TRAVERSE BAY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Partner
- Founder and President of OPTIMideas
Dan Hughes is a partner of Traverse Bay Strategy Group, and the leader of the product and service innovation work of the firm.
Dan is also founder and President of OPTIMideas, a design consultancy, and long time affiliate of Traverse Bay.
Job Titles:
- Assistant and Associate Professor of Advertising at Michigan State University
Gerry Schorin was educated at the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his B.A., M.A., and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. with Distinction in English and Communication-Information Science. He also holds a Higher Diploma from Trinity College, Dublin, where he was a Fulbright-Hays Fellow.
As Assistant and Associate Professor of Advertising at Michigan State University, Schorin taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels and published in The Journal of Advertising, Advertising Age, Journalism Quarterly, Proceedings of the American Marketing Association Marketing in Higher Education Symposium, and Proceedings of the American Academy of Advertising. He has also taught at Case Western Reserve, Wayne State, the University of Vermont, and Skidmore College as an adjunct. He has presented, chaired sessions, and acted as discussant at UPCEA, American Academy of Marketing Science, Michigan Linguistic Society, EduWeb, CASE, and American Academy of Advertising conferences.
In a CMO capacity, Schorin has served as Vice President of Marketing Communications at Fireman's Fund Mortgage Corporation, Director of University Marketing at the University of Vermont, Director of Strategic Communications at Skidmore College, Director of Communications at the University of Michigan Law School, and Vice President for Communications and Marketing at Sarah Lawrence College.
As both a senior consultant with two nationally recognized firms, Gerry has led or been an associate on engagements with Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson, Jaguar Land Rover, Chevrolet/Geo, Sea Ray Boats, Moore Corp. Ltd. (US), Michigan Department of Education Office of Minority Equity, The Carlson Companies, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation, Audubon Vermont, DuPont, the Yale School of Medicine's Geriatrics Section, six Internet startups, and numerous others.
In addition to extensive qualitative research experience, he has also led strategic planning sessions at Fortune 500 corporations, universities, and non-profits.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Senior Partner With
John Varty is a Senior Partner with Traverse Bay Strategy Group, and Director of the Firms business growth and client relations activities.
Prior to joining Traverse Bay Group, John spent 10 years in marketing and sales - to include sales and marketing positions with Ford Motor Company in Kansas City and Denver; and as Director of Advertising for Porsche Cars North America.
John later spent 15 years leading the retail automotive advertising units of the top advertising agencies - Chiat Day, Foote Cone & Belding, Campell-Ewald, and Ogilvy & Mather. In those capacities, John directed all Agency retail advertising initiatives on the Nissan, Mazda, Chevrolet, and Ford accounts.
John's professional interests have included, C-Level Client Sales & Management, Senior Client Relationship Development, Retail Brand Development, Distribution and Channel Management, Commercial Communications and New Business Development.
Following his automotive career, John was an early leader at Media Link in seeding emerging on-line Video, Social Tech, and Mobile Media Companies with a number of leading Automobile Manufacturers in Detroit as well as on the West and East Coasts. Media Link is a Boutique Advisory Firm specializing in Media, Marketing, Technology, and Entertainment.
John is a graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati; where he earned a Bachelor of Science/Business Administration Degree with a Major in Marketing.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Principal
- Research Analyst