Impact
We have successfully worked with countless clients to develop their business and enhance their passion. The Sugimoto & Associates team has a successful track record of building growth businesses with strong exit value and on-going profitability.
Results We Drive
Whether it’s a small initiative or a major restructuring, our well honed team brings a unique multidimensional approach to your business. Our experienced team works with you to define clear project goals, assuring sustainable success throughout the project’s life cycle, the strategies are precise and the execution is successful.”
Ghen Sugimoto – President
Successful Project
The Art of Shaving
2001 - 2007
Company description
The Art of Shaving, a pioneer and recognized category leader of the premium shaving market that has received significant industry attention for its revolutionary approach, and has emerged as one of the very few premium, non-apparel retailers with a national footprint that is focused on a male customer. The company develops its products through the entire vertical from formulation through direct to consumer sale.
Project description
- Develop business plan, financial plans, budgets and manage financing for all programs and initiatives
- Design, develop and manage the accounting department
- Oversee human resources and talent management
- Structure a robust multi-channel distribution strategy, encompassing company-owned retail, internet and wholesale channels
- Optimize the distribution strategy and successfully establish the brand
- Streamline warehouse and shipping operations
- Build revenue and earnings acceleration opportunities
Main achivements
Sales increased from under $2 million to tens of millions in six years
The company was acquired by Gillette, P&G at an excellent valuation
The brand went from a locally known retailer to an international segment leader
Successful Project
iCan Benefits
2007 - 2012
Company description
iCan Benefit Group, a direct-to-consumer provider of affordable health and lifestyle benefit plans and insurance services. Through national, syndicated and local mass media outlets, the company markets to the millions of uninsured, underinsured and the senior population.
Project description
- Develop the business plan and organizational structure
- Structure a scalable, stable organization and processes
- Design and implement robust insurance accounting and reporting systems
- Implement KPIs, dashboards and special purpose reporting
- Construct internal controls to assure strict compliance with complex state and federal insurance regulations
- Drive top line revenue through advertising and brand awareness
- Optimize bottom line profitability
- Engineer a claims management department
- Formulate a client services and retention strategy
- Build multiple call centers
Main achivements
Drove top line sales from inception to tens of millions within the 1st three years of operations
Built a regulatory compliant in/outbound call center sales model staffed with hundreds of licensed US insurance agents
Implemented cross/up sell programs, which multiplied bottom line growth
Developed a highly compliant insurance program sold in 49 states
Successful Project
Cordis
2003 - 2007
Company description
Cordis, Johnson & Johnson, a leader in cardiovascular, neurovascular and endovascular healthcare devices. The company designs, manufactures and sells medical devices worldwide. With tens of thousands of employees stationed across the globe, the company exclusively owned the first worldwide patent for drug eluting stents and delivery systems amongst many other innovative solutions.
Project description
- Implement Lean Six Sigma methodologies
- Evaluate nitinol stent fracture risk
- Determine statistically valid testing methods
- Assess regulatory and compliance impacts
- Implement and control design validation
- Transfer manufacturing processes internationally
- Oversee receiving inspection quality assurance
Main achivements
Achieved quality new product development, manufacturing and receiving inspection goals
Saved millions in discarded product and manufacturing costs
Saved months on a new product launch
Transferred and validated manufacturing to Puerto Rico and Mexico
Successful Project
InteractiveMD
2008 - 2012
Company description
InteractiveMD, an early stage telehealth leader. The company provides affordable solutions to the challenge of healthcare access, by giving users 24/7/365 access to licensed physicians and mental health professionals. Whether on the go, traveling or outside of the primary care provider’s office hours, InteractiveMD doctors can help with a wide range of common ailments by offering advice, ordering lab tests, or generating prescriptions when medically appropriate.
Project description
- Develop and implement the business plan
- Launch the program nationally using public relations and direct marketing
- Build a national network of licensed physicians and mental health professionals in each state
- Develop technology and processes to support the business plan
- Form strategic alliances with technology providers, physician groups and insurance companies
- Position the company for maximum valuation at exit within 24-months
Main achivements
Secured national brand recognition, leveraged strategic partnerships with national distribution partners, hospitals and labs
Grew physician network to over 250, with national 24/7 coverage
Grew membership base to over 75,000 active customers within 24-months
Company was successfully acquired
Successful Project
FIU Research Foundation
2012 - Current
Company description
The Florida International University Research Foundation is a scientific and educational advisory organization. This includes promoting, encouraging, and assisting the research and training activities of the faculty, staff, and students of FIU through income from contracts, grants, and other sources, such as income derived from or related to the development and commercialization of University work products.
Project description
- Serve as a elected Board of Directors and Finance Committee member
- Approve financial plans and budgets
- Facilitate the patenting, commercial application and utilization of the university’s faculty, staff, and students discoveries, inventions, processes, and work products
- Foster revenue and earnings acceleration opportunities
- Support a university wide IP development program
- Design and implementation an internal incubator
Main achivements
- Supported the successful incubator launch
- The University significantly increased the number of filed patents
- The results of such research can be made available to the public
- https://research.fiu.edu/research-foundation/committees/
- https://research.fiu.edu/research-foundation/board-of-directors/
Successful Project
Aquaponics
2012 - 2016
Company description
Aquaponics Inc., an agribusiness company that designs and builds self contained aquaponics units for both the educational and hospitality markets, as well as educational curriculum and maintenance programs to support the robust systems.
Project description
- Develop the company’s business plan
- Create a scalable and stable organization to enable monetization of the company’s IP
- Compile multi-disciplined team to engineer the required designs
- Create the associated educational materials and curriculum
- Secure growth funding
- Drive awareness and utilization through social media and public relations
- Develop and implement the organizational structure
- Formulate and deploy a communications strategy
- Forge strategic partnerships to implement the business plan
Main achivements
Drove investment funding allowing for additional IP development
Created partnerships to implement culinary programs for restaurants, which led to increased revenue growth
Developed a highly acclaimed educational program
Obtained a grant from JP Morgan Chase and Florida International University that was successfully implemented in Miami high schools and significantly contributed to raising them from D to A-rated
Successful Project
Oriole
2005 - 2008
Company description
Aquaponics Inc., an agribusiness company that designs and builds self contained aquaponics units for both the educational and hospitality markets, as well as educational curriculum and maintenance programs to support the robust systems.
Project description
- Develop financial plans and budgets
- Manage financing for all programs and initiatives
- Redesign the financial reporting package
- Launch several large projects including a $100 million resort community and $46 million low rise condominium
- Develop the opportunities for revenue and earnings acceleration
- Reestablish and rebuild brand awareness
- Redesign HR system and compensation models
- Succession and resource planning
Main achivements
Leveraging strategic alliances with master developers and forming marketing partnerships, the company’s sales targets were met below the board approved budget
Successful Project
University of Miami
1999 - 2005
Company description
University of Miami Technology Transfer and College of Engineering. Develop a novel solution for breast augmentation implantation in collaboration with a respected plastic surgeon.
Project description
- Collect voice of customer (VOC) surveys used to design functional requirements
- Secure project funding through grant writing
- Develop designs and functional prototypes
- Obtain IP protection
- Test the design prototypes in a clinical setting
Main achivements
Awarded a Lemelson Foundation grant to fund prototype development and commercialization
Received US patent US20060149221A1 Transaxillary breast augmentation instrument and method
Successfully conducted human clinical trials in several live breast augmentation procedures
Start Your Journey to Better Business
- Strategically located in South Florida, USA.
- info@sugimotoassociates.com
- (305) 632-2399