Society of Wine Educators

University of South Florida

Hillsborough Community College

Tallahassee Community College

President at Stratwise Consulting  -  Sustainability  -  Decarbonization & Net Zero  -  Energy Efficiency

Murphy, North Carolina, United States

Private Client Energy Industry: Operationalize 450+ MW worth of battery storage projects across 8 sites to decarbonize California and Texas electric grid

Cherripick, Inc.: Created cashback app that rewards users for preventing food waste, growing userbase across 38+ states; secured agreement with City of Orlando’s Office of Sustainability Green Works Program and received The Sustany Foundation’s Sustainable Business Award

Solar Energy Loan Fund: Developed and led inaugural contractor engagement program and represented business with local government agencies

Current Hotel: Created sustainable beverage program for new hotel with 4 outlets

Proud to support Women and Minority Owned Businesses, of which 70% of our clients have been.
            

    
    

    
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StratWise Consulting

President

Cherripick was a cashback app that rewards shoppers who purchase food before it's too late. Our mission was to reward those who save food from going to waste.

Developed cashback app designed to reward users for buying food before going to waste, establishing userbase in 38+ states
Engaged with government agencies, non-profits, businesses, consumers, and operating heads at 25 grocery chains across country during
COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting food waste reduction during period of industry upheaval
Developed, implemented, and coordinated operational, financial, and sustainability tracking and reporting systems; created marketing
strategy including plans, designs, copy, and value proposition
Secured agreement with City of Orlando’s Office of Sustainability Green Works Program, broadening reach of business’ mission
Contributed to securing application and audit for CalRecycle’s Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program
Received Sustainable Business Award from The Sustany Foundation for efforts in the sustainability space
            

    
    

    
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Cherripick  -  Grocery Cashback

Co-Founder, COO, Head of Operations & Sustainability

VOLUNTEER - PARTICIPANT
-  National Sciences Foundation ICORPS program Fall Cohort – EV research Sept.-Oct. 2018
-  Sustainability Outreach Educator for the Florida State Fair Feb. 2019
-  Fat Beet Farm Solar Water Heater & Anerobic Biodigester work Mar. 2019
-  Startup Bus 2019 participant - launched SugarShare, a food waste focused app for P2P food sharing - July 2019

Volunteer

Sustainability Initiatives

Gained distribution in chains and independent shops for business with the largest collection of organic, biodynamic, sustainable, and natural alcoholic beverages in Florida
Grew Publix and Total Wine accounts from 7 to 117 locations in 12 months by leveraging existing supplier contacts
Managed internal and external product data, including pricing; margins; portfolio additions, layout, and design; data structure; and online ordering systems integration

Additional Responsibilities:
Managed internal data on products including pricing, margins, portfolio additions and data structure
Managed external data on products including portfolio updating, portfolio layout and design, online ordering system, online portfolio via <a href="http://sevenfifty.com">sevenfifty.com</a>
Supported portfolio development through existing supplier contacts, new suppliers for categories that are relevant to the core identity of the company and market opportunities.
            

    
    

    
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Grape A Day LLC

D.I. Import Manager for MISA Imports (Formerly: Vine to Glas)

Developed and launched a wine importing company based in Tampa, FL (2015). Calling on wholesalers along the eastern seaboard including those in Florida, on and off premise accounts throughout Florida and Massachusetts, managed pricing, programming, portfolio additions, creating brands and new product launches.

At Vine to Glass we are dedicated to our vision of Pairing Wine, People & Purpose. It is through this vision that our mission of ensuring each wine will find the right customer at each point along its journey from vine to glass.

Core Values: Accountability, Trust, Clarity, Creativity, Equitable Partner, Sustainable

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Vine to Glass

Managing Director

Engaged alcoholic beverage retailers across the nation concerning the risks, opportunities and investment required to effectively manage and market an eCommerce presence. That included aspects such as Point-of-Sale integration, eCommerce website design and development as well as marketing and communication strategies.

Worked with independent stores of all sizes and regional chains across 25+ states with contacts made at nearly 1000 businesses. Brought aboard 105 new retail clients over the course of my employment.

Developed and deployed ecommerce specific marketing programs geared towards reinforcing the 'resource first, vendor second' approach the company has built over the years. Those included an email newsletter program and a price modeling program that provided a client-need driven approach to website development. Also developed the framework for a maturity modeling project for retailers.


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Beverage Media - Bevsites Division

National Business Development in eCommerce Marketing

Social Media Marketing & Management

Developed a strategic social media marketing plan which included the following aspects: increased awareness through Public Relations (published twice in the local paper), communication strategy to reach target audience, increased revenue through social media channels (results available), event creation and execution, listening and lead generation.

Developed and managed an on-going email marketing strategy with heavy emphasis on the Avenue Eat & Drink brand identity including wine, quality local food, food sourcing and preparation techniques.
            

