Helping Technology, Packaging, Plastic and Machinery Firms Grow Their Businesses.
Our Staff (more Pages below)
Patrick [President]
Patrick is responsible for all aspects of market development, strategic marketing and implementation of programs for our clients.
Prior to joining USA Strategies, Patrick spent over twenty years as a regional sales and marketing manager in the machinery, technology, and packaging industry working for firms such as Grayhill, Inc. and Richmar, Inc. developing growth solutions for consumer products, industrial markets and military applications.
Patrick is also the primary liaison with our partner offices overseas and the organization's affiliation with the Elmhurst College mentoring-protégé-internship program.
Patrick holds an M.B.A in Business Administration and a B.A. in Communications from Elmhurst College.
Christine [VP Operations]
Christine is responsible for managing and organizing client projects. Prior to joining USA Strategies, Christine spent twenty years leading large analytic and CRM teams and initiatives for companies like U.S. Cellular, United Airlines and Accenture with a specialty in marketing and sales effectiveness.
Christine is also a math and statistics expert having dissected all forms of company data and transforming it into action plans for success.
Christine holds a M.B.A from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Math and Marketing from Illinois State University.
Pat [Chairman Emeritus]
Pat, our founder led in the research of new applications of digital based systems in the marketing process and has testified before Congress on the future international economic implications of the changing digital landscape and beyond.
Pat has led the company in working for numerous media organizations in the development of new products and strategies. Pat was also responsible for opening partner offices in Europe and Asia. He is a speaker and contributing author for many organizations and publications.
A US Navy veteran of the submarine service, Pat did his undergraduate studies in Electronic Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, graduate business study at the Illinois Institute of Technology and currently post-graduate work at DePaul University.
Donna [VP Research]
For over thirty years, Donna’s detailed, custom solutions provides our clients with actionable intelligence. By keeping her finger on the pulse of the industry she can help you with customer development, market research, data management and business development. Her depth of knowledge has consistently led our clients to new business opportunities and measurable increased revenue.
Donna digs deep to help our clients penetrate new markets, acquire and analyze market intelligence, identify qualified business relationships, align sales development, build a valuable marketing tool, and deliver measurable results.
Donna uses historical and current statistical data and market place intelligence to define industry patterns and trends to target future growth.
This valuable perspective allows you to develop strategies and make key decisions with the best possible understanding of your business.
Donna holds a B.S.A and a M.S.M.C in Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University.
AL [Website, IT Architecture, Digital Platforms]
Al is responsible for working with our clients to successfully integrate information/technology platforms to fulfill their important part in the overall marketing plan. This includes detailed web structure audits, analytics, security, content creation, digital management and vetting of enterprise solution platforms.
Prior to joining USA Strategies, Al spent 30+ years deep in software development/architecture and information/technology across a diverse set of industries ranging from engineering, manufacturing, financial/banking and internet retail.
In the past, Al has worked for companies such as Landis+Gyr, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Blinds dot com and most recently in aerospace/defense.
Al holds a Bachelors of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology from DeVry Institute of Technology.
Richard [Chief Copywriter]
Richard has worked as lead technical content copywriter in marketing communications for many years now. His assignments have ranged from business plans, campaign concepts, corporate communications, technical press releases, sales aids and presentations, speeches, demonstration videos, case histories, articles, technical backgrounders, email campaigns, web content, complete websites, and special advertising supplements.
Of particular value to our customers, Richard has the ability to quickly understand the design, operation and user benefits of new industrial equipment, software and technology products. He is experienced in translating the language of engineers into content that can be understood and appreciated by prospective customers – whether the target audience is technical or non-technical in background.
Richard is instrumental in our clients’ business strategy reviews and is a regular member of the development and presentation team for our company.
Richard holds M.A. degrees from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a B.S.E from Northern Illinois University.
More Talent
Our Market Research Team
Research is one of the most critical pieces of our client's overall sales and marketing plan. Our sizable crew needed their own page.
Please click here or on the photo to meet our research team.
Doug [Creative Director]
Doug has spent over two decades in packaging and machinery design marketing CPG products, film, converters, and machinery OEM solutions.
Doug has also developed a great network of highly skilled professionals such as printers, programmers and 3D modelers, that we team up with to tackle whatever your advanced creative needs may be.
Doug holds a B.F.A in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art & Design.
Larry [Sales Force Coach & Lead Team Builder]
With his three decades of vast experience, Larry assists industrial sales groups in developing high performing work teams that are clearly aligned with the organizations values and goals concentrating on the group’s interaction tactics and communication skills.
