Lou Pugliese – President, Moodlerooms

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SUMMARY

C- level experience with an emphasis in large scale corporate strategic growth, business development, marketing, sales and product development. Proven leadership ability in developing and executing strategic direction, revenue growth and business diversification.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Moodlerooms Inc.
President

2010 – Present
Baltimore, MD

  • Responsible for development, implementation and the sustainable execution of strategic goals and objectives of Moodlerooms.
  • Provides direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategy, and its annual goals and objectives.
  • Provides central leadership to position the company at the forefront of the eLearning industry amidst a great state of change.
  • Designs strategies to advance the company’s mission and objectives and to promote revenue, profitability and growth as an organization as well as provide oversight in company operations to insure production efficiency, quality, service, and cost-effective management of resources.

Learning Diagnostics
President

2006 – 2010
Oak Hill, VA

An education holding company and consulting organization serving fortune 500 organizations involved in global e-learning initiatives. Current activities include;

  • Capital development for early and mid stage education business’s
  • Private equity investment strategy and business expansion
  • Numerous hands on board level involvement and oversight

Educational Testing Service
VP Corporate Development

2003 – 2006
Princeton, NJ

  • Company Officer responsible for 5 cross division functional centers of excellence combining development, M&A, sales, marketing, market centered design and corporate strategy
  • Higher Education and Global divisions

Responsible for overall large scale corporate development, growth and innovation

Educational Testing Service
VP Corporate Development

2003 – 2006
Princeton, NJ

  • Company Officer responsible for overall growth and development of ESE’s expansion and business diversification in K12
  • New product development and high growth M&A strategy & execution
  • Performed numerous business acquisitions extending the value chain of ESE’s traditional offerings
  • CEO of ETS Pulliam- lead strategic direction, business leverage and vertical integration into ETS

Educational Testing Service
Business Strategy Consultant

2002 – 2003
Princeton, NJ

  • Developed central E-learning strategy for long tern revenue and market share growth
  • Created product strategy for new product offerings designed to add new annuity sales opportunities
  • Developed JV and acquisition financial models for both domestic and international markets

Novak Biddle Venture Partners
Entrepreneur in Residence

2000 – 2001
Mclean, VA

  • Developed investment thesis for educational technology sector investments

Appointed CEO of Answerlogic, Inc., an NLP technology solution provider in CRMRestructured business and created strategic path towards profitability

  • Negotiated M&A opportunities and concluded sale of Answerlogic to Primus, Inc.

BLACKBOARD, INC.
Chief Executive Officer

1998 – 2000
Washington, DC

  • Oversight of all management, leadership and operations of Blackboard and the long-term strategic direction of Blackboard’s business
  • Shaped a high-growth, diversified business gaining international recognition as a leader in online education
  • Achieved 600-percent annual revenue growth to $18 million in 20 months
  • Grew installed base including 20 corporations, K-12 and Higher Education to over 3,000 institutions in 70 countries
  • Expanded user base to more than 2.1 million individuals teaching and learning on Blackboard
  • Lead and managed multiple acquisitions adding market share and add-on capabilities
  • Roll-out of multiple products and services that build on the Blackboard platform
  • Raised over $51 million in private financing, and expanded company from 15 to over 200 employees

ETC W/ TCI
Chief Operating Officer

1996 – 1998
Washington, DC

  • Directed K-12 product development, sales and marketing initiatives including educational consulting for customized technology solutions, learning software, accountability and assessment programs, and professional development
  • Generated over $8 million in one year in a start-up enterprise in technology based learning programs
  • Produced $1.5 million in IS and telecommunications consulting revenue in a specialized market startup business
  • Developed business strategy for TCI’s Educational Technology Centers, shifting to new professional development and training programs to meet market opportunities. Trained over 2,000 educators
  • Managed marketing and sales of a professional development distance learning network for educators and administrators
  • Reengineered TCI’s online educational software development and created award winning multimedia

and online curriculum for schools

  • Developed business strategies for a broadband cable data network providing high-speed access to online

multimedia, Internet and curriculum tools for schools

Learning Diagnostics
Director Marketing and Sales

1995 – 1996
New York, NY

  • Led research and development for market positioning of online and multimedia products and services.
  • Developed strategic third party relationships for distribution and co-marketing of multimedia and online products in education and consumer channels
  • Led start-up team effort in marketing, sales and product development for Scholastic Network , the first Internet based teaching and learning resource for schools and homes.
  • Created and executed marketing and sales plans leveraging company wide resources
  • Negotiated and managed relationships with consultants, overall management of marketing and field sales staff of 30, responsible for aggressive revenue goals of over $5 million
  • Supervised proprietary marketing channels for school software products yielding $20 million
  • Hired and directed research organizations, advertising agencies and public relations firms to support start-up and ongoing marketing and product development activities

Turner Educational Services
Vice President

1989 – 1995

  • Development and marketing of new products and services for television and emerging technologies serving homes, schools and libraries
  • Developed Turner Adventure Learning, a series of live, interactive electronic field trips designed as innovative teaching solutions for the school and home education market
  • Researched and developed business plan for Turner Broadcasting’s entry into the on-line

telecommunications industry

  • Created on-line services for numerous education-related programs and consumer related applications on America Online and commercial on-line services.
  • Managed special projects connecting CNN and Turner programming to the education markets for schools and homes
  • In conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute for Technology, designed and developed CNN Newsroom Interactive, an Internet-based video push service for schools
  • Negotiated distribution agreements including cable distribution, Pay-Per-View and Public

Broadcasting, for Turner Adventure Learning, CNN Newsroom and other original Turner Productions

Turner Educational Services
Project Director

  • Launched CNN’s start-up venture in the education market through the creation of CNN NewsroomSM, a news program designed for classroom use
  • Designed strategic marketing campaigns in sales and public relations yielding participation of over 30,000 schools and 5 million students, over 30% of the public education market
  • Managed sales, marketing and content development
  • Directed Cable Sales affiliate staff implementing targeted affiliate relations programs on both system wide , state and MSO levels
  • Managed project budget of $3,000,000, authorized operational and capital expenses, developed budgets, analyzed variances, and updated financial reports

NEW JERSEY NETWORK:
Director, Broadcast Operations

1981 – 1989
Trenton, NJ

  • Managed and supervised on-air program schedule related to broadcast operations of a statewide PBS

affiliate network

  • Supervised operations staff including production supervisors, producers of on-air promotion, continuity coordinators, traffic assistants, master control and other broadcast operations staff.
  • Conceived, created and implemented statewide promotional image campaign using film animation spots, direct mail, trade advertising and on-air promotion
  • Designed and implemented automated program schedule software
  • Established incremental revenue through institutional and home video software sales program leveraging locally produced film and video programming

EDUCATION

Pennsylvania State University
BA Speech Communications in Broadcast Communications

1975
State College, PA

www.moodlerooms.com

Interview Air Date: July 21, 2012