UPTIMIZM - Key Persons

Manuel Hernandez

Job Titles:
  • Principal
  • Principal ( Boston
Manuel Hernandez focuses on developing, leading, and executing growth initiatives for small, medium, and large-sized companies. He has created results through competence-based techniques, strategic marketing, complex business development and alliances - nationally and internationally for 25 years. As a consulting leader for a top firm, he helped drive growth for several Fortune 500 companies. Manuel led an industry-wide business development initiative, creating an international public-private partnership. This entity had design and intellectual capital valued at over $400M. He held key roles at wireless and smartphone startups in both China and Latin America. Mr. Hernandez also tripled revenue for an innovative strategy firm with clients across the pharmaceutical, financial services and retail sectors. Mr. Hernandez earned an MBA from Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan. He earned an undergraduate degree in International Economics at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service.

Michael Franken

Job Titles:
  • Principal
  • Principal ( Raleigh, NC )
Manuel Hernandez focuses on developing, leading, and executing growth initiatives for small, medium, and large-sized companies. He has created results through competence-based techniques, strategic marketing, complex business development and alliances - nationally and internationally for 25 years. As a consulting leader for a top firm, he helped drive growth for several Fortune 500 companies. Manuel led an industry-wide business development initiative, creating an international public-private partnership. This entity had design and intellectual capital valued at over $400M. He held key roles at wireless and smartphone startups in both China and Latin America. Mr. Hernandez also tripled revenue for an innovative strategy firm with clients across the pharmaceutical, financial services and retail sectors. Michael Franken brings over 25 years' experience helping businesses achieve goals through strategic initiatives and targeted performance improvement efforts. He is an expert in solutions- and services-based businesses, based on major engagements since the late 1990s. Michael has been a trusted advisor, leader and functional manager for several services and solutions groups. Michael led design and adoption of IBM's models for solution sales, account coverage and service development. He was also the top market insights advisor for several key business units. Michael built training on outcome selling for Cisco's field and Partners. His career-long client base includes 20 firms spanning from high-tech, banking and insurance to manufacturing and distribution industries. Michael holds an MBA from Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan. He earned a Bachelors' degree at The University of Notre Dame. Michael is certified in Product Marketing. He has attended programs taught by faculty from Harvard and other leading universities.