UC Santa Barbara

CEO  -  COO  -  CBO  -  Consultant  -  Board Member  -  Advisor

Seattle, Washington, United States

Sound Business Consulting Services works with investors, founders, entrepreneurs, stakeholders, board of directors, executive leadership teams, venture capitalists and analysts in C-level leadership  and strategic advisory services to reach defined goals and objectives serving as CEO or COO or CBO for full-time, interim, project-based, or fractional assignments. We work in all industries, specializing in emerging and disruptive technology and opportunities in wearable medical devices or innovative solutions for global health and wellness industries.

Sound Business Consulting Services

CEO  -  COO  -  CBO  -  Interim C-Level  -  Consultant  -  Board Member  -  Advisor

Eargo is an ecommerce, direct-to-consumer, emerging growth, med-tech company. The company is revolutionizing the consumer driven healthcare space with an offering that has been recognized by Time Magazine as a Top 50 invention. Eargo’s innovative product and go-to-market approach address the major challenges of traditional hearing aid adoption, including social stigma, accessibility and cost.Responsible for identifying new sales channels and driving incremental business growth, brand building, customer acquisition with reduced CAC through omnichannel sales and marketing strategy activities as Chief Business Development Officer.Due to COVID-19, I was downsized in late March 2020, as business partnerships paused their business development due to the pandemic.

Eargo

Chief Business Development Officer

Start-Up CEO position to develop business case and strategy for initial early stage, celebrity brand licensing company in the ancillary space •	Worked closely with actor, comedian, musician and businessman, and founder, Jim Belushi•	Established relationships with key advisors, including Christie Hefner, former CEO Playboy Enterprises•	Developed initial business plan for The Blues Brothers and other Belushi brand assets to be licensed•	Vetted legal firms, business partners and investment bankers to set up brand licensing and IP protection

Belushi Holdings - Green Globe Data and Research Incorporated

Chief Executive Officer

iHEAR Medical, Inc. is a venture-backed ecommerce, direct-to-consumer, company dedicated to addressing the global need for affordable and accessible hearing solutions.  iHear Medical is pioneering online-based DTC and retail OTC hearable solutions with over 50 U.S. and international patents issued and pending in its intellectual property portfolio. The cloud-based platform delivers effective hearing solutions including an iOT subscription hearing aid.Executed company B2B, B2C, eCommerce strategy, operations, fundraising, M&A, and stakeholder relationships.•	Responsible for business strategy, sales, marketing, operations and channel management•	Investor and Board responsibility for raising $25 million in venture capital and private equity funding•	Secured contracts with commercial distributors, including retail pharmacies and .com partners•	China distribution and NMPA experience negotiating agreements, as well as Asia investments•	Speaker and Presenter at industry and public conferences•	Television and media interview, press release, media contact and personality•	Delivered investment presentations to venture capitalists and strategic investors in US, EU and Asia•	Implemented direct-to-consumer distribution model in U.S.•	Commercialized world’s first and only FDA Cleared Home Hearing Screener sold in the U.S.•	Introduced next generation iHear subscription hearing devices featuring "Internet-of-Things" (IoT) connectivity enabling consumers to interact with smart devices in their environment

iHEAR Medical

iHEAR Medical, Inc. is a venture-backed ecommerce, direct-to-consumer, company dedicated to addressing the global need for affordable and accessible hearing solutions. iHear's products and business models break through the persistent barriers that prevent people with hearing loss from using hearing aids, access and retail price. iHear Medical is pioneering online-based and OTC hearable solutions with over 50 U.S. and international patents issued and pending in its intellectual property portfolio. The cloud-based platform delivers effective hearing solutions at a fraction of the cost of conventional products, bringing the price of customized prescription-quality hearing aids in line with prescription eyeglasses in a retail disruptive business model.Chief Operating Officer											                   Class 1 medical prosthetic device, venture backed, Pre-IPO start-up ▪ DTC and OTC Hearing Devices and HearablesManaging company strategy, tactics and operations, as well as investor / vendor / partner / distributor relationships•	Responsible for business strategy, sales, marketing, operations and channel management•	Investor and Board responsibility for Series D round of financing in venture-backed funding•	Secured contracts with commercial distributors, including retail pharmacies and .com partners•	China distribution and CFDA experience negotiating distribution agreements, as well as Asia investments•	Speaker and Presenter at industry and public conferences •	Delivered key presentations to venture capitalists and strategic investors in US, Europe and Asia•	Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) operations with compliance and quality assurance SOP system•	Commercialized direct-to-consumer distribution model in US

