Some days I create ideas.  If I’m good or lucky they connect, spread and profit.  Every week, I collect some lessons learned for future reflection and perspective.  I’m currently living in Chicago and recently finished the hardest/best/craziest web startup accelerator in the country, Excelerate Labs.

All days I love my wife. I love my family.  I love my friends.  I love my dog.  I try to make them all laugh.  I eat ice cream.  I escape to the mountains to backpack and snowboard whenever possible.  I take pictures and play music when I can.  Did I mention how much I love my wife??

Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More press mentions here and here. 

 

Work

 

 

 

 

I co-founded IntroFly during Excelerate Labs (see below) in the summer of 2011.  IntroFly is my life’s passion right now.  If you want to do work you love, and meet the right people to help you make that happen, check it out.   We help you leverage your entire social graph in a directed way to get you off the computer and into the coffee shops.

 

 

 

I co-founded Beyond Credentials in 2008 to young professionals a tool to sell themselves to companies they are passionate about.

 

I just finished my latest adventure with Crispin Porter +Bogusky, the infamous advertising and creative factory in Boulder, CO.  Awarded 2008′s National Ad Agency of the Year by Adweek, this factory doesn’t stop to smell the roses.  It churns out the best creative in the industry, while propelling it’s clients to new levels in a ridiculously tough economy.  I loved the challenge developing content for GAP Inc. brands and I hope to sit on the other side of the table as a CP+B client some day.

I created and led marketing strategies with great success for XIKAR Inc.  I continue to consult with the company through their latest marketing and branding initiatives, including the launch of the 92 Cigar Aficionado rated HC Series line.  From its Kansas City, MO headquarters, XIKAR is the world’s leading designer of cigar cutters, along with a full line of premium cigars, cigar accessories, lighters, humidification devices and humidors.  XIKAR products are sold through more than 3,000 dealers worldwide.

I managed regional marketing strategies to propel double digit sales increases of Turbo Tax, Quickbooks and Quicken for Intuit, a billion dollar company,  in 2006.

Education

I earned my MBA from Rockhurst University;  an AACSB accredited, business-school-with-a-conscience in 2006.  And I received my real life MBA over a 5 year, trial-by-fire experience directing marketing and communications strategy under President Kurt Van Keppel at XIKAR Inc.

Resume

Email me: andy at odower dot com for a PDF copy.

Support

Want to help out people in other parts of the world the right way? Kiva.org is an amazing site where micro-finance isn’t just economic jargon.  It makes micro-finance real and accessible to anyone willing to lend (lend, not donate) as little as $25 to struggling entrepreneurs all over the world.  Personally, I’ve been repaid in full 3 different times.  Check it out.