Dennis E. Mason

Professional Consultant / Author

A seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in marketing, sales, distribution, operations and engineering. Significant executive experience in high growth and startup environments, new product and new market situations, acquisitions, divestitures and downsizing.

Business Experience

MASON CONSULTING, Western Springs, IL, and Zionsville, IN
1990 – Present

President of an independent consulting practice serving the graphic arts, electronics and software industries. The practice focuses upon new products, new markets, distribution, and product positioning of high technology products. Clients include manufacturers, importers, suppliers, distributors, and consumers of such products.

DS AMERICA, Chicago, IL
1985 – 1990

Vice President—Sales and Marketing, and Vice President—Operations of the $65 million North American subsidiary of a major Japanese corporation which imports, sells and services sophisticated optical, electronic and electromechanical equipment and supplies through dealers and directly to printers and packaging firms. Responsible for North American sales and marketing, order entry, inventory, purchasing, warehousing, importing and exporting, facilities and data processing.

ZENITH ELECTRONICS, Chicago, IL
1983 – 1985

Director of Marketing for a $250+ million division supplying OEM electronic components and subassemblies to virtually every computer and terminal manufacturer worldwide.

ROCKWELL INTL, GRAPHIC SYSTEMS DIV, Chicago, IL
1977 – 1983

Director—Business Planning for a $400+ million autonomous division engaged in the worldwide manufacture and distribution of highly engineered industrial and printing equipment. Member of Division Management Committee. Responsible for product planning, market research and assessment of competitors’ technical, financial and market positions, including closely held and foreign companies. Prepared annual strategic business plan. Extensive international emphasis.

QWIP SYSTEMS, DIV OF EXXON, Oak Brook, IL
1975 – 1977

Central Regional Manager of a venture capital subsidiary of the petroleum company which manufactured and rented low cost facsimile equipment. Staffed and managed offices in eight Midwestern cities

BOWMAR INSTRUMENT CORP, Fort Wayne, IN
1971 – 1975

Vice President—Marketing and Engineering, and Director—Market Development. Member of Corporate Operating Committee. Developed new products and markets. Preparedlong-range business plans. Responsible for relations with advertising agencies, public relations counsel, shareholders and security analysts. Conceived the marketing strategy leading to growth of corporation from $13 million to $80 million in less than four years. Performed market research and product positioning leading to introduction of the first pocket calculator ever manufactured. Developed private label manufacturing business at Sears, Radio Shack and others, yielding more than $40 million in sales.

Affiliations

American Mensa
Life Member
Research & Engineering Council of the Graphic Arts and Research & Engineering Council of NAPL
Member of the Steering Committee, Research & Engineering Council of the Graphic Arts and Research & Engineering Council of NAPL. 1995-2009.
NPES: National Printing and Equipment and Supply Association
Member, Board of Directors, NPES: National Printing and Equipment and Supply Association, Washington, DC, 1987 to 1990. Chairman of Market Research Committee, with $100,000 annual budget to perform industrywide research studies.
Graphic Arts Technical Foundation
Member, Research Advisory Committee, Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, 1988 to 1990
Graphic Arts Marketing Information Services
Member, Board of Directors, Graphic Arts Marketing Information Services, Printing Industries of America, Arlington, VA, 1987.
Triton College
Member, Research Advisory Committee, Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, 1988 to 1990
District 101 School Board
Member and President, District 101 School Board, Western Springs, IL, 1979 to 1985.

Education

Butler University
Master of Business Administration

Missouri University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering

Honors

Ben Franklin Honor Society, Printing Industries of America
Inducted 2013

Nonpareil Society of the Research & Engineering Council of the Graphic Arts Industry,
Inducted 2000

Academy of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Inducted 1983

Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in Advertising