PROFESSIONAL STAFF
James S. (Jim) Twerdahl (jim@twerdahl.net, 323-931-8538)
Jim Twerdahl has had over 30 years' experience managing companies that develop, manufacture or source, and market technically sophisticated consumer products.
SUMMARY
• Senior management leadership— Extensive turnaround experience as well as high growth and start-up experience.
" Strengths in strategic planning, product development and sourcing, marketing, sales, international business development, financial management and employee development.
• Experienced director in private, public and not-for-profit
corporations.
• Principal experience in manufacturing and distribution
companies; in the development, manufacturing or sourcing, and
marketing of consumer high tech products and medical research
and services.
Industry knowledge: consumer electronics, consumer durables; craft, art, leisure and hobby products; medical technology products and services.
Channel knowledge: business to business; mass merchants, big box retailers, specialty retailers, Internet and other direct marketing, manufacturer’s representatives, distributors.
Extensive sourcing experience: principally in Japan , Korea , Hong Kong , China .
International marketing experience: principally in Europe, Japan, Australia and South America .
Mergers and Acquisitions experience—supervised or principal in acquisitions/sales from identification and due diligence through closing.
Capital raising experience—angel, venture and institutional sources.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
(Detailed resume with accomplishments upon request.)
Managing Director, James S. Twerdahl & Associates and VMG Capital, Los Angeles, California.
VMG Capital and James S. Twerdahl & Associates are two firms engaged in a variety of consulting and investment banking functions. Both companies focus on work with smaller and middle market companies. The focus of VMG Capital is on capital raising and sell-side M&A activities. James S. Twerdahl & Associates consults with businesses in strategic planning, marketing and distribution planning, and international business development. It also works with management in turnarounds and crisis management.
Currently: Chairman, Neosonik Audio, LLC, manufacturer of wireless digital home theater and
high fidelity audio systems.
Advisor, Building Safety Solutions, Inc., developer of online life safety training
programs for trophy high rise and other buildings.
Advisor, VoiKex, LLC, a manufacturer of monitoring devices for expectant mothers.
Advisor, San-it-Safe, LLC, a manufacturer of the PureSpace home sanitizing device for
tooth brushes, razors, baby bottles and other personal care items.
Advisor, Access Smart, LLC, developer of software and related products for computer
password management and identity theft protection.
President and CEO , Simtech International, Inc., Los Angeles , California .
Simtech was a development-stage company launched to produce low cost, simplified versions of technically sophisticated consumer electronics products.
Chairman and CEO , Coloramics, LLC (Mayco Colors, Inc.) , Hilliard , Ohio
Second largest manufacturer of ceramic glazes, paints and accessories for the craft, hobby,
school and art markets.
President, Marantz Company, Inc., Chatsworth , California, and
Vice President of Parent, Dynascan/ Cobra Corporation (NASDAQ) Chicago , Illinois
Producer of high fidelity audio and video components and systems.
President , Fertility and Genetics Research Inc., Chicago.
FGR was a publicly traded (NASDAQ), development stage medical technology company formed to
market a UCLA-developed treatment for female infertility.
President, JBL Incorporated (James B. Lansing Sound Co.), and
Senior V.P. & Director, Harman International Industries , (NYSE), Northridge , CA .
Manufacturer of loudspeakers and electronics for the home high fidelity and professional audio
markets.
Chief Executive Officer, Jensen Sound Laboratories, Schiller Park, Illinois, and Group Vice President Consumer Products , International Jensen, Inc., division of Esmark, Inc.
Leading manufacturer of car audio speakers and electronics, home loudspeakers and audio
accessories.
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Chairman (1994-7, 2001-4), Board of Trustees, The House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, California. The House Ear Institute is the world's leading medical research organization for hearing related diseases and disorders. HEI and the related House Ear Clinic have developed dozens of surgical procedures to advance the state of the art in hearing medicine. The Institute developed the cochlear implant, hearing aids and the brainstem implant to prostheticly treat hearing disease. In the past five years HEI has developed the field's best cell and molecular biology program.
Instructor in Marketing, Loyola Marymount University Graduate School of Business
Administration.
MBAC 662 • Brand and Product Management • Fall Semester, 2004
Seminar Instructor, Marshall Graduate School of Business, University of Southern California.
Excelling in Product Lifecycle Management • May, 2005
Published:
• “Taking the Mystery from Product Naming”, July 25, 2005, Interbrand’s Brandchannel.com .
• “Product Naming”, October 2005, Innova , European Journal of Food Innovation.
• Chapter on Product Naming, Product Development Management Association, ToolBook III .
• “Taking the Mystery from Product Naming”, Chapter in "Product Launch Management: Concepts and Cases", ICFAI University Press, 2006.
• “Lack Marketing Depth? Form a Marketing Advisory Board”, August, 2006, Brandchannel.com.
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Education:
B. A. Trinity College , Hartford , Connecticut. Major: economics.
M.B.A. Kellogg School of Management , Northwestern University Graduate School of
Business. Major: marketing; Minor: finance.
___________________________________________
Board Affiliations :
Corporate Boards
Inside management directorships .
Harman International, Inc. (NYSE), consumer and professional audio products.
Fertility and Genetics, Inc. (Pink Sheets), treatment for female infertility.
Mayco Colors, Inc., manufacturer of glazes and paints for craft, hobby and art industries.
Coloramics, LLC, holding company for ceramic glaze manufacturing companies.
Simtech International, Inc., low cost consumer electronics products.
Compact Industries, Inc., Coffee packaging and distribution.
Outside advisor/directorships .
Metal Box International, Inc., manufacturer of sheet metal tool boxes and point of purchase
displays.
Delivrion, Inc., Dot-com start-up in food delivery business.
Communication Innovations Corporation, owner of nationwide paging license.
Comfort Center Stores, Inc., the largest retailer of mattresses in the Western U.S.
Leeper's Wood Products, manufacturer of stair products and components.
Building Safety Solutions, Inc., information technology for the commercial real estate industry.
Neosonik Audio, Inc., developer of wireless loudspeakers.
Industry organizations
Governor/Executive Committee Member, Electronics Industries Association
Director and Division Chairman, Consumer Electronics Group. (Consumer Electronics Show)
Chairman and Co-Founder, Committee of Car Audio Manufacturers.
President and Treasurer, Car Audio Specialists Association (CASA).
Founding Sponsor & Director, Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association.
Awarded the Association's first "Lifetime Achievement Award", August, 2001.
Founding Director, Ceramics 2000.
Civic and charitable organizations
Chairman, Board of Trustees, House Ear Institute. (also served as Vice Chair
Finance, Vice Chair Research, Audit and Nominating Committee Chairs)
Member, National Association of Corporate Directors.
Member, Corporate Directors- Forum.
Several Offices, Young Presidents' Organization (YPO).
YPO -G, Young Presidents' Organization Graduates.
Officer, World Presidents' Organization, Santa Monica Bay Chapter
Member, Professional Networking Group
Chair and Co-Chair, California Club Executive Forum.
Director and Chair of House and Grounds Committee, Los Angeles Tennis Club.
Director, Los Angles Music Center 's "In the Wings".
Board Member, St. James' Episcopal School.
Steering Committee Member, National Public Radio.
Expert Witness
Cases involving distribution, international distribution, mergers and acquisitions, wrongful discharge, product liability, government regulation. Completed ERI Distance Learning Center ’s “Preparing for Expert Witness Testimony”, 2007.