market for broadband closed circuit (CCTV) monitoring systems; Developed a computer reseller channel to sell Internet to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• President, blue i music - 1998 ongoing. Proprietor of independent music services firm covering songwriting, arranging, production and publishing for emerging artists. This business is a great source of learning about and applying media business technologies.

National Director, Platforms Division - Ingram Micro - 1997 to 1998

Developed and implemented computer technology distribution strategies for products covering Networking, Internet, RISC-UNIX, CPUs, Computer Telephony, Mass Storage, Multimedia, Software and Supplies. Aggregate business plans totaled $C 1.7 Billion.

Director, Worldwide Sales - Celestica Inc - 1996 to 1997

Developed and implemented channel strategies for computer memory products in a highly competitive market.

Leadership Roles at Merisel Canada - 1989 to 1996

• National Director, VAR Division. Led country-wide organization supporting Canada 's value-added resellers and systems integrators - annual sales $450MM
• Director, Central Region Sales. Led the company's largest sales division of 100+ associates and annual sales $400MM
• Products Director, Advanced Products. Developed and led a team of purchasers and product managers for computers, networking and internet products totaling $250MM  
• Sales Director, Advanced Products. Developed and managed four sales departments and a training organization for networking and internet products and operating systems

Director, Sales and Marketing - Entre Computer Centres - 1985 to 1989  

Progressed from 100% commissioned Sales Representative to Director level and a key member of the executive team in two years.

 

Education and Professional Affiliations

Bachelor - Mechanical Engineering, McGill University

Member - Professional Engineers of Ontario

Registered Corporate Coach - Worldwide Association of Business Coaches

Member - Guild of Canadian Film Composers

Member - Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)

Member & Webmaster - Nashville Songwriters Association - Toronto Chapter