Jim Neidhardt is Chairman of the Board of Renaissance EXECUTIVE FORUMS in New Jersey, and he is among the country's most uniquely qualified Success Coaches. Prior to joining EXECUTIVE FORUMS in 1997 and for over 20 years, Jim had a very successful business development career in the corporate world at such notable companies as Nabisco Brands, Reckitt & Coleman, Dairy Enterprises (now Dean Foods), and International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), with P&L responsibility for businesses up to $100 million in revenue.
Throughout his business development career in the corporate world, CEO's and Presidents of multi-million and multi-billion dollar organizations have recognized Jim Neidhardt's unique mix of talents by entrusting him with special assignment with long-reaching organizational impact.
Jim's most recent position was directing the marketing efforts for the North American Flavors Division of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), a $2 billion industry leading creator and manufacturer of flavor and fragrance compounds used to impart or improve the flavor or fragrance in a wide variety of consumer products.
Prior to IFF, Jim was recruited by Investcorp, a global investment group, to establish a new division at Dairy Enterprises, Inc., reporting to the president. As Director of Marketing & Sales, Jim grew this new business to over $20 million and pioneered the marketing of branded milk products through the supermarket warehouse channel which included building, training, and supervising the management of a new broker sales organization. After spearheading the development and introduction of Hershey's Fat Free extended-life chocolate milk, and structuring and negotiating a long-term contractual alliance with Hershey Foods that generated over $1M in annual net profit, Jim helped to ensure and facilitate a smooth, seamless business merger of the dairy businesses of Tuscan, Dellwood, and Ultra-Dairy into a $400+ million new organization while overseeing all marketing activity.
Before his business development assignment, Jim Neidhardt was successfully recruited from Nabisco Brands, now Kraft Foods, by Reckitt & Coleman, a $5 billion dollar global marketer of food and household products, to turn around numerous brands that had been neglected for years and were experiencing precipitous annual declines.
Nabisco Brands provided Jim Neidhardt with his early years of business development, marketing, and sales experience. As Associate Product Manager, Jim was responsible for the P&L of a $26 million Regina Wine Vinegar business and 6 regional brands (including Vermont Maid breakfast syrups, My-T-Fine puddings, Davis baking powder), exceeding volume and profit budgets by +11%, while assisting on the $25 million College Inn broth business. As Associate Brand Manager, Jim assisted in the management of the $65 million Royal Gelatin & Pudding desserts business. As Marketing Assistant on the $120 million Blue Bonnet margarine business, Jim developed a coordinated strategy between brands (Blue Bonnet and Fleischmann's), which improved the sales and profit trend on both brands. Prior to joining the marketing department of Nabisco Brands, Jim held various sales and sales management positions of increasing responsibility in the grocery division, the candy wholesale and vending division, and the drug store and mass merchandiser division, selling such notable brands as Planters nuts & snacks, Baby Ruth & Butterfinger candies, Tetley tea, and Chase & Sanborn coffee. In his first year with Nabisco Brands, Jim was awarded 'Salesman of the Year'.
Jim earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in corporate finance from Hofstra University, and his Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) from the Bernard M. Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and was elected to membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, the prestigious national business honor society.
Jim is currently President and an elected member of the Hanover Park Regional High School District Board of Education. JIM NEIDHARDT's FAVORITE WORD: en'tel'e'chy (en-tel'i-ke) n. The becoming actual of what was potential.