RICHARD VELAZQUEZ

SIGNATURE PROJECTS

2017 - Present

I develop the global brand vision and strategy for Denon, Japan's oldest audio electronics brand. I partnered with an external agency for rebranding and repositioning this iconic brand. I led the go-to-market launch of 23 new products across multiple categories, including AVRs, Hi-Fi and Mini-Systems, soundbars, turntables, and headphones. Launched the world's first 13 channel AVR, the Denon AVR-X8500H which sold out its initial production run in one month. Partner with engineering and sales to develop and align on long-term product roadmaps.

2004-2011

As the ​Senior Global Product Manager and Product Planner,

I drove the planning of 84 product concepts, launched 60 products commercially which have cumulatively generated ~$16 billion in worldwide revenue during my tenure. 

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I was the product manager for both Kinect and the Xbox 360 S. The Kinect holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling new consumer electronics device of all time. The Xbox 360 S outsold PS3 and Wii monthly since its launch.

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I was recognized for this work with the Microsoft Gold Star and three Xbox Achievement Awards.

2011 - 2017

Foodservice Marketing Equipment is generally not very exciting and purely transactional - pour a drink, vend a drink, grab a bottle and go. With millions of devices and tens of millions of consumer touch points every day, there was a huge opportunity to innovate in this area and drive consumer engagement.

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Enter the Pepsi Spire family of equipment. I drove the end-to-end program (strategy, ideation, market testing and launch) of Pepsi Interactive Vending & Smart Coolers; cloud-connected, digital media marketing platforms for a new generation.

1999 - 2001

I moved to Germany to design the body for Porsche's first entry in the SUV market, the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo. 
Production began in 2002 with 2003 the first official model year. Before launch, many media outlets and loyalists opined on the strategic risk for Porsche to enter this category. It's been continually produced since 2002 and widely regarded as the most powerful and best-handling SUV on the market.

2013 - 2014

Leveraged the digital media dispense & marketing equipment platforms I developed to pitch advanced concepts to Disney to service their newest park in Shanghai, China. The proposals included advanced technology concepts for Tomorrowland at the park. The pitch was successful, making this the only Disney Park and Resort in the world to serve PepsiCo products, leading to my first Chairman's Award.

HONORS & AWARDS

PepsiCo Chairman's Award

2015

PepsiCo Platinum Awards

2012 & 2013

DSE Apex Gold Award

2013

Latino Leaders Magazine Club Leader of the Future

2012

Diversity MBA Top 100 under 50 Executive Leader

2011

HACR Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever

2010

Puget Sound Business Journal 40 under 40

2009

NSHMBA Brillante Award for Excellence

2009

ABOUT ME

I am very passionate about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and have worked throughout my career advancing these initiatives both in the corporate and non-profit worlds.

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Ultimately, my dream is to travel to outer space as simply as hopping on a plane. In the meantime, Augmented and Virtual Reality are the fastest and safest ways to explore space, and hence my passion for the technology. Everything I do in work and play feeds my imagination, desire to innovate and to drive the future of technology and consumer experiences.

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I love to travel and have touched down on 96 countries, and counting. At the top of my list is New Zealand, where I spent a month exploring the sets of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies. With a vast world to explore, I like changing my perspective and watching from above as a paragliding and hang-gliding pilot. 

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I especially love sci-fi as it generally tends to portend future technologies and consumer experiences.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - BERKELEY
MBA: TECHNOLOGY, MARKETING, AND GLOBAL STRATEGY

May 2003

Walter A. Haas School of Business

Certificate in Global Management 

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•  Full-Tuition Fellowship - Consortium for Graduate Study in Management

• Founder and President – Hispanic MBA Student Association (HMBASA)

• Graduate Student Instructor – MBA299: Strategy in a Global Context

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THE COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART:
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

May 1994

• Full-Tuition Scholarship

• Dean’s List, Senior Year 

• President – Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

• Treasurer – Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

Just for Fun

VIDEO GAMES

It all started with Pac-Man on the Atari 2600. Through many console generations (NES, Sega Genesis, Xbox, etc) as well as through the evolution of PC gaming (starting with Sierra's stable of games like King's Quest and classics like Castle Wolfenstein & Doom) through today, my passion for this most engaging of entertainment genres continues to grow.

TRAVEL

My fascination with travel began when I moved to Germany in my 20s and traveled all of Europe in 2 years. My personal goal is to join the Traveler's Century Club by having visited 100+ countries/territories. I am 99% of the way there. Experience with other countries and cultures is a great way to drive innovative thinking.

PARAGLIDING / MOTORCYCLES

I am a certified paragliding pilot and hang-gliding pilot through USHPA. I have flown in more than a dozen countries, gaining a unique perspective from a few thousand feet. I've been riding motorcycles for 20 years and still have my trusty 1996 Honda Shadow.

SCI-FI / FANTASY

From Star Trek to Dungeons & Dragons, I'm a buff in both genres. I've been working on my first novel in my spare time and it has to do with - you guessed it dragons (with a unique twist).

LATIN DANCE

As a Puerto Rican born in Brooklyn (Nuyorican), I didn't learn to dance Salsa until I moved to Germany (long story). I learned quickly and also picked up Bachata, Merengue, and more, and joined Seattle's Salsa Salvaje performance group.

SPACE

I've been fascinated with Space since boyhood, with dreams of becoming an astronaut. I regularly follow news of NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and more. My ultimate desire is to travel to Space. Until then, I revel in games like Mass Effect, Starcraft, and AR/VR space experiences.