International Management Consultant / Attorney

MIKE HOPE

310-***-**** • ********@**********.*** – Southern California

INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT / ATTORNEY

• Spearheaded successful marketing and business development programs that drove millions of dollars in revenue and profit growth, including building a $40MM National Account Division with 220 accounts in three years for a $330 MM NYSE global industry leader.

• Trimmed more than $1.0 million in outside legal licensing expenses in one year.

• Negotiated release of Shenzhen, China Office Manager during 48-hour hostage taking.

• International speaker to Target Garden/Pet Sourcing Managers in Shenzhen, China on “Mindset of the American Consumer;” and to 70+ global gift distributors for a British gift company in Salzburg, Austria on “Warehouse Conveyor Systems” and Istanbul, Turkey on “Selling National Accounts.”

• Authored initial Soccer Operating Plan for Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Operating plan was adopted as prototype for the other 22 Olympic sports that year and served as basis for the 1994 World Cup Soccer Championship Game operating plan at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS

Management Consultant (2003 – Present)

• U.S. Trustee Charles M. Forman, Esq., Forman, Holt, Eliades & Ravin, Paramus, NJ (2011)

- Worked with foreign law firms to close Far East offices in Korea, Hong Kong and China.

• Russ Berrie U.S. Gift, Inc., Wayne, NJ. (2010 – 2011) ($180 MM global gift company)

- SVP & General Counsel. Supervised Legal, Licensing & Business Development.

- Accomplishments: Reorganized Legal Dept. saving more than $1.0 MM in one year; Reorganized Licensing Dept. to streamline approvals from months to days; Reorganized National Account Dept. unifying offices in NJ and North Carolina saving more than $100,000.

• Original Mini’s, Inc., Cypress, CA (2006 – Present) (NFL tailgate product licensee)

- Manage legal and business affairs. Founder, President and CEO is Eric Dickerson, Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back for Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts.

- Accomplishments: Pete Quaglierini at NFL said successful 61-page business plan I wrote was “the most comprehensive business plan he’d ever seen presented with a license application.”

• History & Heraldry, USA, Coral Springs, FL (2005 – 2008) (personalized impulse gift company)

- Created West Coast strategic plan to add direct sales reps; hired and managed West Coast sales force for three years; opened West Coast Distribution Center in Petaluma, CA.

- Accomplishments: Increased sales from under $100,000 to $4 MM in three years; instrumental in increasing G.P. by 5%; developed Regional Manager structure for U.S.

• Target Sourcing Systems, Shenzhen, China (2004) (Sourcing subsidiary for Target stores)

- Garden & Pet Dept. research project and seminar to expose Far East sourcing managers to “Mindset of the American Consumer.”

- Accomplishment: Marketing research reports so insightful, Sourcing Director Paul Wan forwarded reports to Target Corporate in Minneapolis for use by Corporate Marketing.

Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., Petaluma, CA & Oakland, NJ (1992 – 2003)

40-year old NYSE Company that was #1 Gift Industry global leader with $330 MM in (2003) sales; 1,591 employees and 41,000 customers worldwide in 97 countries on six continents. Was Corporate Officer; V.P. Natl. Accts.; V.P. & GM of $70MM 19-state West Coast division, 138 sales reps & 232,000 sq. ft. warehouse.

REPRESENTATIVE TESTIMONIALS

“You are a proven entity. You have many years of experience now, and though I am sure there is more to learn, there is no question you will succeed at what you do here (upon promotion from VP & GM at West Coast Division to Corporate Officer/VP National Accounts at corporate headquarters).”

-Russell Berrie, former Founder, Chairman and CEO, Russ Berrie and Company, Inc.

“The efficiency in how you worked set a standard for those who follow you.”

-Ben Sottile, former Vice Chairman, Russ Berrie and Company, Inc.

(also former Chairman, CEO & President of Gibson Greetings; President of Revlon & Corporate Senior Vice President of Warner Communications reporting to Chairman Steve Ross; former President of Warner Lambert’s Cool Ray Sunglass Division, Consumer Products Division, Schick Safety Razor Division and American Chickle Division.)

“Dedication and determination best describe Mike Hope…Enthusiasm is his trademark.”

-John White, former long-time Publicity Director, Portland Trail Blazers (NBA)

1998 NBA Splaver/McHugh “Tribute to Excellence” Award Winner

(This award is given annually to an NBA family member who has demonstrated an outstanding level of performance during his or her NBA career.)

CORE COMPETENCIES

Strategic Business Planning / Business Development / Sales & Marketing / Operations / Public Relations

Start-Up, High Growth, Turnaround & International Experience across Diverse Industries

Team Building & Leadership * Business Systems & Policy Development * P & L Responsibility

Product Management * Revenue Optimization * Cost Containment & Avoidance

Brand Management * Budget Management * Product Launches * Promotions

Training & Development * Market Research & Analysis * Legal Affairs

National/Key Account Management * Negotiations & Deal Making

EDUCATION

LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL, Los Angeles, CA

Juris Doctor (JD) – Focus on Business, Sports and Tax Law

PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY, Portland, OR

MBA – Major: Management; Minor: Marketing

(All coursework completed; final test not taken due to move to Los Angeles.)

UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND, Portland, OR

BBA – Major: Accounting; Minor: Chemistry

PROFESSIONAL LICENSE & AFFILIATIONS

Active Member – The State Bar of California

American Bar Association * Los Angeles Country Bar Association * American Legion * Who’s Who

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