Chief Operating Officer

Chief Executive OfficerFamily-Owned Retail Chain Luna Healthcare, LLC was founded as a parent company for the acquisition as an aggregator of retail franchise audiology and hearing aid centers in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. • 	Early stage start-up with successful closing of fundraising to cover initial purchase and operations in 2010 and again in 2013•	Responsible for business strategy, sales, marketing, operations and business management•      From July 2010 to April 2013, the DBA was run under a franchise agreement with Amplifon under        Sonus Hearing Care Professionals •	In April 2013, Luna Healthcare LLC evolved the brand to Luna Family Hearing with 15 retail locations•	Luna Family Hearing was acquired in 2017 by Sivantos, a North American retailer of hearing aids,   HearX West/Hear USA, adding Luna Family Hearing to its 250+ locations in the US and Canada•	Successful B2C start-up from business case to strategy for market expansion•	Successful acquisition exit to global leader

Luna Healthcare LLC

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Vice President of SalesClass 1 medical prosthetic device company ▪ Hearing Aid manufacturer and wholesale distributionRecruited and relocated by former President and CEO as a short-term, transition team leader in sales operations - stabilizing sales team during executive leadership restructuring through April 2010.•	Full P&L responsibility for $75+ million budget•	Responsible for all Sales, Customer Care, Inside Sales, Outside Sales, and Government Services  •	Maintained $60+ Million sales goal in 2009-10 by focusing on high-end products, creating new sales strategy and   stressing incremental selling skills, restructuring and training sales group, and creating a “sense of urgency”•	Leadership team member for forward moving vision and strategy•	Overcame and managed crisis (culture, staffing, team accountability, death of team member, dysfunctional team)

Unitron Global

Vice President of Sales

Chief Executive Officer, FounderOnline Medical and Surgical Equipment Distributor    Online Medical and Surgical Equipment Distributor to the General Practice, Otolaryngology, ENT, Audiology and Hearing Aid Industries as a source for surgical and clinical microscopes, surgical and clinical loupes and headlights, exam chairs and tables, treatment cabinets, surgical tools, otoscopes and video otoscopes.•	Support for InSound Medical Lyric distribution channel for clinical supplies required in the fitting of Lyric•	eCommerce website and order fulfillment •	Start-up with key distribution relationship with major manufacturers

SBCS Medical, LLC

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Executive ConsultantClass 1 medical prosthetic device start-up for World’s first continuous wear, 24/7, invisible, subscription hearing device	Contracted by Board of Directors and CEO for translating objectives into actionable strategy for disruptive product launch.  Brought onboard for expertise in determining the value proposition and “go to” market commercialization for world’s first 24/7 wearable, invisible medical device with a subscription plan.•	 Business strategy, sales, sales team hiring and training, marketing and channel management•	Built new venture from a pre-launch start-up to over $5 Million in sales revenue working with multi-functional teams•	Start-up, privately funded through VC investors •	Exit in January 2010 in successful acquisition by Sonova for $169 million

InSound Medical, Inc.

