Robert Sopko

CWRU is among the nation's leading research institutions and is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, service and experiential learning.

• Help students and alumni analyze the viability of taking their product or service to market and streamlining the pursuit of growing their business.
• Develop and implement the framework for the program.
• Generate numerous relationships for students to connect and partner with vital resources.
• Work collaboratively with schools and departments to spark innovation in entrepreneurship.
• Build out and support the campus and local entrepreneur ecosystem.
• Generate participation of students, alumni, faculty, researchers and community members in the National Science Foundation I-Corps.
• Continue to grow regional, national and international partners.
• Analyze environmental shifts and accordingly adjust resource allocation and methods.
• Direct exhibiting during 11 years at CES.tech - 140,000 person innovation and discovery event.
• Assisted over 100 companies and 500 students raise $110 million.
• Member of the coalition to encourage plugandplaytechcenter.com to open a local office.

• Served the needs of the campus community for technology resources as part of a team through researching, developing and implementing solutions.
• Managed the relationship with technology partners including IBM, Dell, Apple, Sprint, AT&T, Google, OneCommunity, Time Warner, and Gartner Research.
• Managed the contract development and approval process for Information Technology Services.
• Worked closely with Google and CWRU team on the implementation of technology services.

$275 million, 800-store specialty chain with e-commerce and catalog operations.

• Managed the marketing, merchandising and operations of the site.
• Managed an extensive affiliate network of over 2,300.
• Achieved a 70% increase in sales.

One of the largest producers of high tech career fairs in the world. Profitable subsidiary of 1st Communications funded by Bain Capital and Triumph. Acquired in 2001 by BrassRing.com, a company owned by The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Gannett Co.

• Established marketing and sales initiatives for 80 High Tech Career Fairs in 40 markets featuring 15 - 200 companies with 300-6,000 attendees and a 600+ site network.
• Built internal marketing staff of 7. Initiated a comprehensive marketing program using direct mail, email, SEO, newspapers, magazines, trade journals, TV, radio and airplane banners.
• Increased monthly site visits 100,000 to 2 million and boosted career fair attendance 28%.
• Developed world’s largest network of career sites – top 10 PCWEEK ranked IT recruitment site.
• Assisted in preparation of S1 filing for IPO – shelved due to market conditions.

$5 billion company operating 2,100 drug stores in 14 states. Company went through an LBO (1986), bankruptcy (1988), turnaround and IPO (1992). Divested 700 stores and then purchased a company with 3 chains and 1,100 stores. Merged with CVS to create the nation’s largest chain (1997).

• Managed advertising and marketing with a $90 million budget, 5 direct reports and staff of 40.
• Selected for key managerial role in the conversion of Revco Drug to CVS. Optimized marketing ROI through development of a client/server system incorporating 21 million circulation (640 newspapers, 17 states) with $71 million in annual expenditures.
• Developed tracking studies to analyze response to strategies and operational procedures.
• Designed a database of 2,600 store locations, geographic profiles and relationship to marketing methods.
• Developed demographic profiles for current and potential locations and acquisitions.

Business and Marketing Manager(1985-90) Buyer(1984-85) Store Associate(1979-1984)