Marketing Director or Marketing Manager or Product Manager

GARY J. PIA 165 Forest Road Stratford, CT 06614 Home (203) 378.5494 Cell (203) 258.6124 [email protected]

SUMMARY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Twenty-six years of successful marketing and sales experience with P & L respons ibility in high-volume consumer goods businesses including writing instruments, HBA, Safety, First Aid, Rulers /Scissors, Shavers and Lighters. Four years provi ding marketing expertise in a consulting capacity to a variety of corporations i n the college bookstore market, the pet care industry, and the writing ink busin ess. Traveled extensively throughout China designing and sourcing new products. Four years of small business ownership, bringing a start-up business to $4,100,0 00 in sales within four years before selling to partners. UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. Westport, C T 2007-2009 FINANCIAL ADVISOR ASSOCIATE Underwent extensive training in the UBS New Financial Advisor Training Pro gram culminating in securing my Series 7 General Securities Registered Representative and Series 66 - Uniform Combi ned State Law licenses. * Developed client list and book of investment business * Analyzed client's current investment status, future needs, goals and ris k level * Provided comprehensive financial planning and implementation of plan * Joined two-man team as a junior broker, expanding client lists, resurrec ting inactive accounts and developing new business KAMCO SUPPLY CORP. OF NEW ENGLAND Wallingford, CT 2005-2007 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Started the marketing department in this privately held $110mm Building Su pply Distributor. Coordinated the centralization of all marketing and advertising from the branch to the cor porate level. * Developed individual marketing plans for each of 10 branch locations * Directed creative and coordinated overall development of common website for three Kamco groups * Directed Public Relations function resulting in increased feature print coverage of company * Restructured Advertising programs utilizing vendor co-op funds * Implemented product research in four new markets to identify expansion i nto new product categories ACME UNITED CORPORATION Fairfield, C T 1997-2005 Member of the management team that transformed a stagnant, bankrupt, fami ly run $32mm company with outdated, poorly maintained equipment to a very profitable and innovative consumer packaged goods corporation. DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, SAFETY PRODUCTS April 2003-May 2005 Increased sales 19% and net profits from 2% to 11.9% year-to-date April, 2 005. Conceptualized, developed and introduced the PhysiciansCare(R) brand of over-the-counter medications for sale in of fice products catalogs and superstores. Sourced and

developed vendors in Asia and re-formulated the First Aid Kit line. * Improved profitability by eliminating approximately 15% of underperformi ng sku's while adding 27 new products * Coordinated expansion of safety products into the recently acquired Clau ss sales force * Developed industry unique packaging allowing for growth in previously un tapped markets DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, OFFICE PRODUCTS March 1997-April 2003 Directed complete re-design of scissors product line and sourcing of Asian manufacturing facilities. Developed and patented innovative products, specifically the patented Titanium Bonded Line of sci ssors and the Good/Better/Best warranty packaging system to simplify consumer purchase decision. Diverse responsib ilities included coordination of product design in the US and implementation of those designs with Asian engineers in their facto ries in Korea and China. * Developed Club Store programs and packaging that added $4.8mm in profita ble sales * Patent holder on Titanium product lines that currently generate 23% of A cme domestic US sales at better than 40% gross profit * Increased adult scissors line gross profit 23% from 1999 -2002

(2) EVOLUTIONARY CONCEPTS, LLC. 1993-1997 PRINCIPAL: MARKETING CONSULTING SERVICES ROLODEX CORPORATION Secau cus, New Jersey Analyzed Organizer and Planner line: assisted in positioning for sale of c ompany. MARKET SOURCE, INC. Cranbury, NJ Developed test market program for Student Breaks college discount program. CONNOR F. RYAN CO., INC.

