Strategist

In University, a Professor challenged the class to “Question Everything” – to which Paris replied, “Why?” This simple lesson, and Paris’ rather impetuous response, has served as the guiding principle of discovery for Paris ever since – and has helped define the actions necessary to make the dreams a reality.

What – do you see yourself as?
Who – is your customer?
Where – is your market?
Why – do you want to achieve it?
How – are you going to accomplish it?
When – is the due-date for all this?

As most who know Paris will attest; the attributes which are most influential in defining Paris as a strategist are the ability to quickly and clearly evaluate an opportunity and define the goals, combined with the tenacity to see the goals pursued to their rightful conclusion.

And make no mistake, tenacity at the point of execution will be the difference between the realization of a goal or its abandonment. But tenacity is not enough – you must get people to follow. And they will only follow if they believe. This requires leadership and communication skills above all else.

Selected Engagements

“Product Roll-Out”: Worked with the Founders and Executive Management of Exact Software in Europe and North America to define the marketplace, positioning, message, and roll-out of the newly developed software application “eSynergy” as a “collaborative community environment”. “Great vision, great drive”, says Acro van Nieuwland – Exact Software Founder & Director – of Paris.

“Production and Financial Management”: Worked with the Founders of Compression Polymers to define the strategic vision for how they would plan, schedule and cost production as well as manage inventory and the company finances – then worked to turn the vision into a reality. Over the term of Paris’ involvement in the engagement, the company revenue and EBIDTA grew almost twenty-fold. Ultimately, the company founders effectively partnered with a series of Private Equity firms until successfully executing an exit-strategy – with the company a portfolio company of the Private Equity firm AEA Investors LLC.

“Wall Street West – Binghamton”: Worked with a team of community leaders consisting of a cross-representation of delegates from industry, academia and government to develop a mitigation and rapid-response program to protect against, and react to, terrorist events and natural disasters that threaten financial firms based in New York City.