James Davison
Halifax
Summary
Results-driven professional with a strong background in entrepreneurship, innovation, executive leadership, and M&A experience. Committed to taking on challenging roles to utilize expertise in driving organizational growth and evolution. Passionate about leveraging years of experience to help organizations thrive and achieve their goals. Dedicated to delivering impactful solutions and fostering strategic partnerships for sustainable success.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Co-Founder/CEO
LaunchPal
05.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: LaunchPal is a startup focused on utilizing Artificial Intelligence to improve marketers ability to launch, manage and iterate on their marketing campaigns
- The company has finalized and launched its MVP and looking to raise funds to scale and gain traction
President and CEO
Overhaul Consulting
08.2019 - Current
- Company Overview: Overhaul Consulting was set up as a temporary consulting firm to assist a number of companies while looking for a more permanent opportunity to focus on
- Currently I have worked with and am working with the following firms:
- DynaGen- (CEO)- as above
- The Well- (Strategic Consultant) I worked with The Well to expand their offering from Atlantic Canada to the rest of Canada and beyond. As well, have helped establish a technology initiative for greater scalability and overall investment opportunities.As a result, they are now established in Calgary and Toronto and have had a number of acquisition/partnership discussions
- Torq IT- (Strategic Consultant) Worked with the principle to grow JNC Tech. Rebranded it to Torq IT, focused on specific offerings and streamlining process. His revenue and staff count have more than doubled in a year, he's opened an office in Halifax and Charlottetown and is continuing strong growth in a tumultuous time
- HyrSkills- (Strategic Consultant) Working with HyrSkills to launch their start up hiring platform. Defining the go to market strategy and partnering opportunities as well as structure
- Carbon Utility Token CUT- (Strategic Consultant)- Helping CUT with the launch strategy and implementation of their token
President and CEO
Stash Energy
08.2021 - 03.2023
- Company Overview: Stash Energy is a thermal storage company that utilizes phase change material inside of heat pumps, in order to help utilities, shift electricity requirements during peak demand periods
- The company is 6 years old and has developed several iterations of an indoor radiator unit (M1)
- In my first year, we pivoted the strategy to focus less on manufacturing and more on IP licensing
- We launched a much improved iteration and we were acquired by KS2 in March of 2023
- I was able to sell the company to KS2 Technologies in Montreal
CEO
DynaGen Technologies Inc.
12.2019 - 08.2021
- Reporting to the Board of Directors, I was initially recruited to run the company while the founder dealt with health issues
- I took a hard look at the opportunities this company had in front of it and pushed for two paths; significant growth or acquisition
- I was successful in driving both objectives, even during a pandemic
- The outcome of this effort culminated with a successful transaction with Cattron an 80 million dollar international company in a similar space
- I was able to identify the opportunity, negotiate the transaction, manage the due diligence and legal requirements and facilitate a successful integration
- The founder and Board of Directors have been very pleased with the outcome
- (Board references available)
President and CEO
eXeBlock Technologies Corp.
07.2018 - 08.2019
- Reporting to the Board of Directors (and Managing Director of the VC firm), I was brought on to reposition the organization which was struggling and likely facing insolvency in a matter of months
- Ultimately the organization needed to be restructured and the assets sold in order to position it for a more definitive path to profit with a viable business model
- I spent the year dealing with strategic, legal and HR issues to ensure the company can survive and the shareholders will be rewarded in the long term
VP Digital Gaming and Innovation
Atlantic Lottery Corporation Inc.
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Responsible for managing two teams (over 35 employees) and a 35-million-dollar line of business as well as being one of seven executives who are responsible for running the company
- The digital gaming responsibilities include; all the website requirements including managing the ecommerce and UX teams, growing the sales and user base, increasing the offerings, including content, apps and acquisition strategies
- The innovation role includes managing a design thinking team to develop concepts to prototypes as well as managing an outpost which then creates MVP's and initial launches
- Also responsible for overall culture shift to become more entrepreneurial, agile and competitive
- Finally, I also shaped a new external structure involving third party joint venture opportunities
Owner/Founder
Modern Media Inc.
