Darcy Kieran

Founder / Author

2008 – Present

Author of Scubanomics.com to establish and promote operational standards in the scuba diving industry, therefore ensuring consistency in the quality of the experience (in and out of the dive store) with increased brand value and reliability. It's time for a Blue Ocean strategy for the dive industry! Author of ScubaDiverPress.com to demystify how to safely learn scuba diving for a lifetime of worldwide adventures. Your life isn’t a playground; it’s a water park!

Co-Founder

2016 – Present

Niche Publishing & Cross-Functional Digital Marketing. Édition de niche et marketing numérique interfonctionnel.

Member Board Of Directors

2018 – 2020

The Canada-Florida Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Quebec-Florida Chamber of Commerce) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of bilateral trade and investment. Signature activities include trade missions, personalized consulting services, seminars, international conferences, and networking events. The CFCC has offices in Montreal, Canada, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Toronto and Orlando activities are launching in 2020.

Acting COO

2018 – 2018

Strategic advisor to the Founder & CEO. Acting COO building a team to complete R&D and get ready for scaling up the production. Supported a late-seed financing round. Defined and structured the sales & marketing strategy. Planned and initiated expansion into the American market. Ubios: Merging AI, IoT and Smart Home to bring “The End of Water Damages” to multi-residential properties. It’s peace of mind for landlords, condo owners, condo boards, and insurers. Artificial Intelligence. Internet of Things. Home Automation. Building Automation. Smart Building.

President

2013 – 2016

Operated a retail chain of sporting goods stores, 2 adventure sport resort destinations, a fleet of charter boats and an online retailer; responsible for full P&L; implemented new eCommerce platform (Magento) & launched brand website. Grew number of stores from 6 to 8; managed all employees (100 – 150); expanded new product lines; relaunched in-house apparel brand (EVO); developed & launched new activity-related brand (Emocean).

President & CEO

2000 – 2015

Owned an all-inclusive dive center; oversaw company strategies, departments & operations, including full P&L, recruiting, staff training, financing, inventory management, merchandising, marketing & store management. Drove revenues from $180K to $2M in 3 years; oversaw development, launch and P&L management of a sporting goods eCommerce website; developed Montreal dive center from standard PADI dive center to the only PADI CDC (Career Development Center) in Eastern Canada, the highest level of certification. Founded Total Diving. Established Total Diving as a National Geographic dive center; developed & implemented customer acquisition strategy and recurring revenue stream. Acquired another dive center in the market, improved customer acquisition, and management, then resold in 2 years with a 212% ROI. Developed comprehensive training programs that PADI used as a role model when training new Course Directors everywhere in the World. A video has been produced a few years ago by PADI with Mr. Kieran and is still being used in Course Director training courses. Prepared the company to be sold. Completed the sale while ensuring continuance in the quality of the experience by selling it to a fellow PADI Course Director and member of the Total Diving staff.

Owner, President & CEO

2009 – 2013

Canadian distributor of Beuchat's scuba diving, freediving, snorkeling, spearfishing and swimming lines of products. Negotiated and secured international distribution rights; managed the startup; full P&L responsibility.

Co-Founder / Advisor

2008 – 2013

Acquired an ailing Montessori preschool and kindergarten, created a new brand and new business plan to turn around and grow the school; identified/hired operational staff to run the school; implemented aggressive marketing strategy, doubling student attendance and square footage in 2 years; obtained additional Government permits to further expand.

Owner / Consultant

1991 – 2013

Founded, owned & operated a book publishing company for radio broadcasting; prepared license applications or renewals with FCC-equivalent CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission); developed new radio formats; launched 2 radio stations under new branding. Authored a textbook used in communication courses in colleges and universities in Canada. Topic: How to be a successful radio announcer and program director ("Le métier d'animateur radio et de directeur de la programmation radio").

Assistant VP, Sales

1995 – 2001

Recruited for Strategic IPO Team (the most successful IPO in Canadian history); promoted to AVP of Sales for largest division (US North-East & Eastern Canada); built & managed 22-member sales force; grew sales 12%+ year-over-year, achieving 155% of target; converted $300K account to $19M flagship alliance in less than 3 years; created and instituted companywide benchmark sales training program.

Sales Manager

1992 – 1993

Went back to Montreal to pursue an MBA at McGill University. Managed the sales team for a local radio station (CKOD) under new ownership. Built a new sales team; established marketing strategies, rate cards and prospecting lists; coached new sales representatives.

General Manager

1990 – 1991

Recruited to turnaround 4 declining radio stations for media conglomerate serving both French and English markets. Reorganized operations and restructured programming to reverse losses and achieve profit within 1 year. Full P&L. Reversed 5-year loss to attain profit in less than a year.

Executive VP & General Manager

1989 – 1990

Recruited by Mayor to restructure troubled nonprofit organization. Established operating and growth strategy. Realigned Board of Directors, overcame political challenges, and significantly expanded service territory to include neighboring municipalities.

Director, Radio Programming & Promotion

1988 – 1989

Programming & promotion management of 7 radio stations (3 FM and 4 AM). Recruited after their 4 AM stations felt to the bottom of the ratings. Ignited a 30%+ ratings upswing, seizing back the #1 position in a highly competitive market. Reorganized broadcasting operations, conceived / launched innovative programming model, and won international industry recognition award (in Béziers, France).

Director, Marketing / Research & Development

1986 – 1988

Selected to design and lead the production of new products (Research & Development); promoted to Director role within 1 year, then added Marketing. Piloted development of innovative weight-training equipment. Won a coveted American Fortune 100 account (Number One retailer in the USA). Created marketing campaigns in magazines like Shape and Men's Fitness.

Radio Announcer & Producer

1982 – 1987

Radio announcer on various radio stations in the province of Quebec, while attending college and obtaining a university degree in Engineering. - Morning man for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp) FM radio station in Abitibi. - Producer of the Canadian Number One FM Radio Show for CKOI-FM in Montreal (now Cogeco). - Reporter for CKAC 73, the (then) Number One radio station in Montreal.

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

1995

Engineer’s Degree

Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research