Launch Key

The most direct route off the corporate merry-go-round is you.

 Leverage your experience to launch digital products at any age. 

Join 1000+ execs and late career entrepreneurs reading the Launch Key newsletter as we share modern tools, old school wisdom and free knowledge gleaned from decades of digital innovation.

Founder | Publisher

EnergyXchain

EnergyXchain was awarded a National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant to conduct research and development work using blockchain technology for transaction processes in the natural gas industry. The company has a growing IP portfolio and patented technology processes that may also be utilized for energy transaction management via smart contracts, with equal applicability in sectors such as hydrogen, carbon attribution tracking, natural gas and electricity.

CEO, co-founder

Empowered

Empowered grew from one question: What if benefits enrollments were easy? Everyone struggled with insurance. Brokers needed more time with clients, HR managers drowned in paperwork and employees couldn't enroll in a basic medical plan without hassle. We wanted to provide everyone with a simple, transparent enrollment process. A process that made it easy for someone to pick the best benefits for their family.

In 2000, we launched our first consumer-driven healthcare programs, sprinting ahead of the industry by prioritizing people. Today millions of employees trust this platform for their benefits. Empowered is  wholly owned by Aflac.

Chief Innovation Officer, co-founder

Leader of the effort to redesign, develop and deploy EDA’s flagship data product as an online analytics tool. Product launch led to 20% increased sales and returned 100% of the investment in the first year post development.  

With the insight that EDA brings to the table, businesses can make better decisions by identifying trends, exploiting market opportunities, supporting sales service dealer strategies, being informed about regional hot spots, and emerging markets.

If you sell, finance or service capital equipment, EDA offers you the priceless information and timely market intelligence you need to get ahead. www.edadata.com. EDA is a Randall-Reilly company.

VP of Sales and Marketing

Vialogix

Web development company focused on user-based web solutions for internet, intranet and extranet applications.  Solutions included e-commerce, Web-enabled and database applications that enabled clients to reduce business costs or increase sales. The business cultivated long-term relationships with a broad client list that included Fortune 500 level companies Baker & Taylor, Bank of America, First Citizens Bank, National Gypsum, Novant Health, and Wachovia.

Rob Norris Communications

Built technology consulting practice specializing in digital asset management. Apple expertise used for creating networks, managing infrastructure with corporate clients - First Union National Bank, Interstate/Johnson Lane, Royal Insurance, advertising agencies in the Charlotte area. Created multimedia CD-ROM projects, interactive projects and first web based tools in 1994.

President

Coleman Lew & Associates

Recruited advertising and marketing executives for a retained search firm. Interviewed prospects and researched backgrounds. Wrote recommendations, presented candidates, negotiated salaries and benefits with clients.

Executive Recruiter

30+ years of business experience creating and leading innovative technology businesses. From the 90's internet to AI, I've carved out a living explaining and building solutions to solve business problems. 

Expertise in application development has been leveraged across energy, health care, financial services, ecommerce and data analytics businesses. I've sold to both Fortune 500 companies and SMB. I've bootstrapped and won National Science Foundation grants. There have been my fair share of entrepreneurial mistakes but have also published patents and even won a SXSW award. 

I'm not quite finished with technology and can help you avoid a few headaches with your own digital products. I recommend resources, and tools to add to your career portfolio and spin up your dream in weeks - not years. My network includes experts in literally every business function and I will happily recommend people who will level up your startup. Win/Win/Win.

Join the Launch Key newsletter for free: 
https://launchkey.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Rob Norris

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁 

And especially to entrepreneurs who have a lot to be thankful for. We never succeed all by ourselves. Take time to show gratitude to customers, employees, partners, mentors, backers but most importantly family. 

This weeks Launch Key ⬇️

Founder | Publisher @ Launch Key 🚀 | Add to your career portfolio with a passion project or side hustle. Join like-minded execs, SMB owners and late-career entrepreneurs reading the Launch Key for digital inspiration.

Open article: Thanksgiving for entrepreneurs by launchkey.beehiiv.com

This week’s Launch Key reminder is that there is no perfect career path. But there are plenty of options to make your own career portfolio far more interesting. 

Just 3 subscriber examples from Dean Otto, Tom Hewitt and Christopher Jones. 

Get in there and read about them for yourself ⬇️

Open article: Career portfolios by launchkey.beehiiv.com

We can't all have a bear steal a chainsaw on camera. 

But if we do, it's a chance to build an audience. Husqvarna social media folks effortlessly joined a funny online conversation and created buzz with humor and product giveaways. 

This week's Launch Key with a little more on the Creator Economy and using your wit. ⬇️

Open article: Creator economy of chainsaw bears by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Growing an audience with humor and experience

Did you see Taylor Sheridan's Billion dollar deal? 

In a time when Hollywood types are scared that AI will replace them, Sheridan just won generational wealth because of authentic talent. All because he bet on himself. 

That's the topic of this week's Launch Key 🚀

Outsized results are possible when you bet on yourself. 

Get in there ⬇️ 

https://lnkd.in/eMZntXVB

Open article: Bet on yourself by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Not all products are digital. 

Your late-career side hustle might not always come out of your work knowledge. Christopher Jones created a non-digital Bloody Mary mix while working on his weekend sailing hobby. 

This week's Launch Key 🚀  has the latest. 

Get in there ⬇️

Open article: Not all products are digital by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Turn your passion project into a late-career side hustle

Corcentric

Leading the design and introduction of a must-have e-invoicing product across the Corcentric customer base affecting $billions in invoices. Through a single connection, Corcentric customers will comply with varying government mandates that require issuing and receiving e-invoices.

