- Advisory Role: Marketing Operations and Business Development
Jacob Berman has more than thirty years of experience in business development, marketing, and operations for global enterprises. He has served in executive management positions in marketing logistics, sales, and finance, has directed operations for large shipping and warehousing facilities, and was a pioneer in bringing call center technologies and services to developing countries.
Mr. Berman most recently served as Vice President of Business Development and Operations for MediaBound LLC, a “Just-in-Time” IT-focused marketing logistics and spend management solution provider. MediaBound better facilitates the needs of print and promotional product manufacturers and distributors with specialized business services and software applications. Prior to this, he worked in the U.S. and overseas as Senior Trader, Eastern Regional operations for Continental Grain Company, leading to streamlined sourcing and provisioning and top sales numbers in the region, and as Vice President/General Manager of AGRI Export (a subsidiary of AGRI Industries, one of the largest grain export, bagging, and general cargo port facilities in the United States).
Mr. Berman was also Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Polytex Fibers, a polypropylene bag manufacturer in Houston, wherein he captured over 70% of U.S. market share in his first year with the company. His deep knowledge of international commodity trading, and experience as a business turnaround expert, led to a prior position in Latin America for Lloyds International Trading, a division of the United kingdom’s Lloyd’s Bank, and his founding of Uni-Trade Inc., which assessed and turned around ailing businesses in the U.S. and in the developing world.
One of Mr. Berman’s most significant professional accomplishments was his establishment, in 1994, of PIASI (Philippines International Audiotext Services, Inc.), the first-ever call center in the Philippines. As Co-Founder of PIASI, he oversaw the implementation of large-scale call center telecommunications systems, and hired, trained, and managed teams of nearly 1,000 employees.
Mr. Berman received a Master of Business Administration degree in International Management (with honors) from Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. In addition to his strategic role with Mitra Creative, he is a Co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of xF Technologies, Inc., an advanced cellulosic biofuel company seeking to introduce novel oxygenates into the fuel supply.