RONALD ELOWITZ
Watchung,USA
Summary
Ecosystem-focused business operations expert with a deep understanding of systems thinking and professional Design Thinking strategies. Primary focus on building organizational capabilities and employing sustainability-focused problem-solving criteria. Utilizes a multidisciplinary, holistic framework to enhance creative innovation and integrate the operational processes, management systems, technologies, and human capital to drive improved brand awareness, business transformation, and product performance results within diverse commercial ecosystems.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Partner and Cofounder
STEELHAUS CREATIVE FORGE
01.2020 - Current
- Lead a multidisciplinary Design Thinking and strategic design management consultancy, focused on enhancing brands, products and organizational innovation capabilities across diverse industry sectors, product categories and business process ecosystems
- Employs a full spectrum, E2E life cycle creative services and client support model with an emphasis on sustainably appropriate, human-centric and operationally sound solutions
- Assist clients in leading design initiatives and supporting cross-functional NPD strategy formulation spanning project implementation, brand launch strategy, business process integration and design workshop facilitation
- Develops and executes marketing communication and sales promotion assets across a variety of product, packaging, retail environment and visual merchandising design programs
Part-Time Faculty (PTS) Lecturer & Professor of Professional Practice
NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY / MTSM
08.2020 - Current
- Faculty instructor developing curriculum and teaching 5 courses in business management, technology management, sustainable innovation and product development courses for NJIT graduates and undergraduates
- Visiting Lecturer at Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance
Project Management Principle – Marketing Operations / Device Technologies
NORTHWEST INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION / PLOTT INC.
01.2023 - 06.2024
- Lead E2E project and program management efforts against the design, development and launch of innovative high-tech measurement products and devices focused for the civil engineering and construction industries
- Worked effectively in an entrepreneurial start-up and fast-paced environment.
- Managed the coordination, communication and documentation of all product design, UI/UX Testing protocols and software engineering projects for soft and hardscape projects - across US and international DevOps teams
- Synchronized US-based product marketing, IP innovation, engineering design and brand development teams with external OEM and specialty customer project deliverables and technical requirements
- Provide industrial design, CX design, brand development and engineering operations problem solving expertise
- Support executive management, brand marketing, sales and operations to present new product innovations, co-development opportunities and implement process integration activities with clients and customers
Operations Management / Business Excellence & HR
VERIZON
08.2015 - 10.2022
- Change management and digital transformation consultant managing the development of scalable, high-tech products and training projects aligned with network, product, sales, marketing and finance goals
- Devised new workforce development programs and processes creative tools to enhance the level of innovative output and cross-functional collaboration across B2C and B2B customers, suppliers and sales professionals
- Delivered successful new product launches, digital customer experiences, business processes and solutions.
- Design Thinking SME for the Customer-Driven Quality, Business Excellence / Financial Operations teams to assist in the launch of the 1st comprehensive Quality Management Systems (QMS) initiative for Verizon
- Awarded Six-Sigma / LSS Green Belt (2016) Design Thinking Practitioner (2017) and Agile Foundation accreditations (2018); certified 500+ business enterprise partners in innovation building methodologies.
- L&D operations lead for the $17BB Verizon 2.0 Cost Reduction and Workforce Development Initiative
Director Retail Innovation & Operations, Go-To-Market Team
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA
11.2013 - 06.2015
- Inaugurated a customer-centric innovation mindset around strategy planning, production, product training and supply chain efforts behind North American retail programs; managed an $80MM marketing budget
- Led a cross-functional team of program managers, designers, creative agencies, merchandising partners and marketing operations experts leading NPD launch efforts across the division - including the Home Appliances, Computing, Memory / Storage, TV and Audio Home Theater categories
- Managed the Best Buy Samsung Entertainment Experience (SEE) project and related training programs in 519 stores (2014) and 640 stores (2015) a $140MM project generating an 8% sales lift in the Home Entertainment / TV/Digital Audio and Visual (DAV) product lines
- Ran the 2015 project implementation of the Samsung Home Appliance Zone in 1000 retail stores, a $60MM expenditure growing market share by 5 points, unit volume by 10%, and margin by 10%
- Seamlessly integrated consumer research insights and sustainability targets into operational undertakings that increased consumer acceptance, program efficiency, process agility and conversion metrics
Director, North American Customer & Retail Experience
BENJAMIN MOORE & CO.
07.2012 - 11.2013
- Managed a $20MM business P&L budget incorporating all elements of the store design, product standards and customer experience programs for the $18BB Benjamin Moore brand portfolio for 6500 independent retailers
- Created integrated cross-enterprise operational standards, CEX solutions and initiated business transformation (BT) initiatives to reinforce brand equity, communicate product quality benefits and drove new processes to optimize brand engagement metrics for DIY consumers, residential painters, and contractor segments
- Co-managed sub-brands including the Affinity, Color Stories, Color of the Year and Historical Collections
- Employed architectural design staff, project managers and creative agencies to holistically enhance all aspects of the shopper-specific color selection and application process, promoting ESG goals through digital marketing, workforce up-skilling, loyalty programs, Pop-Up store tests, industry papers and new color palette research
- Developed the creative and launch strategies for the144-color Colonial Williamsburg color palette into 2,500 select retailers – in cooperation with archaeologists and historians at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Brand Project Director, Retail Design Assets - Global Strategic Design Office (GSDO)
JOHNSON & JOHNSON / GROUP OF CONSUMER COMPANIES
01.2007 - 04.2012
- Led a team of strategists, designers and marketing project managers charged with driving novel business strategies and creating unique brand value propositions for global brands and customers, in conjunction with R&D, sales, product management, global design and market research groups in the $20BB consumer division
- Oversaw the management and execution of innovative design, customer solution selling, product and strategic branding projects for the McNeil OTC franchise, Wound Care and Women’s Wellness business units
- Cultivated a positive work environment, fostering open communication channels and encouraging team members to share ideas for continuous improvement.