Senior Product Manager

Point of Rental Software

Orchestrate a team of 4 business analysts / product managers and a release manager to coordinate sales, marketing, professional services, and support teams for 4 rental ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) across thousands of global customers running on-premises and in the cloud. Steer market analysis, pricing plans, product lifecycles and go-to-markets.
Key Accomplishments:
•	Boosted cloud sales from zero to 50%+ by relaunching cloud offering for company’s flagship ERP. 
•	Tapped to implement product lifecycle and product go-to-market processes from scratch. 
•	Redesigned and rolled out global pricing and packaging for all products for Americas, EMEA, and APAC.
•	Doubled credit card lead success rate through implementation of alliance partner program.

Director of Product Strategy / Operations

ECI Software Solutions

Provide product management for Macola and KnowledgeSync.  Connect with end users and partners to set and rally around a strategic direction.  Orchestrate product evolution among 13+ teams including sales, marketing, support, finance and development.  Maintain product road maps, pricing policies, and motivate staff around products and goals.
Key Accomplishments:
•	Enabled cloud deployment to customers by completing on-premises-to-cloud offering for Macola ERP.
•	Completed launch of KnowledgeSync to cloud. 
•	Rolled out and grew compliance revenue from zero to substantial expansion revenue in 2020 via collaboration with legal team. 
•	Realized greatest profit potential by incorporating voice of customer into balanced investment portfolios.

Never Idle, LLC

Tapped to orchestrate product development from the setup of sales operations to defining the company’s rental processes encompassing back-office, contracts, inspections, and fulfillment.
Key Accomplishments:
•	Directed rapid development and launch of initial SaaS customer-facing web and mobile software in 6 months.
•	Translated general business strategy into functioning and innovative rental process.

Product Development Manager

Equify, LLC

Oversaw sales operations, including administering CRM software, marketing automation, and data analysis. 
Key Accomplishments:
•	Ensured substantial savings by facilitating key internal developments, including negotiating marketing and data vendor pricing, incorporating Google Analytics conversion tracking, and providing end-to-end lead management. 
•	Analyzed sales and operation transactions to maximize performance, populate prospect marketing lists, and identify marketing trends, opportunities, and results. 
•	Decreased data maintenance labor 75% through automation.
•	Addressed needs of end-users by reconfiguring SugarCRM, and bolstered CRM data activity by retraining end-users. 
•	Introduced weekly standard sales reporting for 4 business units. 
•	Organized and steered deployment of SugarCRM and Marketo for 60 end-users.

Senior Market Data Analyst

Fusable

Oversaw a $22M product portfolio with 1,000 clients. Supervised a 45 staff team under a $1.5M budget. Facilitated research, business planning, database development, user interface design, and quality assurance for the company’s flagship SaaS products and new product launches.  Built and secured strategic relationships with government agencies and data vendors in the U.S., Ukraine, India, and Britain.

Key Accomplishments:
•	Launched the information technology vertical. 
•	Automated processes to reduce new product vertical launch times from 5 years to less than 18 months.
•	Designed a quality metrics program that decreased cancellations and increased append coverage by 20%. 
•	Implemented process automation, software upgrades, and process mapping to increase productivity 50%.

Vice President, Data Production

Chosen by president to take over and turn around a struggling subscription product line, Top Bid. Created road maps, which included implementing software enhancements (e.g. the latest servers, software, and sales systems) to significantly improve productivity and workflow. 

Key Accomplishments:
•	Stabilized sales using value-based sales techniques and increasing prices.
•	Automated processes to increase productivity 25%. 
•	Spearheaded developments for the company’s first major proof-of-concept data product.

Director, End-User Products

Managed more than $2 million in revenue while marketing information products to global companies and dealer networks. Led internal and external engagements to drive sales and evolve product offerings in changing markets.

Key Accomplishments:
•	Created a comprehensive prospect database that landed more than $1M in recurring sales.
•	Ideated a new pricing strategy that ultimately doubled revenue growth for the entire division.
•	Joined the Steering Committee to redesign the flagship product.
•	Negotiated deals and spoke at over a dozen conferences and trade shows. 
•	Conducted up to six online WebEx demos daily to drive consumer awareness.

Product Manager

Accomplished, strategic leader with history of significantly elevating organizational profitability and efficiency by driving end-to-end management of software products. 10 years of product management excellence plus 7 years of people leadership experience (two years at the VP level with 45 staff). Adept at maximizing product growth through market research, stakeholder feedback, process design, and business planning. Comprehensively manage product profitability drivers, including new logo sales, expansion sales, retention, marketing, support, professional services, and development. Excel at staff coaching, leadership, and development. Leverage seven years of B2B sales experience to expertly engage customers and prospects for market research, selling, and client retention.

Selected Areas of Expertise:
Large-Scale Product Operations | Strategic Planning | Product Development & Analytics | Team Leadership | Staff Development & Coaching | Customer Relationship Management | Stakeholder Engagement | Software Development | SaaS | Agile | Pricing & Packaging | Product Launch | P&L | Project &  Program Management | Voice of Customer Research | Competitive Analysis | Portfolio Management | Data & Analytics | Artificial Intelligence | Process Improvement & Automation | Workflow Design | Database Design | Software Specifications | E-Invoicing | B2B Sales & Marketing | GTM | Business Development

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The Battle

Rob Norris

David Austin

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Performance ScoreRob Norris's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Rob Norris

David Austin

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Rob Norris's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreRob Norris's LinkedIn Performance