October 2012 - Present
Founding Partner
Twist Works, LLC
Creating lasting value as a Strategic Innovation Architect. I help entrepreneurial companies activate and nurture exciting consumer products and brands in order to deliver outstanding equity appreciation to stake holders. Can add guidance and value for clients to help complete successful exit to PE or a strategic buyer. My partner Kim Holstein and I are currently working on two active projects:
-Nourish Foods Group markets a line super premium hand made craft ice cream bars fused on to a caramel and chocolate covered pretzel stick. The Crave Bar is like nothing you have ever tried...check it out at www.thecravebar.com
-FoodieSpoon provides innovative consumable utensils to the Hospitality and Foodservice industry. Visit www.FoodieSpoon.com to see some of our unique products. As a founding partner with FoodieSpoon, I am helping in all aspects of the product development, Marketing and strategic planning.
Ferrara USA
Kroger
Kraft Foods, Inc
I have provided new product innovation consulting for Ferrara USA ( http://www.ferrarausa.com/ ) and for Kroger in house brands (www.kroger.com). And have provided "non-traditional" marketing consulting for Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoods.com) smaller portfolio companies.
May 1995 - June 2012
Co-Founder/President/CEO
Kim and Scotts Gourmet Pretzels, Inc.
Kim and I met in a Chicago bookstore on October 20, 1994 at 8:13 PM while both attending a book signing by the author, Richard Bach (if you know his work, you'll understand this story even better). Kim had a dream to make a chocolate chip soft pretzel with salt on top. I had a dream to hang out with her. I said "hell yea, lets do it!" So with a few years experience running my family's Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop under my belt and a ton of passion, I partnered with Kim to help rock the soft pretzel world. I oversaw the production of over 100 Million craft, handmade, all natural, delicious soft pretzels using a fabulous 100 person strong team. I gained national US and international distribution into over 25,000 retail grocery, foodservice and non-traditional selling outlets. And after 17 years, Kim and I chose to exit the day to day management of the business in 2012 handing over the reins of the Kim and Scott's soft pretzel brand to a company with the resources to continue our dream. What a twisted ride its been!
Wilmette, Illinois, US
