RONNIE SCHMIDT, FOUNDER, CEO
Visionary Founder, Author, Marketing Executive, CEO Ronnie Schmidt and his sales and marketing staffs have been responsible for $252,000,000+ in sales during his 51-year sales management and marketing career for 6 Fortune 500 industry leaders including Fram Corporation, Honeywell, Inc., Boise-Cascade, Inc., Bauch & Lomb Inc., Cooper Vision, Inc., Amstar-Domino Sugar Inc. in the automotive aftermarket, commercial building market, real estate construction, medical, food, marketing, publishing and advertising industries and as Founder, CEO of Marketing Consultants Group, LLC.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Arts & Sciences, Pre-Law from Pennsylvania State University, continuing education from the American Marketing Association and Boston University.
A strategic marketer with a creative, results-oriented marketing mind, Ronnie developed new ad mediums and selling systems including Affordable Aerial Extravaganzas Marketing Campaigns, Indoor Digital Signs Ad Networks (Remotely-Managed) and Audio Home Tours Marketing Systems.
He is co-author of the White Paper - Case Study "Why In-Store Digital Advertising? Who Wins? The Store, Consumer Or Advertiser?" with research provided by Steven K. Platt, Director of the Platt Retail Institute, and is considered an authority on digital advertising.
He authored the White Paper - Case Study "Why Aerial Advertising? Can Advertising With An Airship (Blimp) Be More Effective Than Traditional Forms Of Advertising?"
He is considered an authority on aerial advertising.
He also created concepts like: “Interactive Marketing", "Targeted Broadcast Marketing", "Marketing Systems Work – While Everything Else Eventually Fails", "Empowering Your 'Unpaid' Sales Force", "Breaking The Deadly Silence Of Real Estate's Unpredictable Silent Marketing" and is best known for his game-changing "Consumer-Friendly Marketing With THE WOW FACTOR."
ROBERT BARBIERI, SENIOR DIRECTOR
Bob is a highly successful leader who creates significant shareholder value by transforming organizations into quality companies achieving, growth, profitability and increases in shareholder value.
Drives success as an executive and advisor, board member, and investor through growth and performance improvements, building great teams, successful IPO’s and exits, and acquisition and corporate development activities.
Executive experience spans a variety of global companies focused on businesses relating to technology, software/SaaS/cloud/analytics/AI/technology SPACs, business/ transportation/retail services, and healthcare information technology.
The early portion of executive career was focused on companies in the chemicals, energy, and global manufacturing/services businesses.
Also successfully led the Lawson Software IPO process which achieved “unicorn” status and remains as one of the most successful IPO’s of any technology company in the Midwest.
Board-of-Director qualifications include experience on both sides of the board table with boards and committees.
As a leader focuses on using strong interpersonal skills to get things done.
Strongly committed to having clarity of an organization’s “tone at the top” and a focus on integrity.
Deep experience with SEC, governmental organizations, and outside audit firms.
Understanding of the role of the audit committee as well as the required time commitments that ensures success.
Education includes a MBA in Finance and Strategy from Drexel University with highest honors as well as a BS in Accounting and Business Administration from Drexel University.
Post-Graduate executive education includes programs at Harvard, Stanford and Wharton business schools.
BILL SHELLY, SENIOR DIRECTOR
Bill has held senior level sales and marketing positions with Bausch & Lomb, Alden Optical, CooperVision, Inc. and Paragon Vision Sciences, serving as Vice-President of Sales for Paragon Vision Sciences and Alden Optical.
He is a dynamic, innovative Sales and Marketing Executive with extensive experience in training and managing sales representatives, developing sales and marketing strategy while monitoring budgetary constraints.
Superb team building, training and organizational skills coupled with an inherent drive to attain and exceed company objectives have led to a recognized track record of achievement in a competitive and challenging environment.
He is a graduate of The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg College, which offers multi-day immersive leadership development experiences for the nation's top executives and earned his BA in Political Science at Gettysburg College as well.
TOBY PAGE, SENIOR DIRECTOR
Toby has 23 years of experience in the Lighter-than-air industry, predominantly in the areas of airship sales, marketing and campaign management.
He joined The Lightship Group (TLG) in 1998 as an Account Manager. TLG grew to become the world’s largest and most successful blimp advertising company.
He headed up TLG’s North American sales, and in 2003 became Global Marketing Director.
In 2012 TLG was acquired by Van Wagner, and he became EVP Sales.
He has experience selling and managing blimp campaigns across the globe, including the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, China, Japan and extensively throughout Europe.
During his time with TLG he has been directly responsible for sales in excess of $150 million and worked with Television Networks and Fortune 500 companies to design and manage some of the world’s most successful blimp campaigns such as Goodyear, Anheuser-Busch, Monster.com, Sanyo, MetLife, Saturn (General Motors), Holden (General Motors Australia), NBC Universal, AT&T/Direct TV.
Dr. ANTHONY PONCETI, TH.D., SENIOR DIRECTOR
Dr. Ponceti has over 40 years of diverse and challenging experience, combined with powerful presentation skills, a creative approach to the task at hand and the ability to anticipate potential opportunities - thus my outstanding credentials and proven record of results.
Oriented in the B2B and B2C environment with exceptional skills in employee relations, management, graphics, advertising, and marketing.
Qualified by education, customer service and administrative experience.
Professional appearance and advanced interpersonal communication.
Highly motivated, strong work ethic, available as needed for training, travel, overtime, etc.
A desire to participate in the successful expansion of the Kingdom of God.
SIR BRAD BLAZAR, ADVISOR
As the former CEO / Founder of an oil company Brad started at the age of 23, Brad learned quickly how to build successful teams.
Brad also learned how to raise capital and use other people's money (OPM) to build and create wealth.
Today, Brad coaches and consults people all over the world on how to attract and raise HNW investor capital, build a fund, and use OPM.
As the founder of Capital School and CapitalCon we are creating the fastest growing community of entrepreneurs and business owners learning these skills.
In addition to his current role, Brad is a confident and effective sales manager who has led teams organized to raise capital for some of the industry's leading firms - Bluerock, Waypoint Residential, City National Rochdale amongst others.
During his career, Brad raised $2 Billion thru his efforts in addition to closing the largest sales for multiple companies - $11M, $9M, $7.5M.
His relationships encompass broker/ dealers, family offices, large advisory firms, endowments, real estate private equity and other institutional investors.
Author of the following books: On the Wings of Eagles - Learn to Soar, Put Some Thrive in Your Hive - Unlocking Potential in Any Organization, and Winning at the Capital Game.
BRIDGETTA RUSTINA MESSINA, SENIOR DIRECTOR
Bridgetta has held senior consultive positions for 35 years with Pace, Inc. as a counselor, administrator, educator and facililitator.
She has been responsible for rehabilitating many lives in her teaching and training positions.
TERESA BENSON, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Teresa has been responsible for managing corporate hotels and financial operations during her career.