Eddie O

EDWARD O’DEA
eddie@55nine.com

OBJECTIVE:
Sales, marketing, brand building, event planning and/or sponsorship coordination position within the bicycle industry.

QUALIFICATIONS:
A multi-dimensional professional with a focus on both consumer & retailer relationships with proven skills and experience in the following areas:

 Event organization and execution  National elite level endurance athlete
 Project Management and Team Leadership  Entrepreneurship (small business co-owner)
 Marketing and Communications  Retail sales experience
 Public speaking and presentations  Brand Championing
 Small business management  Social networking
 Cycling technical knowledge  Consumer outreach

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Ergon USA
Marketing Representative April 2008-Present
Created and executed Ergon branded endurance race/riding clinics with my wife & Ergon teammate, Namrita. These clinics provide consumers with info on long distance riding, give Ergon a human face in the market place, create positive relationships with retailers and help drive an informed consumer to local retailers. Represented Egron USA at the BRAIN Tour in Minneapolis, MN. During this rolling focus group I met with local retailers to gain insights on the successes and challenges they are faced with & communicated the responses to Ergon’s marketing personnel. Also see the Ergon Goldschpriz info below.

55nine Performance Laser Precision Bike Fitting, Video Analysis, Coaching, Nutrition
Co-owner June 2006-Present
Retail & service small business start-up, marketing and promotions, accounting and finance, public speaking, coaching, event management, certified Wobble-Naught bike fitter, product purchasing and service development. 55nine is focused on helping athletes of all levels progress in cycling, running and multisport by providing coaching, nutrition and technical services.

Ultra-Endurance Mountain Bike Racer
Ultra-Endurance Mountain Bike Racer May 2004-Present
Marketing and promotions for various companies such as Topeak, Ergon USA, Rotwild Bicycles, Kona Bicycles, Light & Motion, Paceline Products, Wingnut Gear and FRS Healthy Energy. Duties include public speaking, brand representation, consumer & retailer outreach, create and maintain online presence. Currently racing for the Topeak-Ergon International Team. Numerous 12 & 24 hour race podiums including two podium appearances at the US National Championships (06 & 07).

Burn 24 Hour Challenge, Fool’s Gold 50 & 100, Southern Cross, Ergon Goldschpriz
Race/event Director October 2004-Present
Owner and director for each of these events in control of budgeting, marketing, promotions, logistics, permitting, volunteer management, risk management, sponsor gathering and relationships, & event execution. These events range from 75 to 400 participants and attract both weekend warriors and professional athletes alike.

Paceline Products & Wingnut Gear
Trade Show Representative September 2006-Present
Represented Paceline Products & Wingnut gear at Interbike and Outdoor Retailer. Explained the benefits and challenges of selling these products to retailers & created strategic alliances with other industry brands.

Sweetwater Brewing Company
Tour Staff May 2009-Present
Responsible for ensuring the good times of brewery visitors during both scheduled tours (tastings) and special events. Expertise includes beer pouring under high pressure with a smile. Also tasked with the sale of merchandise & giving brewery production tours.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (CONTINUED)

PRG Shultz
Network Technician March 2004-August 2006
Enterprise network management, telephone systems management, testing & implementation of hardware and software, trouble shooting

Raymond James Financial
Network Technician August 2001-March 2004
Enterprise network management, testing & implementation of hardware and software, trouble shooting

Event Direction History:

SWAMP Club Events
Tampa Bay, FL June 2001-June 2003
As a member of the club’s BOD, I was tasked with the logistical planning and execution of two events as well as securing sponsorship for both the club and these events. The SWAMP Fat Tire Fest is a weekend long event created during my tenure with the club. This event grew to it’s sell out point of 250 participants in just two years. The Croom 50 is a one day SAG’ed single track ride followed by festivities. This event was capped at 300 and sold out in 3 years.

Burn 24 Hour Challenge
Wilkesboro, NC October 2004 to May 2009
The direction and ownership of this multi-lap format event was taken over from Burn Energy Drinks in its 5th year. They were looking to continue sponsorship of the event while narrowing their focus on their core business. I was able to grow this event from 120 participants (2004) to 300+ participants (2006-2009) through expanded email and aggressive social media campaign. Due to financial restrictions imposed by the land owner, the event has been turned over the local trail stewards and will continue in the future.

Fool’s Gold Mtb Races & Festival
Dahlonega, GA March 2006 to Present
The Fool’s Gold event was a collaborative effort between my wife and I to bring national level mountain bike racing to Georgia. This project took two years to get off the ground, but the first event was a huge success with 125 participants. The focus has been on creating a festival atmosphere along with an epic day of racing. Riders can choose between 50 or 100 miles and both are followed by meals, local beers and bands. We organized food and lodging onsite over the weekend as well. While sponsorship has been very good over the last two editions we are focusing our efforts this year on creating a better experience for those sponsoring the event.

Southern Cross
Ellijay, GA October 2008 to Present
This long distance format cyclo-cross race was a huge hit with the participants. 75 racers were challenged with a 37 mile loop including a 13 mile dirt road climb and 100 yard “run up.” This event served as a promotion for Mulberry Gap a bunkhouse & camp service in Ellijay, GA. Participants where given a “tour” of the property via the race course and then had access to the showers, hot tubs, and other facilities available onsite as an introduction to Mulberry Gap. Many racers made reservations immediately after the event and others heard about the location via the promotions for the event.

Ergon Goldschpriz
Atlanta, GA May 2009
The Ergon Goldschpriz was a small event (75 people) designed to enhance the Ergon brand in the greater Atlanta retail market. Retailers, cycling media, local advocacy groups and a few persons in the cycling community were invited to Sweetwater Brewery for an evening of gold sprint racing, product demos, and of course some fun.

Social Media:
Converting the use of social media outlets into sales is difficult to quantify, but I believe there is a place within a well rounded marketing approach for these new communication tools.

http://eddieodea.com

My personal blog has been online since 2002 and attracts 2000-4000 hits per month. This blog chronicles my racing, training, travels, and occasionally my work.

Twitter
I currently maintain two twitter accounts for both personal & sponsor information and another to promote 55nine Performance.

Facebook
My personal account is used to promote sponsors, 55nine, the events I redirect and other causes. I currently have about 1000+ friends with a bulk of those being interested in cycling. Other accounts maintained or contributed to include: 55nine Performance, Wobble-Naught Bike Fitting, Burn 24 Hour Challenge, Southern Cross, & Ergon.

www.linkedin.com/in/eddieodea

References available upon request.