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Career Biography of William H. Fields
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Owner - Fields Associates - Consultants to management in all phases of the international bicycle trade. Partner - Fields & Townley - Staffing consultants to the international bicycle trade. Partner - Fields & Townley - Consultants to investors in mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, government relations, risk management, product evaluation in re: the international bicycle trade. I am regularly invited to participate in industry panels and committees, and considered by some to be a leading authority on the adult cycling market.
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| Founder/Publisher - BICYCLE GUIDE Magazine. Conceived as an up-market competitor to the leading publication, BICYCLING. In 1985, after launching BICYCLE GUIDE with personal funds, I sold majority interest to an investment group. Under my leadership, the magazine grew from start-up to $5M in sales in ‘91. Advertising revenue increased an average of over 20% each year, with 1990 results 37% over the previous year. I supervised a staff of 21, consisting of editors, sales and marketing staff, accounting and circulation. In 1991, sold remaining shares to other stockholders.
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President/Chief Operating Officer-Hester Communications, a medium-sized trade magazine publisher and trade exhibition producer. Was hired on a project basis (took one year leave of absence from my role at Fields Associates) to restore Hester to profitability and sell it for the best price. Hester published 9 retailer-orientated titles in the motor-cycle, bicycle, waterbed, spa-sauna, video, landscaping and natural foods industries. Additionally, during this period was Publisher of Bicycle Dealer Showcase, the leading trade magazine. Also, was Producer of the Long Beach Trade Show, the contemporary equivalent of today’s Interbike Show to the bicycle trade. Hester was sold at about 10x earning to HBJ. At the time of the sale, staff had been reduced 30%, sales were up 10%, and profitability was up 90%.
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President/Owner - Fields Associates-National publishers representative firm, 5 offices, 9 sales and support staff. I've developed and represented nationally the "Ecology Sports Network": Bicycling, VeloNews, Bicycle Dealers Showcase, Wilderness Camping, Ski X-C, Canoe, Sierra. By 1983, Bicycling was generating over 55% of our annual $1.1M commission revenue. Our success with Bicycling magazine over a 10 year representation convinced me to launch the competition, Bicycle Guide.
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Education
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Illinois
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Industrial Management - M.I.T.
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Commercial/lnstrument Rated Pilot
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Other Credentials
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| Presented in 2007 with Bicycle Retailer's "BRAINy" award for lifetime achievement in the bicycle industry.
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| Who’s Who in America
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| Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
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| League of American Bicyclists
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| National Bicycle Dealers Association
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Bicycle Products Suppliers Association
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| Colorado Bicycle Industry Coalition
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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
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"The Greens" Homeowners Association.
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