Ronald D. Cusano

** ***** ***** ***** #**** Jersey City, NJ 07310

m: 330-***-**** e: abkhs0@r.postjobfree.com

Marketing Communications Executive Leadership

Executive Marketing Communications professional with a history of creating

compelling brand strategies and elevating perception of products to drive

sales and revenue growth. Conceptualize, plan, and manage the

implementation of integrated programs for clients in the fashion, retail,

and residential and commercial building industries. Develop and execute a

leadership communications framework in support of clients' visions,

missions, business and brand goals, ensuring a consistent 'voice' when

presenting information to external and internal audiences.

Broad, rich corporate communications experience that spans brand creation,

media strategy, traditional, and non-traditional communications.

Comprehensive experience in building, executing, and merchandising

marketing brand and image strategies. Play a pivotal role in new client

acquisitions and business pitches. Leverage familiarity and knowledge of

clients' business capabilities to determine and organize messaging and

communications plans. Build relationships with prospective clients,

employing a complement of strategy, planning, and thought leadership.

Professional Experience

WILLDAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS, Senior Marketing Supervisor, New York, NY 2010-

present

Providing marketing leadership and support to increase awareness of

energy efficiency program among small businesses in the greater New York

city area. Established client relationships with Con Edison; planned,

managing, and overseeing the creation of integrated marketing

communications and public relations programs.

Ronald Cusano, Freelance Marketing, Branding & Communications Director,

Mountainside, NJ 2009-2010

Levy Madison: Serve as vice president and general manager for this

marketing communications agency meeting the needs of B2B and retail

clients. Manage all agency initiatives, including branding and promotion

efforts, new business development, client management, forecasting, and

process and policy development. Drive sales and guide a small team of

six.

Key client accounts include: SYMS Clothing, Giorgio Armani, Fresh,

Toshiba, LVMH, Dior, Pfizer, and AXA.

. Grew incremental revenue for existing clients by 15%. Successfully

generated a new client, representing an 18% increase in agency

revenue.

. Streamlined workflow processes to substantially improve internal

and external relationships. Designed tools to facilitate enhanced

reporting and project management capabilities.

Bank Hapoalim: Assisted with brand identity creation to fuel a

competitive advantage for this US-based commercial branch of Bank

Hapoalim, Tel Aviv, Israel. Provided design, information organization and

presentation, and copywriting consulting services.

Marcus Thomas, LLC, VP, Management Supervisor, Cleveland, OH 1991-2008

Assumed increased levels of responsibility via promotion, ultimately

serving as VP management supervisor for this full service national

advertising agency meeting the needs of B2B and retail clients.

Established client relationships; planned, managed, and oversaw the

execution of integrated marketing communications programs. Conducted

forecasting, budgeting, and client invoicing. Inspired and directed the

efforts of a staff of seven account management professionals. Served as

part of the senior leadership team to facilitate agency management,

including staff communication and training, encouraging collaboration and

a culture predicated on the open exchange of ideas.

Key client accounts included: Alltel Communications, Tarkett Flooring,

Johnsonite, Bond Manufacturing / Black and Decker, Milliken, Truseal

Technologies / Enviroseald Windows.

Alltel Communications: Drove the growth and development of the agency's

largest account, a wireless / wireline telecommunications provider. Grew

business from local marketing campaigns to encompass regional and fully

integrated programs. Created custom account service models for various

client business centers.

. Expanded agency's business to include additional Alltel business

units, landline services, and DSL accounts, resulting in 15%

revenue growth each year for six years.

. Conceptualized and launched a national mystery shop program for

retail mobile technology outlets. Developed and implemented

communication strategies focused on early adopters, including small

businesses to establish Alltel's brand and market place position.

Ronald D. Cusano - Page Two

m: 330-***-**** e: abkhs0@r.postjobfree.com

Professional Experience - Continued

Tarkett Flooring: Directed an agency team in the successful brand

restructuring for this $2 billion international manufacturer of

residential resilient and laminate flooring. Created brand message,

designed and executed merchandising, packaging, collateral and product

design, and line reviews at Menard's and Lowe's. Positioned the company

as a beautiful, durable flooring product for the 'everyday family'.

. Conduced market and consumer research to reshape Tarkett's brand

position to include beauty and practicality to satisfy day-to-day

living, which drove a 15% sales increase for Tarkett over the

previous year.

. Developed the 'Love the day-to-day' tagline, which was applied to

all trade and consumer touch points. Created trade and consumer

advertising, in-store merchandising, sampling, and collateral.

Efforts generated enthusiastic response from key stakeholders in

the trade channels.

Johnsonite: Spearheaded the brand redesign and value proposition for this

commercial flooring company from a commodity position to that of an

innovative thought leader in the commercial interior finishes market.

Established the agency as a strategic partner for the client, including

promoting Johnsonite as state-of-the-art solutions provider of

sustainable and aesthetically pleasing flooring.

. Expressed the Johnsonite brand via sales support tools, including

advertising, collateral, merchandising, media relations, web

presence, and tradeshows, resulting in the company achieving a #1

position in the Floor Focus publication survey; client achieved

incremental sales growth of 15% and industry recognition.

. Championed the design of a new tradeshow booth featured at industry

expos and trade fairs, and in trade publications, which showcased

flooring as an end-user asset with long-term ROI potential.

Bond Manufacturing / Black and Decker: Directed brand messaging,

packaging, and merchandising for this global manufacturer and marketer of

quality power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement

products, and technology based fastening systems. Facilitated original

merchandising PDQ design with a self-facing display, package design of

200+ SKU's and Lowe's line review for a line of hand garden tools

licensed by Bond Manufacturing.

. Conducted extensive research and strategic planning to identify a

point of differentiation and establish brand positioning;

represented unique value through inventive and compelling

packaging.

Milliken: Piloted a team that named, created, and launched 180 Walls, a

highly successful new brand category of wall covering within the

hospitality / interior finishes segment. Through the branding process

developed an identity to reinforce the uniqueness of the product concept.

. Introduced product brochures and sampling kits; placed samples on

television screens in hotel rooms of key show attendees, and

arranged in-booth interviews and product demonstrations with

editors of trade publications. High-profile hotels placed orders or

arranged test installations of the product.

Truseal Technologies / Envirosealed Windows: Created a sophisticated

brand and reputation program for this leading global manufacturer and

marketer of insulating glass products and systems for residential use.

Analyzed the existing brand as part of defining a cutting-edge and

powerful new brand platform capitalizing on the company's leadership

position in energy efficiency.

. Spearheaded the creation of a new communications program and visual

identity, including logo and product packaging; a website redesign,

expanded company literature, direct marketing, and targeted trade

media advertising, among other things.

. Drove the launch of two campaigns: Duralite TM and Envirosealed

Windows TM designed to demonstrate to window manufacturers and

dealers the environmental benefits of Truseal windows.

Previous Position: Account Executive, Graphix Design Studio ('89-'91)

Education

Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Community Involvement

Previous affiliations: The American Cancer Society, Junior Achievement,

Boardman Local Schools

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