RonRivers.com
Experiences, Observations, and Efforts.

Experience

Work Experience  |  Education  |  Awards & Volunteering

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Professional Experience

OurSociety.org:  Founder/Executive Director | May 2017 – Present

Project Summary:  OurSociety is a non-partisan, 501c3 non-profit, founded with the purpose of removing the financial and network barriers associated with running for local office.  In 2018 we launched our free Local Election Campaign Platform where any candidate can obtain a free profile to post their policies, plans, and vision for the future in both video and article format.  Designed with the citizen user experience in mind, we developed a social value matching algorithm to match citizens to candidates based on our growing pool of questions.

Our research program discovered that in 2018 77% of candidates running for local office in New Jersey had no online presence about their campaign.

Skills Implemented:  Strategic Planning, Brand Creation, Web/App Development Planning, Team Building/Recruiting, Network Building, Public Speaking, Advertising/Marketing, Event Management, Event Marketing

Knowledge Gained:  Grassroots Organizing, Basic MySQL Management, Likert Scale Algorithm methodology,  UX Design Theory, Government Operations, Developer Management

Love2brew Homebrew Supply:  Founder/CEO  |  Oct. 2011  – March 2019

Project Summary:  Love2brew was founded to help home beer and wine makers have a better experience sourcing their supplies both online and in the state of New Jersey.   We accomplished this mission by creating a website focused on user experience when at the time, none existed.  Our service levels are considered industry best, our prices are fair, our shipping is free and fast, and we have a knowledgeable and dedicated staff who take pleasure in helping people learn a new skill and make some delicious beer.  Love2brew is a current industry leader in our space with one of the most visited websites and known brands.  In 2019 we closed the sale of Love2brew and all related assets.

Skills Implemented:  Strategic Planning, Brand Creation, Team Building/Recruiting, Network Building, Sales, Excel, Sales Forecasting, Budgeting, HTML, Presentation Development, Public Speaking

Knowledge Gained:  Web Advertising (Google, Facebook), Bookkeeping (Quickbooks), Logistics, Operations Management, Supplier Negotiations, Beer Brewing, Wine Making, Auditing, Brewery Equipment, Event Management, Event Marketing

Bematech:  VP – North American Sales  |  May 2009 – April 2011

Position Summary:  Bematech is a Brazilian technology manufacturer that acquired the company Logic Controls here in the U.S. during 2008/2009.  The U.S. division imported, manufactured, and sold restaurant technology hardware such as Pole Displays, Point Of Sale Systems, Receipt Printers, and Kitchen Display Systems.  My first sales role was the management of a single division that focused on a reseller channel; my tenure managing the division resulted in three record-breaking sales months for the organization within my first year.  Afterward, I was promoted to lead an additional division, eventually being promoted to handle all the sales divisions as well as the Key Accounts.  Notable clients included Panera Bread, Churchs Chicken, Subway.

Skills Implemented:  Team Management/Recruiting, Network Building, Sales, Excel, HTML, Presentation Development, Salesforce,

Knowledge Gained:  Restuarant Hardware Configuration, Executive Sales Strategies, Distribution Sales Strategies, Collaborative Program Development, Distribution Channel Relations, Sales Forecasting, Budgeting, Portuguese Curse Words,

Broadridge:  Operations Manager  |  October 2007 – May 2009

Position Summary: Broadridge is a financial services firm with annual revenue as of 2017 of four billion.  business in that they were so far ahead technology-wise that it didn’t make sense for competitors to enter the space.   I studied the majority of branches of the company during a ~6-month period before being assigned to an Operations Management position in the printing department.  I remained in that department until I exited the company for my position at Bematech.

Skills Implemented:  Team Management/Recruiting, Microsoft Office, Presentation Development, Data Analytics

Knowledge Gained:  Financial Operations, Corporate Culture, Fulfillment Operations

Vector Marketing (Cutco):  Sales Rep / Recruiter  |  June 2002 – Dec 2005

Position Summary:  Vector Marketing is the direct sales arm of the Cutco product line.  Cutco products are an assortment of kitchen and home use items with their main product line being premium kitchen knives.  Cutco is a commission based direct sales company that requires participants to use their network of friends and family as first client prospects and eventually branch out to other people via recommendations.  After my first year of sales, I entered the management training program and went on to assist in numerous award-winning sales offices.

Skills Implemented:  Persistence,  Cold Calling, Presentation Skills,

Knowledge Gained:  Sales Fundamentals, Team Leadership, Advertising Planning & Budgeting, Recruiting, Sales Training, Public Speaking, How to cut a penny with a pair of scissors,

Education:  Present & Past

Bold indicates a highly recommended text.

2019:

2018:

2017:

2016:

Institutional:
Hofstra University:  2002 – 2006
B.A Management
B.A Marketing

Awards & Volunteer

Featured Writer, Future Category, Economics Category – Medium.com

Civics Education Volunteer, North Brunswick Township Highschool 2018
Developed and facilitated an educational discussion series for High School Seniors focusing on voting.  Specifically, addressing why people do and do not vote.  The program met specific Social Studies requirements put forth by the state of New Jersey.

Black Belt, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu – Awarded 2011 By Matt Serra of Serra BJJ
Jiu-Jitsu has taught me much about myself through years of humbling training, defeats, and the occasional competitive victory.  Most importantly Jiu-jitsu has taught me the skills necessary to achieve mastery, an approach I have applied to my entrepreneurial ventures to great success.

Industry Council, American Homebrew Association 2015 – 2018
My role in the Industry Council is to offer insight into market trends and support national projects to support the industry.  In the past, this has included reviewing multiple national marketing efforts, discussing cross-promotion strategies, and discussing the impact of large mergers in our industry.  I have been the featured presenter at HomebrewCon industry breakout session for the past two years, focusing on broader industry-wide strategic initiatives