Ira Blumenthal is also a visiting instructor at Michigan State University and the University of Notre Dame ... and author of  Ready, Blame, Fire!, his popular book focusing on the "myths" and "misses" in marketing,  ... and a tireless community activist who is a leader in the national fight against hunger as an advisory board member of Foodchain (the national food-rescue network) and an energetic youth sports coach.

Due to his international reputation as a visionary business leader and expert in growth strategies, Ira has been featured and interviewed in a wide range of media sources, such as The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, BrandWeek, Entrepreneur, USA Today, CNN and others.

And so, consultant ... writer ... university instructor ... public speaker ... author ... community activist ... and energetic visionary business expert ... Ira Blumenthal is truly a modern-day business "Renaissance Man."

Food Industry

Highly respected as a food industry visionary, Ira has counseled world class clients such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, Kroger, McDonald's, Harrah's, Albertson's, TGI Friday's, United Artists, Disney, Sara Lee, Wal*Mart, Fairmont Hotels, The Marriott Corporation, Circle K, Darden, Brinker, The Compass Group and more…

He received one of the highest honors in the industry as its 1990 recipient of "The Key Person Award" (IFMA). His list of food industry honors and awards are many. He has also been featured and quoted in virtually every food industry publication (foodservice AND retail), as well as media sources such as "The Wall Street Journal," "USA Today," "BrandWeek," "People," CNN, "Entrepreneur" and others… These media sources have used Ira as a food industry subject matter expert.

He is a published author. . .the recipient of the coveted "George Washington Honor Medal For Literary Excellence" (Freedoms Foundation). . .the former host of a popular radio talk show ("SuccessTalk"). . .and has served as visiting university instructor at BOTH The Foodservice Institute (The University of Notre Dame) AND The Food Industry Institute (MichiganStateUniversity). He has also guest lectured at many institutions, including The Culinary Institute of America, commencement exercises at the University of Houston and more… Ira is also the first "Executive in Residence" at GeorgiaStateUniversity's School of Hospitality.

As a food industry leader, he created the first restaurant-branded food court in an American supermarket. . .is founder of the food industry's "Branding Institute". . .has been credited as one of the early pioneers of "home meal replacement". . .and has led in the conversion of over a dozen foodservice brands into retail consumer packages. . .and is a frequent speaker and EDUCATOR on food, foodservice, retail and restaurant related issues.

Serving as the catalyst and dynamic strategist working for The Coca-Cola Company and The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation in their shared commitment to making foodservice an important "industry of choice," Ira is the co-founder and former Executive Director of the Resource Center For Workforce Solutions. 
 
Program Topics
 
Brand-Building For Your Future - Products are consumed. Brands are purchased. In our branded world, we make Xerox copies, blow our nose in Kleenex, snack on Jell-O, relax in the Jacuzzi and cover wounds with Band-Aids. From Nike on our hats to Tommy on our shirts to Swatch on our watches and Starbucks in our cups, branding is critical to business development. This session focuses on the philosophy, strategy, guiding principles and "best practices" to create, build, maintain and manage brand success. After all, regardless of what your title is, everyone's a brand manager… Great examples, provocative anecdotes and purposeful humor make this a great session, especially when customized for the industry, client and event. Everyone's a brand manager!
 
Myths and Misses in Marketing - Based on Ira's book, "Ready, Blame, Fire!", this energetic speech (or workshop) focuses on challenging conventional wisdom. Targeting the fourteen greatest "myths" in marketing (i.e. "Bigger Is Better!", "Close Enough Is Good Enough," "The First One In Wins," "It Won't Happen Here!," etc.), participants learn from history (the "misses") and gain a well-defined understanding of the "compelling imperatives" for success in a complex, highly competitive business climate. The focus of this session is on business development, quantum leap growth, alternative channels of distribution and marketing success.
 
Strength In Numbers - Call it business development synergies, joint ventures, partnering, or strategic alliances… there is truly "strength in numbers!" This highly interactive keynote educates and motivates companies of all sizes (entrepreneurial, second tier, mid-size, multi-national) on the importance, power and viability of alliances. After all, we are fast-moving into "The Age of Collaboration." Collaborative advantage leads to competitive advantage. 
 
Change Is Inevitable. Growth Is Optional. - There is one constant in life (and business)… change! Yet, change is not new. What is new is the incredible speed of change. Industries, companies and careers have gone from "distinction" to "extinction" because of their inability to adapt, adjust and master change. This session offers a high-content, high-energy, "hands on" approach to embracing, as well as capitalizing on change in business building. After all, change is to business what oxygen is to life.
 
The DNA of Success - In business and in life, success (and fulfillment) is not an accident. Using dynamic messages on success from his talk show interviews with "success stories" such as Colin Powell, Mario Andretti, Debbi Fields, Tommy Lasorda and others, as well as his diverse business career, Ira provides audiences with the compelling imperatives for success, fulfillment and peak performance. Filled with "best practice" examples, provocative anecdotes and purposeful humor, this is a high-appeal speech with great content. The company (and career) on top of the mountain didn't fall there!
 
Managing Brand You - What if you thought of yourself as a brand? Everyone struggles with what they stand for… or what they'd like to stand for… Each one of us is a brand. This speech focuses on the disciplines of business branding and applies them to the process of crafting, developing, extending, managing and protecting your most important brand… "Brand You!" Ideal for business executives, sales professionals, even non-business audiences… this is an interactive, high-energy, fun-filled educational (and inspirational) speech (and workshop) experience. What if you thought of yourself as a brand?