    
    

    
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Avenue Eat & Drink

Social Media Manager / Client

Selected as the only Key Account Manager in Florida and one of only 15 in the U.S. for a new program which is part of a 10 year overall of the worlds 2nd largest producer of wine to increase their premium wine market share through the introduction of their Underdog Wine Merchants Division.
Key Account Manager - Underdog Wine Merchants
Charged with developing a portfolio of accounts within the top fine wine retail, hotel, and restaurant accounts in the largest geographic Key Account Manager market in the U.S. which encompassed Orlando; Successfully (see sales below) introduced a brand new premium portfolio to the market including wineries from Italy, France, Spain, Germany, the U.S., and New Zealand with pricing that far exceeded current consumer demand given the current economic climate.
Recognized as a top Key Account Manager by Chris Lynch of Mutt Lynch Winery, a dog friendly winery, for developing and selling three caused-based marketing programs to restaurants and retailers that partnered local media, for-profit animal related retailers, for-profit wine retailers, and non-profit animal service organizations with the goal of raising funds for said non-profits. Raised $5000 in the 3rd quarter of 2009 which was 10% of the wineries annual goal for the entire U.S.
Generated sales of 2700+ cases of wine with 745 new points-of-distribution within the first 10 months in over 100 new accounts
            

    
    

    
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The Wine Group

Key Account Manager

Square Pancake was a consulting firm offering creative design management, brand development, beverage marketing, start-up consulting, product launches, and sales strategies. Achieved 87% profitability and closed business with zero debt.

Selected Projects:
Avenue Eat & Drink: Developed and executed marketing plan to reach target audience via social media, email marketing, events, and connection with key stakeholders; generated over $60,000 in exposure
Beverage Media Group: Sold eCommerce-based website and service packages to beverage retail trade and generated new leads
Global Wine Import: Served as Power of Attorney for global wine importer, overseeing all COLA applications, brand registrations, and brand development and creation
The Wine Group: Developed account base within top 5 wine retail, hotel, and restaurants in Central & Southwest Florida
Recognized as top Key Account Manager by Mutt Lynch Winery for developing and selling 3 caused-based marketing programs; partnered with local media and raised $5,000 in 1 quarter
Generated 745 points of distribution on 100+ accounts in 10 months, achieving $600k+ in revenue and 87% of target
            

    
    

    
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Square Pancake

Owner/founder

ESTATE WINE GROUP dba CORK & OLIVE					Sept-December 2008
Recruited by The New Wine Group, a group of investors, to provide consultant services in product procurement, consumer marketing, staff sales training, and promotions during their efforts to bring the Estate Wine Group out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
Wine Portfolio / Operations Consultant
Designed and implemented a new wine portfolio which would increase the offerings per location by 30-40%, in 90 days, from an average of 200 SKU's to an average of 275 SKU's in order to increase consumer demand and acceptance of the selection offered
Increased the highest volume category within the stores by over 250% thus increasing overall sales per location and positively impacting the core consumer's experience and return percentage
Developed a tiered discount program directed at consumers in order to spur purchasing on slow or stagnant items and to change the consumer impression of the concept as being "over-priced" by bringing in bench mark items that the consumer was more aware in the market place
Introduced new programs for wine membership based on current demographic trends in the industry; internal marketing focused making the shopping experience easier for the consumer; and a new marketing slogan, "Taste the Wine Side of Life", which was implemented across the chain.
Worked alongside the corporate locations franchisee stores to introduce an artisan food and non-wine segment of products in time for the holiday sales push
            

    
    

    
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Estate Wine Group

consultant

Selected as the Vice President of Vinocean (Previously Universal Wine) and World Wineries in order to develop private label and branded products for the Estate Wine Group chain of wine retail stores.  A crucial role encompassing a highly diverse set of responsibilities which included the management of the company on a daily basis, product procurement and branding, federal and state compliance, and development of all business practices including pricing, sales techniques, marketing, accounting, and logistics both internationally and locally.

Sought out and procured new wines from three countries increasing the total offerings by 65% within six months; only two wineries were contracted upon my arrival. Assisted in the development and partnership with one of the largest wineries in Spain, Grandes Vino Y Vinedos, thus furthering the opportunities for expansion and development of the company overall.

Sought and secured business relationships with over 60 key accounts in the central Florida area including fine wine retailers, high volume casual restaurants, and large hotel properties.

Handled each element of the international, federal, state, and local compliance needed for each of our 75 labels thus shorting the process from 4-5 months (the previous company standard) to 2 months per label.

Oversaw the design and completion of the only full-color portfolio in the second most competitive market in the state, Tampa bay. Coordinated the design and developed 100% of the content for two fully integrated websites for both the importation and distribution elements of the business.
            

    
    

    
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J.C. Milam, M.A., CSW

J.C. Milam, M.A., CSW