I have eight years in the public sector, 12 years in the non-profit sector, and six years in the private sector. Twelve of those years involved research and competitive intelligence.
At present, I work in competitive intelligence and IP administration for Reflexite, a microstructured optics company in Avon, CT. We are world-wide in three industries: the display industry (computer monitors, flat screen TVs, PDAs), the specialty optics industry (cockpit displays, heads-up displays, solar concentrator Fresnel lenses) and the retroreflective industry (reflective tape for safety and firefighter garments, traffic conspicuity tapes for barrels, construction cones and the like). I created the competitive intelligence function here and am a one-person "shop".
My internal customers are the senior management team, heads of the business divisions, the R and D team, and the product development teams. I also monitor the regulatory landscape. In short, if you have a question, I'm the go-to person at Reflexite!
In my other "lives", I have had significant marketing, public relations, and adminsitrative experience.
I seek a position in competitive intelligence, and would be open to a larger department, a consulting firm or to creating the function in another company.
The photo, by the way, is from a trip to France, Land of Chocolate Croissants. I don't have a head shot, and thought viewers might like a little scenery as well!
Comment Wall (3 comments)
You need to be a member of Competitive Intelligence to add comments!
Great story, thanks for sharing. I have a couple of success stories of my own, convincing the C-level in public companies to allow me to create new departments, but not in the CI capacity. Although, in retrospect, it was my talent for gathering, organizing and advising through CI. I'm looking to move into the CI space officially (in Financial Services). I've looked into the Fuld-Gilad-Herring CIP Certification, but the $13,000 price tag is causing me to baulk. Any suggestions on how I can build my bona-fides, without breaking the bank?
Comment Wall (3 comments)
You need to be a member of Competitive Intelligence to add comments!
Join Competitive Intelligence
Great story, thanks for sharing. I have a couple of success stories of my own, convincing the C-level in public companies to allow me to create new departments, but not in the CI capacity. Although, in retrospect, it was my talent for gathering, organizing and advising through CI. I'm looking to move into the CI space officially (in Financial Services). I've looked into the Fuld-Gilad-Herring CIP Certification, but the $13,000 price tag is causing me to baulk. Any suggestions on how I can build my bona-fides, without breaking the bank?
Cheers,
- Arik