01.2005 - 01.2016
- Company Overview: Conceptualized and founded one of the leading digital marketing agencies in the region
- Grew the organization to over a million in sales and a dozen employees
- Worked with the region's leading brands including: Sobeys (Empire Theatres/Needs), ALC, Irving Consumer Products, Bell (CTV), EastLink, NS Power, IMP
President
Extreme Interactive- Extreme Group
01.2001 - 01.2005
- One of the three original founders of Extreme Group
- Developed and managed the digital division
- Grew the digital side to over a million in sales and 14 employees (before digital marketing was prolific)
- Part of the management team that grew the larger group to 10 million in sales and from 7 to 75 people in 4 years
- Conceptualized and launched an email product - Extreme Mail; sent, managed and reported on 250k emails daily
Director of E-commerce
Clearwater Fine Foods
01.1998 - 01.2001
- Company Overview: Global Seafood Leader-world's largest lobster/shellfish company
- Conceptualized, pitched and ultimately launched (in four months) one of Canada's first direct to consumer, e-commerce sites
- Grew the business to 1 million dollars in 12 months
- Helped launch the Louisville fulfillment centre
- Promoted it throughout North America including QVC (live on air), CBC National, Globe and Mail, McLean's magazine
- Learned how to drive and convert traffic online as well as retain and engage customers online
Product Development Manager
Clearwater Fine Foods
01.1996 - 01.1998
- Conceptualized and developed new products for Clearwater specific to inventory issues, coupled with market demand
- Launched new to the world products including: Cold Water Shrimp Tray, Scallop Burger, Formed Scallops, Marinated Cod Fillets
Marketing Manager
Clearwater Fine Foods
01.1995 - 01.1996
- Brand manager for all of Clearwater's species, responsible for reporting and analyzing world supply and data
- Also responsible for managing all design, packaging, trade shows and sales support for eight offices throughout the world with multi-language requirements
Sales Manager - Central USA
Clearwater Fine Foods
01.1994 - 01.1995
- Responsible for sales of all seafood products to distributors, restaurants and retail markets throughout mid-west USA (18 states)
- Grew the market by over 30% and introduced the product to new customers including Wal-Mart, Kmart, Sam's Club etc
Account Executive NS
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
01.1993 - 01.1994
- Company Overview: National Television channel
- Successfully sold local, regional, national and Newsworld television airtime to corporate accounts
- Grew the accounts significantly in the region
Franchise Owner
Floor Coverings International
01.1992 - 01.1994
- Company Overview: carpet franchise
- Purchased and managed a floor coverings franchise
- Ran the promotions, sales, coordinated the installations, customer service and all aspects of the business
Account Executive
The Halifax Herald Ltd
01.1988 - 01.1993
- Company Overview: Provincial newspaper
- Salary plus commission sales to corporate clients in the region
- Grew the number of clients year over year
- Was one of the most successful sales representatives based on monthly quotas achieved
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Major in Economics
Acadia University
Wolfville, NS01.1988
Database marketing -
York University
Canadian Institute of Fisheries Technology
Marketing Management -
Foodservice Institute- Notre Dame University
Fundamentals of Modified Atmosphere Packaging -
Atlanta
Carpet University
Intro to Japanese -
Clearwater
Intro to Spanish -
Clearwater
Dale Carnegie
Whole Brain Learning - The Art of Negotiating
Ledgehill
Skills
- Business development
- Strategic visioning
- Stakeholder communication
- Operations management
- Investor relations
- Board reporting
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Team building
- Negotiation techniques
- Visionary leadership
- Budget management
- Brand development
- Product development
- Innovation and vision
- Capital fundraising
- Leadership and people development
Accomplishments
- Launched one of Canada's first E-commerce platforms (1996- Clearwater)
- Successfully built 2 of the regions largest digital marketing firms (Extreme Interactive/Modern Media)
- Launched over 5 start-ups
- CEO for hire multiple times
- 4 Exits
Interests Boards And Activities
- Past National Board Member- The Arthritis Society
- Past Regional Chair- The Arthritis Society Advisory Board
- Chair The Arthritis Society Celebrity Roasts (4 years)
- Advisory Board- Acadia University Business School (9 years)
- Advisory Panel - Irving Consumer Products
- Founder- CMA Marketing Now Conference
- Board of Directors- NS Water Skiing
- Mentor- Lean Start up
- Mentor- Fusion
- Entrepreneur in residence- Acadia
- Progress Club- Associate Member, Past Chair of Big Spring Auction
- Athletics: Running- NY Marathon 92, 24-hour Adventure Racing- 3 races, Martial Arts- Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Boxing, Cycling- road, mtn. bike, Salmon Fishing, Hiking- started a hiking group to explore NS trails, Water Skiing, Skiing- downhill and x-country
Entrepreneurial Experience
- Extreme Interactive
- Modern Media
- Floor Coverings International
- Extreme Mail
- Hypify
- Nearbya
- SIFT Marketing Intelligence
- Blurt Room
- LaunchPal
- Overhaul Consulting
Timeline
Co-Founder/CEO
LaunchPal
05.2023 - Current
President and CEO
Stash Energy
08.2021 - 03.2023
CEO
DynaGen Technologies Inc.
12.2019 - 08.2021
President and CEO
Overhaul Consulting
08.2019 - Current
President and CEO
eXeBlock Technologies Corp.
07.2018 - 08.2019
VP Digital Gaming and Innovation
Atlantic Lottery Corporation Inc.
01.2016 - 01.2018
Owner/Founder
Modern Media Inc.
01.2005 - 01.2016
President
Extreme Interactive- Extreme Group
01.2001 - 01.2005
Director of E-commerce
Clearwater Fine Foods
01.1998 - 01.2001
Product Development Manager
Clearwater Fine Foods
01.1996 - 01.1998
Marketing Manager
Clearwater Fine Foods
01.1995 - 01.1996
Sales Manager - Central USA
Clearwater Fine Foods
01.1994 - 01.1995
Account Executive NS
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
01.1993 - 01.1994
Franchise Owner
Floor Coverings International
01.1992 - 01.1994
Account Executive
The Halifax Herald Ltd
01.1988 - 01.1993
Database marketing -
York University
Canadian Institute of Fisheries Technology
Marketing Management -
Foodservice Institute- Notre Dame University
Fundamentals of Modified Atmosphere Packaging -
Atlanta
Carpet University
Intro to Japanese -
Clearwater
Intro to Spanish -
Clearwater
Whole Brain Learning - The Art of Negotiating
Ledgehill
Bachelor of Arts - Major in Economics
Acadia University
Dale Carnegie
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