Matt McGahran

Led numerous market research efforts for the largest ski resort in North America. Research projects included:

• Development of an integrated data mart and business intelligence system to provide real-time visibility and understanding of key performance indicators across multiple business lines.
• New product concept research, leading to the introduction of the highly-successful 3-day EDGE lift access card
• Price sensitivity research to determine the optimal pricing discounts to offer to customers purchasing multi-day lift ticket products

Served as interim Chief Information Officer for North America's largest direct seller of specialist products that enable consumers with mobility difficulties to live at home for longer. Our accomplishments included:

• Building a marketing operations platform and real-time reporting tool to track performance and ROI on all DRTV, print, digital and partner marketing efforts.
• Responsible for company-wide leadership of policy and planning for data management, information architecture, applications development and technology infrastructure.
• Led implementation of new CRM platform to facilitate better data analytics for sales and marketing optimization and enhanced call center productivity.

Led analysis of Hallmark.com customer database to determine optimal pricing strategies for the company's transition to fee-based e-cards. The analysis evaluated the frequencies with which customers had historically sent Hallmark e-cards and the ad revenue that Hallmark had historically earned from these customer interactions to determine the optimal fee structure to maximize revenue.

Led development of this start-up social networking site from ideation, to wireframing, to coding and launch. Provided advisory services for two rounds of funding.

Led development of operating plan for North American Field Marketing group. The plan reflected a significant shift in operational strategies to build market share in the small- to mid-sized corporate sector, with greater investment in traditional and online direct marketing to reach these markets most cost-effectively.

Represented a prospective buyer of the leading journal for the equestrian market.

Provided strategic advisory services, due diligence services, financial valuation, and contract negotiations for the purchase and sale agreement.

Visit the MRM Insights website

As a volunteer coach for a number of soccer teams, Matt looked for a better tool to enable him to effectively manage his team communications. Not satisfied with what was offered in the market, Matt built his own team website so that he could post team schedules, get member attendance for each team event, send emails and text messages to his members, collect team dues, and have a fun online environment where his team members could communicate with each other. His efforts have evolved into tcteams.com, one of the top subscription-based website providers for amateur teams, clubs and leagues.

Visit the TCTeamSystems™ website

Provided marketing leadership for AmericanGreetings.com's successful transition from an advertising-based revenue model, to a hybrid ad revenue - subscription business model. Responsibilities included building the infrastructure to support a direct marketing testing environment, overseeing web development to implement the subscription model, management of quantitative research efforts to determine the best fee structure, and building the customer service operations needed to support the subscription business.

Led numerous strategic efforts for this destination resort developer and manager, including the following:

• Built the company's centralized CRM organization, including developing the staffing plan, building the operational and technology infrastructure, and working with the company's resorts to realize the value from these new CRM capabilities through improved direct marketing campaigns for lodging reservations and ski lift pass acquisitions and renewals.
• Provided quantitative customer market research to identify potential acquisition candidates in the adventure travel market. Leadership support for eventual acquisition of Abercrombie & Kent, including valuation analysis, due diligence and deal structuring.

Led the marketing effort for Milliken & Company to assist the chemical and textile manufacturer in positioning it's antimicrobrial, odor-controlling fabric for the consumer market. Based on Matt's market research, the company has been successful in building the VisaEndurance® brand as a clothing line for active sportswear, hunting and military apparel.

Visit the Terra Nova Marketing Solutions website

Led strategic advisory services practice dealing with restructuring and work-out situations for online companies that had been spun-off from their parent companies, and provided strategic leadership support for start-up companies that were part of GLC's private equity fund portfolio with Madison Dearborn Partners.

A regular panelist for Shop.org and other e-commerce associations, and frequently quoted in the direct marketing press.

Matt was the business leader for all customer analytics efforts, the development of one of the largest customer-centric data warehouses in the industry, and the creation of promotional and direct marketing systems to drive sales through enhanced one-to-one marketing efforts. He also led business development efforts with the company’s largest strategic partners, including Yahoo!, MSN, and AOL, as well as the innovative acquisition of Cendant Corp.’s Books.com business. During his tenure, Matt developed cutting edge cross-channel marketing programs, including a credit card loyalty program with MBNA America that spanned the online and retail store businesses of Barnes & Noble, as well as the Barnes & Noble / Yahoo! free ISP service.

Matt had oversight for all corporate development efforts including partnership marketing, portfolio and business acquisitions, and other business ventures. In this capacity, Mr. McGahran acquired over $2 billion in credit card receivables, sold over $35 million in credit card accounts, managed the integration of purchased portfolios, and led all pricing and risk management initiatives for the newly acquired customer relationships. Matt was responsible for the creation of Fleet’s largest co-branded and affinity credit card relationships, including Lycos®, Vail Resorts™, and the NRA.

Fleet Credit Card Services was subsequently acquired by Bank of America.