- Enhanced team productivity through regular progress tracking and performance evaluations.
- Oversaw the incorporation of customer engagement metrics and Balanced Scorecards (BSC) into brand design projects and product management processes required to monitor customer KPI’s including revenue and P&L performance, order accuracy, shopper journey and brand retention into quarterly business planning activities
- Drove $60MM of annual / incremental sales revenue from unplanned skunk works, NPD initiatives
Education
Executive Doctor of Business Management (DBA) - Sustainable eco-Innovation and Design Focus
Fairfield University – Charles F. Dolan School of Business
Fairfield, CT05-2026
Master of Science (MS) - Sustainability / Biomimicry for Human Design
Arizona State University - School of Life Sciences
Tempe, AZ2019
Master of Science (MS) - Administrative Business Management – Program & Project Management
Boston University - School of Graduate Studies / Questrom Business School & Metropolitan College
Boston, MA2011
Master of Communication and Information Studies (MCIS) - School of Communication & Information
Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ01-2000
Independent Studies / Package Science Engineering (MS) - College of Engineering & University College
Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ01-2000
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Industrial Design
University of The Arts (Philadelphia College of Art)
Philadelphia, PASkills
- Demonstrated success in bringing global brands, products and services to life in multiple markets;
- Worked in Chemicals, Construction, Consumer Electronics, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Luxury, Telecom Technology and Toy industries
- Cross-functional relationship builder connecting suppliers, business partners, customers and stakeholder organizations
- Held roles across Marketing, Sales, Engineering, Quality, Commercialization, Administration and Design organizations
- Extensive experience in project / program / portfolio management and strategy roadmap planning * Adobe, Asana, Basecamp, Smart Sheets, MS Project, Google Suite and Shibumi platform literate
- Strategic planning and innovation architecture
Accomplishments
- RUTGERS UNIVERSITY / SCHOOL OF INNOVATION EDUCATION: Program Head and curator for the Design Thinking at Rutgers Professional Certification program.
- INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING PROFESSIONALS (IOPP): Certified Packaging Professional Designation
- USPTO: Co-inventor of novel package delivery systems for the Afrin / Vancenase allergy SBU, receiving Design Patents for 7 submissions - D376536, D375255, D375455, D374612, D374613, D374614 & D384881.
- USPTO: Co-inventor of the Paas Easter Greenhouse package, awarded Design Patent D349470; annual retail sales of this product reached $700K.
Professional Development
· Boston University: BU Entrepreneurship Committee, Founding member, Innovation Projects
· Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Corporate Innovation: Strategies for Leveraging Ecosystems Course
· Harvard University / HBS: Sustainable Business Strategy Course
· Project Management Institute (PMI): Professional Member, New Jersey Chapter
· Design Management Institute (DMI): Professional Industry Member
· Path to Purchase Institute: Shopper Marketing Industry Member & POPAI Panel Member
Volunteering
- Bergen County Technical High School: Volunteer Project Sponsor & Student Mentor
- Plymouth Center for the Arts: Education Volunteer for K12 workshops, and young artists camps.
Timeline
Project Management Principle – Marketing Operations / Device Technologies
NORTHWEST INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION / PLOTT INC.
01.2023 - 06.2024
Part-Time Faculty (PTS) Lecturer & Professor of Professional Practice
NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY / MTSM
08.2020 - Current
Managing Partner and Cofounder
STEELHAUS CREATIVE FORGE
01.2020 - Current
Operations Management / Business Excellence & HR
VERIZON
08.2015 - 10.2022
Director Retail Innovation & Operations, Go-To-Market Team
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA
11.2013 - 06.2015
Director, North American Customer & Retail Experience
BENJAMIN MOORE & CO.
07.2012 - 11.2013
Brand Project Director, Retail Design Assets - Global Strategic Design Office (GSDO)
JOHNSON & JOHNSON / GROUP OF CONSUMER COMPANIES
01.2007 - 04.2012
Executive Doctor of Business Management (DBA) - Sustainable eco-Innovation and Design Focus
Fairfield University – Charles F. Dolan School of Business
Master of Science (MS) - Sustainability / Biomimicry for Human Design
Arizona State University - School of Life Sciences
Master of Science (MS) - Administrative Business Management – Program & Project Management
Boston University - School of Graduate Studies / Questrom Business School & Metropolitan College
Master of Communication and Information Studies (MCIS) - School of Communication & Information
Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey
Independent Studies / Package Science Engineering (MS) - College of Engineering & University College
Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Industrial Design
University of The Arts (Philadelphia College of Art)
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