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| MULTICHANNEL INTEGRATION WEBINAR SERIES: Speaker Bios |
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| 50 Proven Techniques to Invigorate Your Multichannel Results |
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Michelle Farabaugh
Partner
LENSER
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Michelle Farabaugh is well recognized as an entrepreneurial, creative executive specializing in multi-channel retailing and strategic planning within the direct marketing industry. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President of Marketing for Smith & Hawken, a multi-channel retailer and wholesaler of outdoor living products. Prior to that she was Senior Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Planning for West Marine, the largest provider of boating parts and accessories with more than 360 stores, international catalog and internet business and wholesale division. Michelle has also served as Vice President of Marketing for PETsMART Direct and has held management positions at Webb & Co. and Lehman Brothers International.
Michelle has worked in every aspect of catalog, e-commerce, retail and wholesale marketing and strategic planning for both national and international companies. She has successfully turned around and grown both private and public companies as well as worked on the acquisition and merger of more than six companies. Michelle is a frequent speaker at the annual Direct Marketing Association and Catalog Age Conferences and other direct marketing forums. |
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Bill Nicolai
Senior Partner
LENSER
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Bill Nicolai is well known as an entrepreneur and innovator in direct marketing, not only growing his own companies, but also helping numerous other companies achieve success. He co-founded Good Catalog Company in 1992, growing the company over $25 million in sales before its sale to Reader’s Digest in 1999. Prior to his success at Good Catalog Company, he was the Principal of Nicolai and Associates, a consulting firm specializing in marketing, circulation planning and mergers and acquisitions analysis. His clients included State Line Tack, Smith and Hawken, J. Peterman Co. and many other well-known catalog companies where his top management advice and hands-on marketing direction was instrumental in their rapid growth.
Bill began his career in direct marketing as founder of the highly innovative outdoor equipment and apparel catalog, Early Winters. Early Winters, which is presently owned by Norm Thompson, was proclaimed Catalog of the Year by noted catalog guru Dick Hodgson for its groundbreaking marketing and merchandising approach. Bill is author of numerous articles published in Multichannel Merchant and other marketing journals. He is also a frequent speaker at the annual Direct Marketing Association and the Annual Conference for Catalog & Multichannel Merchants (ACCM, formerly ACC) and other direct marketing forums. |
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Melissa Dowling
Executive Editor
Multichannel Merchant
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Melissa Dowling was recently named Editor-in Chief of Multichannel Merchant magazine. Melissa joined Multichannel Merchant (then called Catalog Age) in 1989. As a reporter, she covered merchandising, operations, and international marketing, as well as industry news. She has held a variety of editing positions with the publication for the past decade, and had been the Executive Editor since 2004. Prior to joining the magazine, Melissa worked for Exposures, a catalog of photo accessories and gifts. |
| Multiple Channels, Motivated Customers: The New Rules of Service |
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Debra Ellis
President & Founder
Wilson & Ellis Consulting
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Wilson & Ellis Consulting is a firm specializing in multi-channel growth strategies and logistics. Debra is a management consultant and coach for companies seeking improved business models that match their corporate culture. In this role, she helps companies of all sizes integrate channels, divisions, and departments into a successful enterprise with organizational excellence. She believes that organizations are only as good as its customers’ experience. That coupled with her expertise in strategic planning and logistics has helped dozens of companies improve service, sales, and profitability.
The experiences that led to Debra’s recognition as a leading expert in multi-channel management and logistics began with Stanley Fenvessy. He introduced her to the wonderful world of catalog marketing and management. She began in the industry as a management consultant specializing in operational excellence and continued her professional growth as Chief Operating Officer for Ballard Designs, Inc. When she started her consultancy in 1994, her experiences in the management of a fast growing company enhanced her ability to understand the daily challenges executives face from personnel management to information overload. She incorporates this understanding into every assignment, seeking practical solutions to complex challenges. Debra has written numerous articles for Multichannel Merchant and other trade publications. She is a frequent speaker. |
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Mark DelFranco
Managing Editor
Multichannel Merchant
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A MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT staffer since 1998, Mark specializes in covering all facets of operations and fulfillment. A veteran reporter, he's broken scores of stories concerning mergers and acquisitions, closures, and general news for the magazine. He was named MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT Managing Editor overseeing the Operations + Fulfillment franchise in January 2006. Del Franco is also the editor of MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT's O+F Advisor weekly e-newsletter as well as the Contact Center Advisor, a monthly e-mail newsletter. He previously covered sports, marketing, and commercial real estate for a variety of publications. |
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Melissa Dowling
Executive Editor
Multichannel Merchant
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Melissa Dowling was recently named Editor-in Chief of Multichannel Merchant magazine. Melissa joined Multichannel Merchant (then called Catalog Age) in 1989. As a reporter, she covered merchandising, operations, and international marketing, as well as industry news. She has held a variety of editing positions with the publication for the past decade, and had been the Executive Editor since 2004. Prior to joining the magazine, Melissa worked for Exposures, a catalog of photo accessories and gifts. |
| Reducing Transportation Costs |
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Curt Barry
Founder/President
F. Curtis Barry & Company
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F. Curtis Barry & Company is a multichannel operations and fulfillment consulting firm specializing in services including operations and customer service improvement for customer contact and fulfillment centers; contact center, order management, inventory management and WMS systems selection and implementation; and operational cost reduction. In 1996, F. Curtis Barry & Company founded the Catalog Operations ShareGroup to facilitate the exchange of benchmark performance data and best practices in technology and systems, processes and procedures among businesses.
Prior to starting F. Curtis Barry & Company, Curt was manager of research and development for Garfinckels, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc., a retail and mail order company with 250 stores. Curt was responsible for all systems development and implementation of the retail and direct applications. Over the past 20 years, Curt has worked with multichannel companies including Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cabela’s, Anthropologie, West Marine, Colonial Williamsburg, Art Institute of Chicago, Sur La Table, and many more. |
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Melissa Dowling
Executive Editor
Multichannel Merchant
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Melissa Dowling was recently named Editor-in Chief of Multichannel Merchant magazine. Melissa joined Multichannel Merchant (then called Catalog Age) in 1989. As a reporter, she covered merchandising, operations, and international marketing, as well as industry news. She has held a variety of editing positions with the publication for the past decade, and had been the Executive Editor since 2004. Prior to joining the magazine, Melissa worked for Exposures, a catalog of photo accessories and gifts. |
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