Aki Spicer

Strategic Planning Director @ FALLON WORLDWIDE

Minneapolis

United States

www.fallontrendpoint.blogspot.com

Aki is a Strategic Planning Director at Fallon Minneapolis, where he has serviced Purina Pet Brands, Citi, and Children's Defense Fund.

Aki joined the Fallon team from Vigilante NYC, an urban and youth markets specialist of Leo Burnett/Publicis Groupe S.A. where he worked on accounts such as GM/Pontiac, Disney Wide World of Sports, Western Union, Liz Claiborne, Ad Council. Throughout his career, Aki has consulted on brand strategy, trends, and brand licensing for Reebok, New Era, Skechers, Coca-Cola, Red Bull, Smirnoff Ice, Virgin Mobile, and Sprite. Aki also previously served as VP Marketing at Rocawear, an urban youth fashion brand.

Aki presents workshops throughout the United States on topics such as youth and multicultural branding, trends, and social media measurement and effectiveness. He has been featured in Creativity, Shift, Women’s Wear Daily, Advertising Age, and Sixty. Read articles daily from Aki on the Web at http://www.fallontrendpoint.blogspot.com/.

Recent public event presentations incl:

-Co-Presenter, "Blogging the Agency" @ AAAA Account Planning Conference 2007

-Co-Presenter, "Advertising in a Web 2.0 Context" @ Advertising Federation MPLS

-Panelist on topic of "Advertising Trends" @ Marketing Forward Conference 2006

RESUME

Strategy, Trends and Consumer Insight, particularly within sphere of burgeoning "social media".
Strategic Planning Director at Fallon Minneapolis, servicing Nestle Purina Pet Brands, TheLadders.com, ongoing new biz, and Children's Defense Fund.
Aki joined the Fallon team from Vigilante NYC, an urban and youth markets specialist of Leo Burnett/Publicis Groupe S.A. Aki also previously served as VP Marketing at Rocawear, an urban youth fashion brand.

Specialties
Aki presents workshops both within the agency and throughout the United States on topics such as trends, and social media.
He is also a founding officer in the philanthropic network, Planning For Good (more info @ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4736469785).
Read articles and updates daily from Aki on the Web at http://www.fallontrendpoint.blogspot.com/.

Experiences

FALLON WORLDWIDE : 10/2005 - Present
Strategic Planning Director
Aki is a Strategic Planning Director at Fallon Minneapolis, where he services Nestle Purina Pet Brands, NBC Universal, TheLadders.com and Children's Defense Fund. Previously serviced Citigroup North America (Citicard and Citibank), Ready4K, Guthrie Theater, and National Academy Foundation.

Founder and curator of Fallon Planning Blog initiatives (http://www.fallontrendpoint.blogspot.com/ and http://www.meshly.com/channel/fallonplanningblog) as well as ongoing trend analyses, viral video strategies, and social media metrics for clients and agency.

Lead ongoing agency education with monthly "Brainfood" presentations and "Next Sessions" interviews with industry experts about trends and case studies.
VIGILANTE / LEO BURNETT / PUBLICIS : 03/2003 - 10/2005
Account Planning Manager, Urban ThinkTank
A youth/urban-focused idea thinktank for clients and Publicis Groupe S.A.–network agencies (including Leo Burnett, Chemistri, Publicis NY).

As Director of Planning, manage department of 4, and lead research+insight+strategy, with signature research tools such as, STREET SPIES™, TRENDTRACKER™, URBAN PULSE™, ANTENNAE™, and AD KEYS. Direct brand strategy, brand auditing, competitive research, consumer insights+segmentations, business proposals, ideation sessions, focus group moderation, presentation decks for project accounts incl: General Motors/Pontiac, Disney Wide World of Sports, US Tennis Association, PXS Liqueurs, Western Union, L’Oreal/Soft Sheen Carson, Nitromed/Bidil, Liz Claiborne, CCA Industries/Bikini Zone, Plus White, AARP, Ad Council (w/American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association). Report to CEO Larry Woodard.
ROCAWEAR : 2003 - 2003
Vice-President of Marketing
A hip-hop lifestyle conglomerate comprised of streetwear brands ROCAWEAR, STATE PROPERTY, TEAM ROC, and ARMADALE VODKA, led by Damon Dash, Jay-Z, and Biggs Burke.

As VP Marketing for Rocawear (a youth, urban lifestyle apparel brand for men, women, and kids, generating $300Million in annual revenues), led a department of 16 and directed brand identity/strategy/management, creative direction, advertising, project planning (short range + long range), fiscal budgeting, grassroots marketing, web strategies, retail/pos marketing, licensee coordination, global strategic alliances & cross-promotion for Rocawear and licensees (Kids/Juniors/Mens/Accessories), Rocawear Japan/Europe/Canada, State Property, Team Roc, Roc-A-Fella Records, Armadale Vodka, Arremetida Cigars, Tiret Watches.

Reported to CEO Damon Dash and Chief Brand Officer David Gensler.
MACHINE : 02/1997 - 08/2003
President/CEO/Brand Strategist
A boutique branding consultancy focused upon brand incubation and ideation towards the youth and urban spheres.

Brand Strategist and leader of an elite full-service advertising/branding agency, directed a team of 12 and developed brand advertising proposals, strategy, creative concepting/account planning for corporate identity, image, advertising, internet, television, event promotions, press relations for clientele accounts incl: McDonald’s, Levi Strauss Signature, Reebok I3, Ford, MS-NBC, Inner-City Games, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers, Skechers, Absolut, Avia, Finish Line, Kohls, Wilson Tennis, Roundhouse, CTE/Epix, Performance Sports Apparel/Medalist, X-Static, Coca-Cola, Zanzibar Blue, Warmdaddy’s, American Tourister Travelwear, Citizens Bank, Rootdown Magazine, Sprite Remix, Red Bull, Anheuser-Busch, Smirnoff Ice Triple Black.
Self-employed : 07/1989 - 02/1993
Freelance Director/Producer
Commercial/Music Video Director/Producer servicing national advertising agencies incl: McCann-Erickson, J. Walter Thompson, Weightman Group, Jive Records, Warner Bros. Records, Franklin-Spier, Red Tettemer, Lifetime, MS-NBC, Rainbow Media, MCI.

Education