Here is a sampling of references from clients, investors, and colleagues: |
| Technology Clients: |
 "After hiring Savvy Marketing Group to conduct an extensive Marketing Audit, we have retained the firm to focus on a few key identified issues which they address both strategically and tactically. Well connected and intelligent, Grace and her firm have become a trusted partner for SciQuest. I highly recommend the services of Savvy Marketing Group for companies that want to take themselves to the next level."
Stephen Wiehe
President and CEO
SciQuest |
| |
 "As an early stage company with the need to quickly expand our commercial capabilities, Savvy Marketing Group came highly recommended to Centice. We quickly became impressed with Grace Ueng’s solid network of marketing and PR contacts in the area which enabled us to bring on marketing talent within very tight time frames."
Ray W. Swanson
CEO
Centice |
| |
"Savvy Marketing Group got up to speed quickly and efficiently to help us at a critical juncture of readying our technology for market. Adding value to our marketing plan, facilitating corporate and product messaging sessions, conducting key market research, and providing interim marketing leadership, Grace and her colleagues became part of the Centice team."
John Davis
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Centice |
| |
"SciQuest engaged Grace to perform a validation study on our current marketing programs and messaging. She assisted us in clarifying our market segmentation, honing our message and targeting our public relations activities. With this new focus, Marketing is well positioned to support SciQuest's growth initiatives!"
Suzanne Miglucci
Vice President Marketing and Strategic Alliances
SciQuest |
| |
 “Having already built a successful technology and product, we wanted to continue aggressive growth goals which would necessitate taking marketing to the next level. Finding the right marketing partner is often challenging – after learning of Grace’s credentials, however, we decided quickly to engage Savvy Marketing Group. Through her proven “Discovery Process,” Grace quickly analyzed our business and added strategic insights into our marketing plan. Savvy Marketing Group was able to add value in a short timeframe - we look forward to continuing to utilize Grace's services to grow our marketing team and insure we meet our corporate objectives.”
|
Ping Fu
President, Chairman, and CEO
Geomagic
|
|
 "Grace
was one of my key management team executives at OpenSite
- a strong and respected leader of a world class marketing
team which she built from
scratch - very results driven
- I knew I could always rely on Grace."
|
Kip A. Frey
Partner, Intersouth Partners
CEO, OpenSite Technologies
Vice President and General Manager, Siebel Systems |
|
 "Grace
is one of the finest marketing executives in the Triangle
- she played a key role in adding value to one of our largest
portfolio successes - she has the maturity and experience
to advise growing entrepreneurial startups toward a successful
outcome."
|
Steve
Nelson
Managing Director & Partner
Wakefield Group
|
|
“I wanted to hire a partner to audit our marketing, facilitate messaging and renaming, and make recommendations on how to take our company to an accelerated level of growth. I had heard of Grace’s reputation from trusted sources – hiring Savvy Marketing Group was an easy business decision. I look forward to Grace’s advisory services as we continue to tackle our tough business decisions.” |
Gene Pease
CEO
Capital Analytics
|
|
“As
vice president of worldwide marketing, Grace moved TogetherSoft
toward a market driven culture - working closely with Development
to make it happen successfully. She assembled a world class
marketing team in record timing and with her motivating and
focused direction, led them to achieve great results for the
company - contributing to the successful exit for our investors."
|
Todd
Olson
Chief Scientist, Together Solutions, Borland Software
Vice President, Product Development, TogetherSoft
CTO, 6th Sense Analytics
|
|
"Grace
had an intensity for getting the job done. The TogetherSoft
sales team benefited enormously from the programs and sales
tools that Grace and her world class marketing team provided." |
Greg
Burnell
Vice President, North American Sales
TogetherSoft
CEO, 6th Sense Analytics
|
|
 "Grace
was responsible for building the ubiquity of the OpenSite
brand - and for literally creating a new category - all
in an incredibly tight timeframe. Her passion and dedication
contributed to the fulfillment of the vision and mission
for OpenSite."
|
Michael
Brader-Araje
Managing Partner and Founder, truePilot
Founder, OpenSite Technologies
|
|
"Grace
is a highly regarded marketing executive in the Triangle...I
know many who would love to have the opportunity to work with
her. Having worked with Grace at two successful technology
companies, I can honestly say that her leadership is unmatched.
She possesses the unique ability to provide the needed direction
to her team to achieve the desired results while engendering
the passion of both internal and external marketing partners
so that we felt empowered to deliver our best efforts. She
is truly a force to be reckoned with and I encourage you to
take a chance, you won't regret it."
|
Kristi
Lee
President
Crossroads Public Relations
|
|
"Grace is a person of passion, dedication and service - she was an instrumental member of the integration team After the acquisition of OpenSite by Siebel Systems. I have a great deal of respect for her character, her work and her intellect." |
Rick
Widin
COO & General Counsel, Campbell Alliance
Senior Corporate Counsel, Siebel Systems
|
|
 “As vice president of marketing at SmartPath, Grace juggled furthering our relationships with key industry analysts and media, building our brand awareness, maintaining and leveraging strong customer relationships, and generating viable leads in a challenging environment. She helped SmartPath with the difficult task of establishing its identity in a new market, paving the way for SmartPath’s acquisition by DoubleClick.”
