Norb has specialized in advertising management planning and client/agency relationship management for over 35 years as a partner with MARC USA and most recently, as President of his independent consulting practice based in Miami. Has worked in most agency departments with many different agency positions, gaining valuable exposure to virtually every major function and facet of the advertising business including creative, production, client services, operations, human resources, and all levels of management, culminating with President of MARC USA’s Miami office.
Has a Masters degree in Human Resource Management, and has led many significant organizational change initiatives for business enterprises and non-profit boards with tact and diplomacy. Is a former Chairman of the national Board of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and remains a member of LLS’s USA and Canada boards. For LLS, orchestrated the first strategic planning process, LLS re-branding and the reengineering of the national board.
As an independent consultant and advisor, engagements have been focused on Senior Management counsel, in-house marketing department planning and reorganization, agency searches, agency relationship planning and contract negotiations, and client-agency relationship monitoring.
As change agent and inside consultant, facilitated myriad corporate change initiatives such as new unit launches, team-based reengineering, and adoption of agency best practices throughout the organization.
Revamped MARC USA’s entire client/agency relationship planning process for significant win-win productivity gains for the agency and our clients. Led the majority of the initial client/agency contract negotiations with clients like Rite Aid, True Value, UPMC, Bryant, Mellon Bank and Checkers, just to name a few. Reinvented the HR function. Spearheaded the design and facilitated the transition from the traditional department structure to the re-engineered, cross-functional, nationally-recognized team structure. Led expansion office acquisition integration in NY, Chicago, Indianapolis, Dallas and Miami, providing strategic, financial and operational/agency best practices consulting as well as directing the internal training and transitioning of MARC’s regional offices to the team-based structure. Was a guest speaker at a number of Ad Industry conferences on Agency Reengineering.
As President of NJS Consulting, serves as an impartial business management advisor and expert generalist to marketers and advertising agencies. Support for the creative service and media industry includes counseling/coaching on management planning and decision-making, planning and integration of mergers and acquisitions, coaching/training on cross-functional team structures as well as the development and nurturing of long-term client/agency relationships and client/agency relationship best practices.
Areas of focus include strategic brand development, evaluation of the marketing communications planning and advertising development process and programs, examination and reengineering of marketing department and agency structures, agency searches, contract negotiations and relationship monitoring, IMC Planning strategy and marketing director searches, integration, training and coaching.
NJS Consulting engagements have involved working with Applebee's, McCann-Erickson/NY, MRM Worldwide, Wunderman/Chicago, Arby’s, BBDO, Initiative Media, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Code & Theory, Deutsch, Eventus, Ketchum PR, McGarry Bowen, Richards/Lerma, Papa John's Pizza, Grey, Wing, Heartland Homes, High End Finishes & Installations, UHealth, Common Ground/MGS, Affordable Hurricane Solutions, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, EVOLVE Communications/Orlando, Parking Management Systems, Inc. and Miami’s Community Newspapers.
Other collaborative engagements include working as an associate of EBJ International Consultants, Inc. of Dallas, Texas on a project basis as well as working in partnership with Round Table Advisers, a group that provides comprehensive consulting services to the International Restaurant Industry.