Southpor

t, CT Provided marketing structure and direction to this promotion company. THE WATERBURY COMPANIES, INC. Waterbury, CT Directed research on Country Vet line of natural flea and tick products. PILOT CORPORATION OF AMERICA Trumbull, CT 1989-1993 MARKETING MANAGER Directed the marketing, promotion and advertising functions for the United Stat es subsidiary of this marketer of quality writing instruments. Total 1992 sales of $93,000,000 supported by combined adve rtising and marketing budgets of $8,500,000. * Increased Retail/Mass Market sales by 18% * Launched 11 new products nationally, helping fill profitable market niches. * Conceptualized and developed the Namiki Line of high-end writing instruments. * Increased Commercial sales by 3% and profits by 6% in a declining market. BIC CORPORATION ford, CT

Mil 1988-1989

PRODUCT MANAGER - WRITING INSTRUMENTS Directed day-to-day operations of Bic's $85,000,000 Mass Market and Commercial w riting instrument businesses. Developed brand and product strategies, packaging and promotions for all trade classes. * Planned shift towards more color and fashion-oriented line of writing instrum ents. This ultimately led to the launch of the WAVE LENGTH line of multi packs that have proven to be extremely suc cessful, adding $19,000,000 to retail writing instrument sales. * Increased Commercial and Mass Market shares while increasing average unit sel ling prices. * Coordinated the Bic Lighter, Bic Shaver and Writing Instrument Back-to-School Promotion, increasing the 1989 May-July shipments 13%. EXECUTIVE OFFICE SUPPLY, INC. Wallingford, New Haven, and Branford, CT 1984-1988 PRINCIPAL Began this start-up commercial office supply business, ultimately purchasing tw o additional dealerships and increasing sales volume to $4,100,000. Utilized the marketing experience gleaned over the previous six years to drive this business to a a profitable and successful business entity. Self-ownership provided a u nique perspective most marketers do not have. Sold business to partners ahead of Staples. Office-Max and Office Depot changing the office supply store landscape. BIC CORPORATION Milfor d, CT 1978-1984 PRODUCT MANAGER - SHAVERS Managed the market leading Bic Shaver line with total sales of $30,000,000. Dir ected all aspects of trade and consumer promotions coordinating a $4,500,000 budget. Accomplishments included: * Initiated research into twin bladed entry. * Increased market share to 18%. * Continued price/value strategy while increasing line profitability. PRODUCT MANAGER - WRITING INSTRUMENTS 1982-1983 Promoted to manager of the $70,000,000 in writing instrument sales. Continued u pdating of the writing instrument line with four new product introductions. Assumed creative and administrative r esponsibility for "Bic Deal," the group Back-to-School promotion. Worked closely with on-site R&D and product design en gineers on product revisions. * Stabilized matured brands via balance of pricing, promotional techniques & lin e extensions. * Redesigned sales forecasting system, generating hundreds of thousands of dolla rs in savings.

(3) ASSISTANT PRODUCT MANAGER - WRITING INSTRUMENTS, LIGHTERS 1979 - 1982 National launches of nine new products revitalized the writing instrument line. Promoted from the field sales force into marketing. Quickly became responsible for the daily maintenance of the agin

g writing instrument line and the profitable, market leading Bic Lighter. Wrot e copy, directed package design and promotional development. * Continued increasing sales and profits an Bic Lighter through a combination of consumer promotions, tiered pricing strategies and packaging changes, all leveraging the "Flick Your Bic" tag li ne. * Co-developed in 1982 "Bic Deal", the company's first all brands group Back-toSchool promotion. This promotion was the single largest promotion in the company's history, generating over $40,000,0 00 in sales. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Multiple patent holder Co-Founder, Past Vice-President, St. Joseph High School Athletic Associa tion, Trumbull CT Troop 72, Boy Scouts of America, Stratford, CT - Past Board Member High School Football Announcer - 2002 -2004 Babe Ruth Baseball League Coach - 2001-2003 Stratford Little League Coach: 1994-1999 EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE-MARKETING, May 1978 FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY FAIRFIELD, CT Various AMA Marketing, Advertising, and Financial Seminars. Proficient i n Microsoft Office