The focus of Larry's work is on building healthy working relationships and assisting sales groups in addressing/resolving both individual and organizational conflict. This is done all while developing the group’s skills in creating a highly effective results focused work culture.
Larry holds a PSY. D Doctorate in Psychology from the Forest Institute of Technology and an M.B.A from Roosevelt University.
Tom [Sales Force Coach]
As a highly successful sales coach, Tom is focused on “coaching to the edge of what is possible” by providing the tools, support, and structure necessary to set better goals, increase focus, and maximizing results with industrial sales forces and managers.
Since 2002, he has been coaching sales talent and leaders, helping them to improve their sales, master their influencing ability, and become better leaders. Prior to his coaching career, Tom spent the first decade of his career as a successful salesperson and sales leader in the manufacturing, technology and telecommunications markets.
Tom has coached over two-thousand clients in his coaching career and is one of the few coaches in the world to hold the prestigious Master Certified Coach designation from the International Coaching Federation.
Tom holds a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Illinois.
Our Culture and Work-Life Balance Initiative That Really Changed the Office
Our staff is the company's greatest asset. Click to learn more about our culture and office changing work-life balance initiative that really propelled our team's energy into the forward thinking future and gave us a competitive edge in finding and retaining top talent.
USA Strategies/Elmhurst College Mentoring-Protege-Internship Program
USA Strategies is now celebrating its ninth year in our partnership with Elmhurst College’s mentoring-protégé-internship program. Students learn state of the art marketing knowledge working side by side with staff, and learn the skills they don't teach in school with real-life business situations.
A majority of our students get hired in the industries we serve when they graduate. Click here or on the photo to meet our 2019-2020 students.
even more talent
Brittany [Trade Show Networker]
Brittany's engaging and energetic personality is really an asset when clients need a surrogate sales and marketing networker to represent them at trade shows and events. She has a knack for acquiring leads and identifying the buying stage during prospecting interactions.
In the past Brittany has served key account management roles at Concentra and Edward Health Systems.
Brittany holds a B.S in Health Science from Eastern Illinois University.
Jamie [Marketing Analyst and Special Projects for the President]
Brittany's engaging and energetic personality is really an asset when clients need a surrogate sales and marketing networker to represent them at trade shows and events. She has a knack for acquiring leads and identifying the buying stage during prospecting interactions.
In the past Brittany has served key account management roles at Concentra and Edward Health Systems.
Brittany holds a B.S in Health Science from Eastern Illinois University.
George [VP of Strategic Planning, Client Sales Force Audits, and Sage to the Overall Team]
George's intellect is so valuable that many times a year we pull him out of semi-retirement and he gets on a plane to to help with our clients.
George has vast multi-decade experience in the technology marketplace and has unique skills in business plans, customer positioning, sales management, marketing and competitive intelligence. George has served key roles as sales manager and vice president at such firms as RCA, Motorola, BRK Electronics, NEPCON, Power-One, Sager and Advacom.
George holds a B.S.E.E. from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.M. from the Kellogg School of Graduate Management from Northwestern University.
Elaine [Sales Force Coach]
Elaine helps our clients' sales staff grow professionally on a one-on-one basis. Elaine works with clients and groups on many elements of their sales professional lives, especially millennials and new graduates entering a technical sales force.
Elaine's areas of focus are how to network correctly, first impressions, body language, and presentation skills. She has coached people from entry level to the C-Suite of Fortune 500 companies.
Prior to joining USA Strategies, she served in key marketing and communications roles at AON, KPMG and Chapman & Cutler.
Elaine holds a Masters in Managerial Communications from Northwestern University.
European Staff Partners
Emma [President, KMC Strategies, DE.]
Emma is the managing director and owner of our partner marketing firm in Germany, KMC Strategies, DE. She is responsible for all operations concerning the European market and has been in business for over twenty years.
Emma studied marketing at the Bavarian Academy of Advertising in Nuremburg, Germany. Emma worked for various marketing agencies serving clients such as Seimens and Volkswagen, until her acquisition of KMC Strategies.
Emma also shares a multi-decade relationship with USA Strategies and has been a valued collaborator since she started her career in the 1990's.
The KMC Strategies Team in Germany
KMC Strategies services more than 150 companies in Germany and beyond in the B2B sector and has been a long-standing strategic marketing partner of USA Strategies for over two decades.
The focus of the KMC Strategies is on marketing and brand building for high technology leaders in the manufacturing and service providers market place.
We make the goals of our customers our own &
we think outside of the box in every situation.
