Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Lawrence Meli

Malibu,CA

Summary

Dynamic leader with a proven track record at National Geographic Channels Worldwide, driving strategic planning and operational oversight to achieve significant growth. Expert in financial management and negotiation, successfully expanding subscriber base to 56 million. Renowned for fostering partnerships and delivering innovative content solutions while maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Overview

39
39
years of professional experience

Work History

Founder & CEO

CubaVision, LLC
Malibu, CA
09.2016 - Current
  • Developed and executed strategies for scaling the business domestically and internationally.
  • Monitored and analyzed performance metrics to inform strategic pivots and drive continuous improvement.
  • Managed company finances, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting to stakeholders.
  • Created and managed the company's financial budgeting, forecasting, and reporting systems.
  • Established and maintained strategic partnerships with key industry players to enhance business growth and development.
  • Ensured compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relevant to the business operations.
  • Secured initial funding through pitching to angel investors and venture capitalists, raising significant capital.
  • Oversaw all aspects of operations including product development, marketing, sales, customer service and finance.
  • Secured agreement with Cuba to launch Pay-TV service commencing in Havana.

President & CEO

Dream Management & Entertainment, Inc.
Malibu, CA
06.2011 - Current
  • Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders such as donors, volunteers, partners, and sponsors.
  • Leveraged trends in customer industries and marketplaces to shape solutions and approaches.
  • Oversaw new market exploration, product development and overseas production possibilities for business expansion objectives.
  • Analyzed competitive landscape to inform strategic decision-making.
  • Led strategic planning and execution to drive company growth and profitability.
  • Identified attractive content from books, scripts, and articles to create new content.

President

Vobile, Inc
Santa Clara, CA
08.2001 - 04.2011
  • Developed long-range plans for business growth, resulting in increase in annual sales.
  • Executed on-time, under-budget project management to adhere to project road map.
  • Acted as an ambassador of goodwill for the organization by engaging positively with external parties.
  • Guided senior management team in setting and achieving organizational goals.
  • Identified new business opportunities through market research.
  • Identified and secured a client base increasing the business four fold.

Senior Vice President

National Geographic Channels Worldwide
Washington, DC
05.1995 - 01.2001
  • Developed long-range plans for business growth, resulting in increase in annual sales.
  • Executed on-time, under-budget project management to adhere to project road map.
  • Sustained organizational growth, revenue and profit generation and EBITDA.
  • Assisted in developing strategic partnerships with other organizations within the industry.
  • Negotiated contracts with suppliers while ensuring competitive pricing structures.
  • Oversaw all content on the networks with a fact-checking and quality assurance standard.
  • Grew the network to 56 million subscribers in 50 countries within 2.5 years.

Vice President/General Manager

New England Cable News
Newton, MA
03.1990 - 04.1995
  • Negotiated contracts with suppliers to reduce costs while maintaining quality standards.
  • Oversaw technological improvements, successfully reducing waste and eliminating business bottlenecks.
  • Managed financial operations, overseeing budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis activities.
  • Created program to promote new managers from within, leading to cohesive leadership structure.
  • Hired, trained and mentored sales and marketing staff dedicated to employing Google AdWords, Google Analytics, and other SEO techniques and metrics sources.
  • Built and launched the service throughout the six state region of New England.

Vice President/General Manager

SportsChannel
Woodbury, NY
02.1986 - 05.1990
  • Negotiated contracts with suppliers to reduce costs while maintaining quality standards.
  • Created effective communication strategies between management team members and employees at all levels of the organization.
  • Reviewed reports from functional areas to assess progress towards organizational goals.
  • Provided oversight of all departments in order to ensure smooth operation of daily activities.
  • Maintained relationships with key stakeholders by attending meetings and responding promptly to inquiries or requests for information.
  • Signed and approved budgets for new funding and program initiatives.
  • Executed on-time, under-budget project management to adhere to project road map.
  • Launched network to 6.5 million home in the NY ADI and secured cable carriage agreements to showcase content.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - School of Film & Television

New York University
New York, NY
05-1974

Skills

  • Strategic planning
  • Financial management
  • Market analysis
  • Business development
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Project management
  • Negotiation skills
  • Operational oversight
  • Content creation
  • Organizational structuring
  • Ethics and integrity
  • Business planning

Accomplishments

  • Received multiple awards for programming, production, content and service to the community.
  • Also served on the advisory board of the National Institutes of Health, the Clarke School for the Deaf and board member of Realizing the Dream Foundation, Joe Namath Neurological Research Center, the Deafness Research Center and is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Science and The Cosmos Club in Washington, DC.

Timeline

Founder & CEO

CubaVision, LLC
09.2016 - Current

President & CEO

Dream Management & Entertainment, Inc.
06.2011 - Current

President

Vobile, Inc
08.2001 - 04.2011

Senior Vice President

National Geographic Channels Worldwide
05.1995 - 01.2001

Vice President/General Manager

New England Cable News
03.1990 - 04.1995

Vice President/General Manager

SportsChannel
02.1986 - 05.1990

Bachelor of Arts - School of Film & Television

New York University

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Lawrence Meli