Jeff is a successful and accomplished President, CEO, entrepreneur, and turnaround executive with over 25 years experience.
He has served as a principal consultant to industrial, manufacturing, and engineering/technology-oriented firms on marketing, business development, strategic planning, and organizational development issues, and has many long-term CEO- and board-level relationships. Jeff is a strong, inspirational leader and communicator with a customer-driven sales leadership and strategic marketing focus.
He has most recently served as President of First Mobile Technologies (FMT), a wholly-owned subsidiary of a $6 billion UK public transit company traded on the London Stock Exchange. FMT deploys laptop computers and related mobile technology equipment into public safety and private fleet vehicles, with facilities in Philadelphia and Wisconsin. Jeff successfully turned around the struggling company within 30 days of arrival through a major restructuring, generating a profit for the first time in two years and continuing to exceed financial plan and expectations by consistently growing revenues and cutting costs every month thereafter. He negotiated a major strategic partnership with Dell Computer (see Dell-produced video and newspaper coverage links below) and developed a commercial-grade docking station sold directly by Dell into the public safety market.
Cincinnati Enquirer Business
Front Page coverage
www.groob.com/jeff/enquirer28jun05.pdf
Dell and FMT Perfect Partners Video (7 minutes)
www.groob.com/jeff/dell_video.wmv
FMT docking station for Dell 610 laptop
www.groob.com/jeff/dell610dock.jpg
Jeff previously worked in international marketing for General Electric Aircraft Engines, served as a divisional general manager for Entek IRD/Rockwell Automation, and was CEO of SensorScript Corporation. He has also served as an adjunct professor of management and marketing at Thomas More College and Northern Kentucky University.
Jeff also served as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Technology Commercialization for NKU's Institute for New Economy Technologies where he was responsible for developing and implementing strategic partnership agreements between the University and the local business community in support of regional economic development. Prior to that, Jeff was associated with Becker & Beggs, where he was involved in business mergers and acquisitions, focusing on privately-held industrial businesses with a market valuations up to $25,000,000.
He was President and CEO of SensorScript Corporation, a software developer/system integrator of factory automation test and measurement products; led 12-year old company to revenue increase of 77% in first full fiscal year, at a gross profit margin of 47%. He researched, planned, and executed complete change of business model, refocusing company as seller of standard products.
At Entek IRD International Corporation/Rockwell Automation, Jeff had P&L responsibility for the management of $7 million international division manufacturing turbine balancing equipment and instrumentation. Successfully restored profitability by reversing 10-years of declining revenue with 25% revenue growth in first year, and 48% growth in second year. Managed multi-site manufacturing facilities in US and UK as well as international sales force, with direct salespeople, agents, and distributors in US, Canada, Mexico, Europe/UK, Australia, China, and Japan. He also successfully negotiated and implemented strategic alliance with a major European competitor.
At the age of 25, Jeff founded TechneGrowth, Inc., a technology/healthcare marketing and advertising agency. Clients included Honeywell-Measurex Corporation, IBM, Digital Equipment Corporation, Computer Technology Corporation, Tennessee Valley Authority, Microtie Corporation, Belcan Engineering, Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Sciences, Zontec Corporation, ChoiceCare HMO, Drake Center, and Christ Hospital.
Jeff holds a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and an MBA in Finance from Xavier University.