|
Scott England
Vice President, Sales SmartPath
Director of MRM for North America,
DoubleClick |
|
 "As the founder of a fast growing new venture, I was looking for a business and marketing strategist who had proven success to advise Instancy to reach its fullest potential. Grace's outstanding track record and strong reputation for results were very compelling." |
Harvey Singh
CEO, Instancy
Founder, MindLever |
|
 “As I was ready to take my early stage venture to the next level, I thought of Grace since I had worked with her when she successfully led business development at Interactive Magic a decade ago. She has brought in her strong team to help with our business plan, fund raising, and marketing strategy. I know that I can always count on Grace.” |
Jerry Heneghan
Founder and CEO
Virtual Heroes, Inc. |
| |
 "Grace provided us outsourced Chief Marketing Officer services to take our company to the next level of growth. She worked very hard with input from our executive team to quickly assess our status and make strategic, practical marketing and distribution recommendations that we plan to implement. Grace forged through some unexpected challenges with impressive focus and diligence. She made a deep contribution to our corporate strategy and marketing efforts and was a pleasure to have on the team. We look forward to the opportunity to continue our work together."
|
Jack Killian
President and CEO
Voice Automation
|
|
 "Through the Duke Startup Challenge, I learned of Savvy Marketing Group and their Resolute Ventures TM services - Grace coached us through the entire business planning process - going the extra mile on intense deadlines to ensure we delivered the best results for our fund raising efforts. I have recommended Savvy Marketing Group to others who are starting new ventures based on the high quality work she did for us." |
Rasheed Wiggins
Co-Founder and CEO
Adrelief |
|
“As I was starting my new venture, I was highly recommended to contact Grace when the time was ripe to start thinking about marketing. I knew that intelligent marketing strategy and planning would be critical for maximizing the potential of the opportunity of our new venture – for that reason, I chose Savvy Marketing Group.”
|
Dennis M. DiVenuta
President and Chief Executive Officer
Unit Dose Solutions
|
|
 “My experience with Grace has met my needs perfectly. As an experienced pharmaceutical sales and marketing executive, I knew how to operate effectively in a Fortune 500 environment. I called upon Savvy Marketing Group’s Resolute Ventures ™ Services to help me navigate through the business planning and fund raising process for our startup medical device company. The introductions to key individual and resources which Grace had access were invaluable – she provided counsel that was on target to make our company have the best chances for success in fundraising and future commercialization.” |
Gopal Muppirala
CEO, Mardil, Inc.
President & CEO, Compass Consulting International
Global Commercial Strategy Director, GlaxoSmithKline
|
|
“We had the technology to develop a new medical device, but needed help with reviewing our business plan and coaching in preparation for our first presentation to the venture capital community. We were very pleased with the guidance and advice which Savvy Marketing Group’s Resolute Ventures™ Services provided us – Grace knows the venture world and what to expect having worked for five successful startups. As we think through the best ways to commercialize our technical expertise and experience, we will definitely continue to utilize Grace and her team to insure our success.” |
Vijay Dhuler
President and Founder, H-Cubed
Senior Development Engineer, JDS Uniphase
Founding Member and Senior Development Engineer, Cronos Integrated Microsystems
|
|
 "Having already built a successful business within one vertical, we wanted to take our company to the next level and to partner with a proven business strategist - after investigating various options, we chose Savvy Marketing Group. Through her effective "Discovery Process", Grace became a key strategic partner and quickly analyzed our business and offered on target strategic insights and recommendations on how to efficiently execute our marketing and distribution plan in order for us to meet our growth goals. Savvy Marketing Group not only met but exceeded our expectations - we look forward to continuing to utilize Grace's services to insure we meet our corporate objectives." |
Bobby Martin
President
First Research |
|
 "As vice president of marketing, Grace worked hard to build a strong relationship with the OpenSite Sales organization - she was very dogged in delivering just what was needed to drive revenue - with her partnership, we beat plan every month for two years. When we founded A Shred Ahead, one of my first initiatives was to hire Savvy Marketing Group to review our strategic positioning in the marketplace and provide marketing advisory services during this ciritcal high growth stage of our business.” |
Tom
Hanlon
Partner, A Shred Ahead
Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development,
OpenSite Technologies
|
|
 “We chose Savvy Marketing Group to tap into their expertise as we headed into our annual marketing planning. Their advisory services provided a good sounding board and their industry research was insightful. Their focus, flexibility and resourcefulness make them a very helpful partner. I look forward to continuing to work with Grace and the team she has carefully assembled - I highly recommend Savvy Marketing Group and their services.” |
Adrienne K. Lumpkin
President and Director of Marketing
Alternate Access
|
“When I was facing a key business juncture, I asked trusted friends for advice. When Grace’s name surfaced the second time as one to call, I contacted her and hired Savvy Marketing Group on the spot. Grace and her team helped us with an incredibly tight deadline – facilitating the process and asking challenging, targeted questions with our best interests in mind. I have already referred Savvy Marketing Group to other businesses based on their work for us.”
