JOE KANKA
CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Gaithersburg, MD
An experienced corporate development and international business professional with a proven track record in helping organizations achieve business, operational and strategic objectives. Unique skills include planning, organization, entrepreneurship, idea generation, content creation, resource management and executive coaching. Well qualified for senior management positions in legal, management consulting, public affairs and staffing. Areas of expertise include:
• Corporate Development
• International Business Development
• Marketing Management
• Sales Support
• Public Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Operations Management
• New Program Development
• Government Relations
• Legal & Regulatory Affairs Support
• Recruiting & Staffing
• Project Management
Work Experience
VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT
August 2008 to Present
Responsible for marketing and sales support, public relations, resource planning, recruiting, employee development, training, partnerships, contract staffing, blended review solutions, knowledge management, and administrative, corporate and legal affairs. Serve on senior leadership team and client strategy group.
• Provided strategic direction to change company business model focusing on data management solutions for corporate legal departments and law firms. Named to Inc. 500 list in 2010 (#481).
• Created and launched unique Early Information Assessment methodology leading to corporate client engagements and identification of new business opportunities.
• Contributed to development of early lead identification program resulting in increased pipeline opportunities and client meetings for sales team.
• Developed public relations program leading to greater company name awareness and credibility through press releases, articles, awards, blogs, feature stories and interviews.
• Developed human resources development program encompassing onboarding, employee engagement and training. Named 2011 Helios HR Apollo Awards Finalist.
DIVISION DIRECTOR
September 2007 to August 2008
Launched Washington, DC legal division of Boston based staffing company. Directed operations and managed staff of recruiters and sales professionals. Managed client job orders and placement of contractors on document review projects and specialized legal assignments.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, WASHINGTON, DC
September 2004 to September 2007
Launched and managed Washington, DC office of New York based legal staffing agency. Oversaw operations and managed staff of 6 professionals. Supported efforts to market and sell document review management solutions to law firms and corporate legal departments.
• Developed and implemented company-wide key business and recruiting processes and procedures.
• Built candidate pool of 2,000 project managers, contract attorneys and paralegals.
• Managed client base of law firms, corporate legal departments and vendors.
• Staffed and supported client document review projects including 75 person pharmaceutical litigation matter and 50 person government investigation.
• Led efforts to open and manage two document review centers in Washington.
PUBLISHED EMERGING PROFESSIONALS
February 2004 to August 2004
PUBLISHED EMERGING PROFESSIONALS, AUTHORHOUSE, 2004
MANAGER, LITIGATION SUPPORT CENTER
June 2003 to February 2004
Directed day-to-day operations of litigation support center. Responsible for vendor management, staffing, resource planning, special projects and budget. Supported outreach efforts to market capabilities of center to corporate legal departments.
• Hired, trained and managed more than 100 contract attorneys, paralegals and document scanners.
• Reduced operating expenses by 30% within six months.
• Developed and implemented operational processes and procedures to manage workflow for 50,000 asbestos cases for MetLife.
• Supported development of Claims Tracking System (CTS) to generate 24 customized client litigation reports on weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
July 2001 to June 2003
Launched and built Internet portal (www.unicaguia.com) targeting U.S. Hispanic consumers. Responsible for directing day-to-day business operations.
• Developed national branding campaign to create awareness and attract visitors to web site.
• Led efforts to secure corporate sponsorships from Dupont, Giant Food and Pepco.
• Generated revenue through exclusive teaming agreements with Hispanic Yellow Page Publishers for online advertising.
VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT
August 1999 to July 2001
Developed and directed corporate development department. Managed and integrated acquisitions and strategic investments. Provided resource planning for business development projects. Served on Board of Directors of international subsidiaries. Managed relationships with government officials.
• Hired and managed 10 direct reports to support M&A integration program. Responsible for 125 overseas employees.
• Integrated and achieved business, financial and strategic objectives for 15 acquisitions and investments in North America, Asia and Europe exceeding $75 million.
• Oversaw development and implementation of annual business and marketing plans for international subsidiaries with combined revenues of $50 million.
PRESIDENT
February 1997 to August 1999
Launched and led information technology commercial division providing Web site development services to corporate clients. Managed sales process and proposal development activities.
• Developed teaming relationships and partnerships with technology vendors.
• Team member that won Web site development contracts with Carey International and California Edison.
• Created and launched High-Tech Lab with Johns Hopkins University in Herndon, VA.
MANAGING PARTNER
February 1993 to January 1997
Founded and managed consulting firm specializing in helping clients achieve international business development and marketing objectives in Washington, DC and foreign markets. Clients included Ameritech, Amoco, Bell Atlantic International, Bell Communications Research, Cellular Technical Services, NYNEX, R.J. Reynolds, Soza and Company, Stewart Systems, The Asia Society, The Rendon Group, University of Southern California, U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S.-Indonesia Society.
DIRECTOR, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
1992 to 1993
Managed legal operations to support litigation initiatives. Recruited, trained and managed 6 direct reports. Led efforts to develop document tracking system using FoxPro. Directed research projects and document review assignments. Coordinated work activities with subject matter experts and outside counsel.
DIRECTOR, CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT
1988 to 1992
Developed and coordinated global marketing, business development and public relations plans with regional executives, business unit heads and country managers. Responsible for sales support of consulting services and software solutions to foreign telephone companies and governments. Identified and evaluated overseas investment opportunities. Managed relationships with U.S. and foreign government officials. Managed $2 million budget and professional staff of 6. Team member that won major deals in Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia, Spain and Indonesia.
DIRECTOR, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
1983 to 1988
Built and managed legal, regulatory and lobbying support operations in Washington post-AT&T divestiture. Hired and supervised 30 paralegals, support staff and secretaries. Responsible for human resources, training, project management, budgets, vendors and information systems. Coordinated legal, regulatory and legislative filings. Wrote briefing memos and position papers for federal and state lobbyists. Managed corporate PAC activities.
SENIOR PARALEGAL MANAGER
1979 to 1983
Managed federal antitrust cases including: MCI v. AT&T, U.S. v. AT&T and SPCC v. AT&T. Supervised & trained 100 paralegals and support staff at document review and trial sites. Managed vendors, budgets, document productions, database systems, evidence libraries, and witness and trial preparation assignments. Coordinated work activities with subject matter experts, trial teams and outside counsel.
Education
M.S. in Public Relations and Marketing
1987
Certificate in Legal Assistant
1979
1976 to 1978
B.A. in Political Science
1976
