Chuck Ashman - Traditionalist/Innovator
Founder, CEO
Executive Producer, Business Matchmaking
When your resume includes as many eclectic positions of authority in so many
industries, it might be considered difficult to find common ground. But,
in the case of Chuck Ashman, it is clear. By combining traditional policies
and procedures and finding new ways to achieve marketing goals, he has earned
the respect of his peers, and his clients and established a network of connections
with few rivals.
In media, Chuck has hosted radio and television news and talk shows ranging from
anchoring Channel 11 news in Los Angeles to hosting KABC and KFI talk programs.
At the same time, he has been a guest on Larry King, Oprah, the Today Show, Good
Morning America, Regis, 60 Minutes and CrossFire as well as on leading programs
in the UK.
In print, he has written major articles for the London Express, the Toronto Sun
and the Chicago Sun Times as well as 7 non-fiction books including “Diplomatic
Crime” which triggered a US Senate investigation into abuses of Diplomatic
Immunity.
As an event and program producer, he led the Republican National Convention that
nominated Governor Ronald Reagan for the presidency and hosted Walter Cronkite
in a Democratic party syndicated debate prior to President Clinton’s election. He
has also produced events with Steve Forbes, Ralph Nader and others at the United
Nations and at corporate headquarters throughout the country.
At 20th Century Fox, he was named President of the Worldwide Merchandising and
Marketing division with responsibility for projects including Star Wars, Dynasty
and more than 25 Fox feature films.
As CEO of SMA Global, he has assembled a team of specialists who serve major
corporations and government agencies in dealing with small business owners with
emphasis on women, minority and veteran owned firms. His client base has
included IBM, AT&T, HP, American Airlines, Sprint, MasterCard, Aflac, Federal
Express and Lockheed Martin. As Executive Producer of Business Matchmaking,
the nation’s leading face-to-face small business procurement initiative,
he has facilitated 65,000 sessions resulting in $7 billion in contracts.
Today, SMA Global specializes in company, brand and product launches, creating
alliances between large and small businesses and helping start ups survive and
grow.
His keys to success are the three women in his life. Wife Pamela, an attorney
and former diplomat, daughter Shireen, a UK based composer and recording artist
and Diane Kegley, the president of his company and his partner in planning their
next move.
Diane Kegley - Master Marketeer
President
Producer, Business Matchmaking
Diane has spent more than 15 years in electronic media including broadcast radio, TV and Internet for such leading companies as NBC, CNET and America Online. She has produced pioneering webcasts for companies including Intel, Microsoft and Oracle and led the marketing effort for America Online's travel category supplied by Preview Travel. As Vice President of Industry Marketing for CNET, Diane was instrumental in the company's branding efforts and revenue strategies across multiple advertising sectors.Hector Barreto, the veteran administrator of the U. S. Small Business Administration and author of “Engine of America” describes Diane Kegley as “the ultimate organized, consistent and professional marketing executive.”
The praise comes primarily as a result of her craftsmanship in developing Business
Matchmaking, the SBA’s “pride and joy” as the most successful small business
procurement project in its more than 50 year history. Simply stated, imagine
65,000 face to face meetings around the country between entrepreneurs selling
everything imaginable to government and corporate buyers totaling 7 billion
dollars in contracts. Diane assembled literally every federal agency and a
blue ribbon group of giant companies armed with contracts and determination
to assist women, minority and veteran owned firms and took the show on the
road.
Roger Frizzell, VP of American Airlines joins in the salute describing
her as “a secret weapon in marketing.”
Al Gore found out how formidable Diane
Kegley could be when he bragged to a journalist that “I invented the Internet.” At
the time, Diane was at Stanford Research Institute as a VP of Marketing for
their entrepreneurial start up. Diane’s media
blitz that “No, we did!” reinforced Stanford’s standing in the internet world
and Al Gore never made the claim again.
Before that, it was Hyatt Hotels that
developed a sports program based on Diane’s
determination of changing demographics and needs in the leisure world. Together
with a handful of other dot.com devotees, Diane launched what was to become Travelocity,
one of the industry’s most respected success stories.
At C-Net, she built a brand,
established a leadership position for her management and solidified their role
as the standard bearer in tech news.
So much for the first fifteen of her 20 year
marketing career. That was then and this is now. As president of SMA Global,
a boutique market strategy and production company, Diane has led a five year
campaign to become the leader in the hot niche of small business pursuing the
big boys and vice versa.
Among the titans that have relied upon her are HP, American
Airlines, Fed Ex, Lockheed Martin, Sprint, American Express, Aflac and a host
of non-profits.
These days she is as likely to be at the podium with the likes
of Ron Noble of Interpol, Steve Forbes or Ralph Nader or with the senior procurement
folks from Commerce, Transportation or Energy meeting with small business leaders.
Her favorite pastime is still pulling an all nighter to create a breakthrough
campaign to launch a product, brand, company or event.
Her secret to success is
simple. Find more hours than anyone else, surround yourself with good people
and listen!
Mark Kellner, the Washington Times based technology columnist sums
her up best, “in
every field there is a number 1, in her space, its Diane Kegley.
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