James S. (Jim) Twerdahl

Education:                                                                                                                                                                                         B. A.      Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut.  Major: economics; minor: fine arts.                                             

        M.B.A.      Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.  Major:  marketing;  Minor: finance.

 PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Managing Director, James S. Twerdahl & Associates, Inc.   JST&A is engaged in a variety of consulting and investment banking practices.  We consult with middle market businesses in all areas of marketing and strategic business planning.  We have a particular focus helping to develop go-to-market strategies from product planning and development through distribution and promotion.  The investment banking side of our business focuses on capital raising and sell-side M&A activities.  We also work as interim managers and coaches to management.  As a sub-specialty, the firm works with private equity firms in due diligence and strategic planning for potential acquisitions.   

      Partner, T-Link (Hong Kong), Ltd., a company that assists U.S. manufacturers, distributors and retailers source and control the quality of products sourced in China and other Asian countries.       Visit: www.tlinkhk.com

Prior Experience:

 Chairman and CEO, Coloramics, LLC (Mayco Colors, Inc.), Hilliard, Ohio.   Manufacturer of glazes, paints and accessories for the craft, hobby, school and art markets. 

 President, Marantz Company, Inc., Chatsworth, California, and Vice President of Parent, Cobra Corporation (NASDAQ) Chicago, Illinois.    Marantz is a manufacturer of high fidelity audio and video components and systems.

 President, Fertility and Genetics Research Inc., Chicago.    FGR was a publicly traded (Pink Sheets), development stage medical technology  company formed to market a UCLA-developed treatment for female infertility. 

 President, JBL Incorporated (James B. Lansing Sound Co.), and   Senior V.P. & Director, Harman International Industries, Inc., Northridge, CA.     JBL is manufacturer of loudspeakers and electronics for the home high fidelity and professional audio markets.  Harman, JBL's parent, is diversified holding company for consumer, professional and automotive electronics firms. 

 Chief Executive Officer, Jensen Sound Laboratories, Schiller Park, Illinois, and  Group Vice President Consumer Products, International Jensen, Inc.  International Jensen was a $150 million division of Esmark, and then Beatrice Foods, manufacturing consumer electronics. 

Other Interests:   

Chair, Board of Trustees, The House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, California.   The House Ear Institute was the world’s leading medical research organization for hearing related diseases and disorders.  HEI and the related House Ear Clinic developed dozens of surgical procedures to advance the state of the art in hearing medicine.  The Institute developed the cochlear implant, the brainstem implant, and other devices to aid hearing impaired patients.  Served two three year terms as Chair of the Institute’s Board.

 Instructor, Loyola Marymount Graduate School of Business  Course taught:  MBAC 662, Product and Brand Management, 2nd Year MBA Students.

 Seminar Instructor, Executive Education Program, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California    “Excelling in Product Lifecycle Management”; an advanced two day seminar dealing with product management from inception through obsolescence.

 Publications:                                                                   

• “Taking the Mystery from Product Naming”, July 25, 2005, Interbrand’s Brandchannel.com.
• “Product Naming”, October 2005, Innova, European Journal of Food Innovation.
• Chapter on Product Naming, Product Development Management Association, ToolBook III, 2008.
• “Taking the Mystery from Product Naming”, Chapter in "Product Launch Management: Concepts and Cases", ICFAI University Press, 2006.
• “Lack Marketing Depth?  Form a Marketing Advisory Board”, August, 2006, Brandchannel.com.

 Expert Witness:

Cases dealing with the marketing and distribution of consumer products, mergers and acquisitions, contractual disputes, trademark and trade dress and general business topics.  Completed ERI Distance Learning Center’s “Preparing for Expert Witness Testimony”, 2007.

 Organization Director and Officer:

  Corporate Boards (in addition to those of companies for whom I have worked)

Ocutronics, LLC, developer of a low cost retinal camera for diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.

Neosonik, Inc., developer of wireless home theater and high fidelity loudspeakers.

Building Safety Solutions, Inc., information technology for the commercial real estate industry.

San-it-Safe, Inc., manufacturer of a home sanitizing appliance.

Access Smart, LLC, developer of smartcard based computer security and identity theft prevention software.

Voikex, LLC, manufacturer of products to assist expectant mothers in monitoring their pregnancies.

Delivrion, Inc., food delivery dot-com start-up.

Metal Box International, Inc., manufacturer of sheet metal tool boxes and point of purchase displays. 

Communication Innovations Corporation, owner of nationwide paging license.

Comfort Center Stores, Inc., the largest retailer of mattresses in the Western U.S. 

Compact Industries, Inc., coffee packaging and distribution.

AudioVio (Psiometric Science, Inc.), developer of sound enhancement technology.

Wedj Containers Corp., manufacturer of space-saving hazardous waste containers.

Swaggle.me, “daily deal” web marketer of products and services for dogs.  www.pimpmypooch.com

Perimetrics, LLC, developer of a new dental health screening device.

Previvo Genetics, LLC, developer of technology for the treatment of genetic disease. www.PrevivoGenetics.com

Dental Evolutions, LLC, developer of new dental implant technologies.

 Industry organizations

   Governor/Executive Committee Member, Electronics Industries Association

   Director and Division Chairman, Consumer Electronics Association.

   Chairman and Co-Founder, Committee of Car Audio Manufacturers.

   President and Treasurer, Car Audio Specialists Association (CASA).

   Founding Sponsor & Director, Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association.

§ Awarded the Association's first "Lifetime Achievement Award", August, 2001.

   Founder, Ceramics 2000.

   Member, Provisors, Professional Networking Group; Executive Committee, Los Angeles II Chapter;

            Group Leader, Distributors and Manufacturers Affinity Group.

   Member, Los Angeles Business Advisory Council

   Member, Cal-Link, a cooperative of professionals to aid Asian businesses in the U.S. market.

   Member, LA25, transaction professionals’ networking group.

   Member, Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors.

Civic, business and charitable organizations

Chair, Board of Trustees, House Ear Institute, the leading medical research organization for hearing and related diseases  and disorders.

     Advisory Board, Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC.

     Several Offices, Young Presidents' Organization (YPO).

     Executive Committee and Chapter Ambassador, World Presidents’ Organization.  (WPO);

            Chair WPO Committee to mentor members of the Entrepreneur’s Association.

     YPO-G, Young Presidents' Organization Graduates.

     Member, National Association of Corporate Directors.

     Session Chair, California Club Executive Forum; Member Tournaments Committee.

     Director, Los Angeles Tennis Club

     Director, Los Angles Music Center's "In the Wings".

     Board Member, St. James' Episcopal School.

     Steering Committee Member, National Public Radio.