Entrepreneur
Marketer
Thought Leader
Advisor
Board Member
Investor
Entrepreneur
Marketer
Thought Leader
Advisor
Board Member
Investor
I am the founder and board chairman of 919 Marketing. I started the company two decades ago and helped grow it from a bonus room startup into a PE-backed $28MM national marketing agency.
The firm has more than 120 employees nationwide, was recognized five times by the Inc. 5000 as the nation’s fastest-growing franchise marketing agency, ranked by Forbes as America’s “Best Franchise PR Firm”, and named the fastest-growing marketing agency in the Raleigh-Durham market by the Triangle Business Journal.
Through my work with more than 200 national franchise-based brands, I’ve helped thousands of people start and grow successful small businesses.
I have a successful track record working with governmental non-profits; helping to reduce statewide underage drinking, and guiding North Carolina families, especially in underserved communities, to plan, apply, and pay for college.
I am a contributing writer for Inc. and Forbes, a board member, an advisor to, and an investor in, companies looking to grow organically or through acquisition. On the personal side, I am an avid music, sports, and boating enthusiast.
I Love Building Companies
I started down the entrepreneurial path at an early age, selling tie-dyed t-shirts as a teenager. In college, I started a house painting business. In my early 20’s, I started and later sold my first marketing services agency. During the dot.com era, I started a VC-backed online professional services firm. I launched 919 Marketing two decades ago and grew from a bonus room office into a $28MM PE-backed national marketing firm. And I’m not done yet.
I Love Marketing Brands
As a kid, I fell in love with marketing through cartoons and jingles, and to me, it’s still just as magical today. My marketing career really took off when I joined IPG, a global marketing services agency network. While there, I worked on some of the largest, well-known brands in the world. However, companies of all sizes face the same endless challenge of ensuring their brands are increasing consumer demand and converting marketing into revenue creation. Two decades and 300+ brands later, I’d like to think I know a thing or two about what it takes to position a brand for sustained success.
I Love Writing Provocative Articles
I’ve always enjoyed playing the contrarian role — even though I’ve caught some flak as a result. Over my marketing career, I’ve written my fair share of edgy digital and print ads, sales materials, emails, websites, and more.
However, on the back half of my career, I’ve developed a real passion for writing articles for Forbes, Inc. and other national business publications. In the new publishing world, media outlets are turning to external subject matter experts to create thoughtful, provocative content on important business topics. Check out some of my recent articles and links to others in the articles section of this website. Feel free to agree or disagree with the points raised — I love a good debate.
Articles
I Love Being a Board Member
After serving as the CEO of 919 Marketing for two decades, I transitioned to Board Chairman. Now, I am focused on being an advisor and spending more time positioning the company for strategic acquisitions and potential liquidity events.
I am currently exploring an additional board seat with the right company.
Why add a sales and marketing-focused board member?
- Fresh eye perspective to evaluate and inject new sales and marketing ideas
- Cross-pollination of the best ideas from more than 200 clients
- Augments, rather than competes with, internal teams
- Underrepresented skill set on most boards
- Aligns with investor goals of accelerating profitable sales growth
- Proven ability to grow and sell companies
- Deep experience working with PE firms, add-on acquisitions, franchising, and non-profits
I Love Investing in Great Companies
I’ve started and grown successful companies my entire life. There is a clear distinction between investing in a small business and a “baby” business, as Newt Gingrich famously said. A small business is self-explanatory. A baby business is a small business concept that will grow into a larger, scalable, profitable brand given the right combination of talents and resources. If your company has stalled or plateaued and is looking to accelerate future growth through additional investment and data-driven sales and marketing programs, we should talk. I love partnering with a strong management team that wants to dominate the market, operates with an underdog mentality, a healthy client base, and great products and services.
I Love Sharing What I've Learned
With almost three decades of experience as a marketer, founder, CEO, investor, and board member, l enjoy sharing my experiences and insights as a trusted confidant to others on their own journey.
What kinds of companies are a good fit for me in an advisory role?
1. Franchise brands, non-profits, and tech startups looking for sales and marketing insights.
2. Companies actively looking to partner with or actively involved with PE firms — as the platform company CEO, I played a critical role in the evaluation and acquisition of four add-on companies.
3. Companies looking to add on a board member with my background and connections.
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