Executive Business Consultant

Interim C-Level Leader of North AmericaBluetooth wearable start-up with proprietary sound processing and design Recruited as short term, interim C-Level executive, consulting assignment, with start-up to help launch the product in the U.S.•	Executive business consulting including business strategy, sales, marketing and channel management•	Investor and Board consulting including business strategy assessment, sales and general management•	Launched new wearable technology, Bluetooth headset device, in US, to industry and Costco •	Presentations with Rodney Perkins, MD, Chairman and Founder (ReSound, SoundID, EarLens)•	Start-up, privately funded through VC investors

Sound ID

Interim C-Level Leader of North America

President & Chief Operating OfficerClass 1 medical prosthetic device company ▪ Hearing Aid manufacturer and wholesale distributionRecruited by Board of Directors to execute the relocation, restructuring, and turn-around due to a 10-year business decline.  Managed business plan, marketing strategy, company image, branding, collateral material, etc.  •	Full P&L responsibility, sales force management, strategic planning, operations and marketing •	Grew sales to profitability, within 3 years, by adding $10 million to company reaching record levels, by re-branding and focusing on high-end products stressing incremental selling skills, restructuring sales group, and creating a “sense of urgency” within the Company culture•	Oversaw manufacturing and operations for ISO compliance and quality standards•	Managed all aspects of company, employee, and distribution in the U.S. for European owned public company•	Secured contracts with major commercial distributors, including Costco Wholesale•	Developed new marketing programs, managed buying group and contracted distribution channels•	Board of Directors Member•	International Marketing Board Member with frequent travel to Europe•	Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) operations with compliance and quality assurance SOP system

Bernafon, LLC

President & Chief Operating Officer

National Sales DirectorClass 3 medical prosthetic device start-up company, FDA approvedPlacement and recommendation for position by Board of Directors for turn-around of post-IPO failing start-up.•	P&L management, sales force management, strategic planning and marketing•	Conducted comprehensive business analysis to replace and retrain sales team for new distribution channel•	Board vote in November 2002 to discontinue financing due to FDA negative reclassification from Class 3 to Class 1 decision•	Member of divestiture team in efforts to present and sell company to prospective investors and competitors•	Delivered key presentations for liquidation of assets and IP presentations during divestiture process along with Founder, CEO and CFO•	International travel to Austria for sale of company presentation and CEO position discussion•	Company divestiture in December 2002 to Med El, an Austrian medical device company

Symphonix

National Sales Director

US Professional Division Sales ManagerPre-IPO to IPO, Class 1 medical prosthetic device company ▪ Hearing Aid manufacturer and wholesale distributionRecruited by Executive Team, former ReSound, for expertise in building sales teams and sales distribution channel for IPO •	Led staff of regional sales managers covering western half of the US and Canada pre-IPO and post-IPO•	Grew sales, in 2 years, from pre-IPO $15 million to post-IPO $25 million •	 Focused team on high-end products, stressed basic selling skills, and created a “sense of urgency” within team

Sonic Innovations

US Professional Division Sales Manager

Class 1 medical prosthetic device company ▪ Hearing Aid manufacturer and wholesale distributionReSound Corporation, a hearing health care and human communications company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets technologically advanced hearing devices and communications devices. ReSound's products utilize proprietary sound processing technology originally developed by AT&T Bell Laboratories and subsequently enhanced and refined by ReSound.National Sales Director, 1999•	Responsible for sales management, sales and training department team members and US budget•	Marketing and new product launch responsibilities through commercialization and sales execution•	Responsible for investor Industry presentations during acquisition process•	Acquisition team leader for merger of sales, training and marketing teams with GN and DanavoxWestern US Division Sales Manager, 1998-1999•	Responsible for investor Industry presentations during acquisition process•	Responsible for half of US business and half of the sales and training team budget and revenue, hiring, training, and distribution Pacific Coast Manager, 1995-1998•	Awarded Salesperson of the Year in 1996 for attaining company’s record for incremental sales of $12.5 million•	Responsible for #1 territory in US•	Marketing and Sales Leadership team member with CEO and President•	Transition team lead during acquisition of 3M Hearing Health sales, marketing and training teams

GN ReSound

National Sales Director & Western Division Sales Manager & Pacific Coast Manager

Regional Sales DirectorClass 1 medical prosthetic device company ▪ Hearing Aid manufacturer and wholesale distribution•	Responsible for 8 states of US business [Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska]•	Launched World’s first generation programmable technology with directional and omnidirectional remote switching•	Travelled to Switzerland as team lead for marketing and product launch •	Received award for reaching second highest revenue territory within initial 12 months

John Luna