|
Reid Fogleman
Managing Parter
Maxwell Marketing
|
Financial Services:
|
 "Grace
was extremely resourceful in sizing up the market opportunity,
gaining consumer insight, and making on target recommendations
- she met and exceeded our expectations - I highly recommend
the advisory services of Savvy Marketing Group."
|
John
Mazzarino
Managing Director
Cherokee Investment Partners
|
Consumer Products:
|
 "We hired Savvy Marketing Group and its Resolute Ventures TM services as an external extension of our in-house business development team. Grace performed thorough due diligence and made on-target recommendations for a potential technology partnership to contribute to the growth of our division's aggressive growth strategy." |
Regis Rulifson
Director, Business Planning & Development
John Deere
Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division |
|
 "Grace Ueng is a fantastic marketer who adds value. She has an uncanny ability to identify winning solutions and then work with others to make them come to life. Her passion for excellence and joy for life make her an asset to any team." |
Marc Belton
Executive Vice President
General Mills |
|
 "“By using analytical and creative skills, Grace not only managed to maintain the profitability of the largest flagship brand at Clorox, but came up with innovative ways to develop new products to increase the company’s brand presence in multiple channels.” |
Lauren Barley
Brand Manager
Clorox
|
|
 “Having a true new venture spirit, Grace creatively managed the efforts of launching a new business for an established brand – Sports Illustrated." |
Linda Rolle
Consumer Marketing Director
Sports Illustrated, Time Warner Inc.
|
|
 "Grace
was a key driver toward converting us from a development
driven to a marketing driven model during the critical period
after our IPO. Her leadership in product line management
was recognized company wide. She earned the respect of the
software development team by working hard to learn the products
and the development process. Her contributions led to top
selling software products that fed the strong valuation
of our company." |
Kathy
Quinby-Johnson
Executive Vice President, Marketing
The Learning Company
|
|
 "We were very satisfied with the results from our engagement with Savvy Marketing Group – they provided a very thoughtful and customized approach to their market research methodology. SMG works hard to net out the appropriate recommendations to ensure client success – they are definitely not a one-solution-fits-all consultancy." |
The Horsts
William Ashley Agency
|
|
 "We
hired Savvy Marketing Group to launch the Gateway Café.
Under Grace's direction and innovative insight from focus
groups, we crafted the positioning of our Red Room service
which has met with positive feedback from our target audiences.
Energetic and resourceful, Savvy Marketing Group delivers
on client service."
|
Steve
Wegner
CEO, AccessCare
Founder, Gateway Jazz Café
|
|
 "We hired Grace to provide advisory services and
coaching as we are taking our company to the next level.
She has helped tremendously in accelerating our business
planning process - helping ready us for our next phase of
growth. She has helped us gain new consumer insight and
touched all aspects of our operation - manufacturing, marketing,
sales, IT, and HR. We feel very fortunate to have the Savvy
Marketing Group as part of our team." |
Maury Smeyne
CEO
Texas Sassy Foods |
Education:
|
 “When you are ready to take your new venture to market, call on Savvy Marketing Group. We did and it made all the difference. They have teamed with us to make a big Splash!”
|
Alan Young
CEO
Splash! Language Immersion
|
 “I am so happy that I fought to get off Professor Ueng’s extensive waitlist as I will keep the thinking she left in my mind forever. My two favorites were (1) her teaching on innovation and (2) having Lenovo’s East China country manager as our guest speaker. I learned so much from the combination of the Lenovo Harvard Business School case discussion paired with having our “rock star” Lenovo guest that my group was most excited about making our final exam presentation on the company born in China.” |
Alberto Agnese
Visiting Student at Fudan international MBA Program 2008
Marketing Management at Bocconi University Milan Italy
|
|
“I was so moved by Professor Ueng’s class discussion on the Harvard Business School case on Burt’s Bees and her strong grasp of the issues facing the company, that I spent 5 weeks collecting feedback from over 300 consumers in 6 cities in hopes of better understanding the opportunities for Burt’s Bees in the China market. Professor Ueng is my business inspiration – she straddles understanding of western and Chinese cultures.” |
焉娇 Joanna Yan Jiao
Fudan-MIT International MBA 2009
Visiting Student to Bocconi University, Italy 2008
|
|
“I remember Professor Ueng vividly and recommended her to many first year students – hence, her class roster had a long wait list the second year of her teaching at Fudan’s international MBA program in Shanghai. I found the knowledge she taught me, especially regarding the high tech marketing technology adoption life cycle, immediately helpful in my summer internship. My favorite case was “Ice Breaker – China Entry”. We enjoyed wearing our technical gear to class and debating about the company’s entry into our country. I feel very lucky to have had Professor Ueng – she showed us an example of an excellent marketer. After our last class with her, my classmates gave her a standing ovation and applauded her for changing our way of thinking. The benefits she brought us in our four intensive day experience will benefit me for the rest of my life. I will not forget our experience with this wonderful east meets west professor.” |
科丹张 Larry Zhang
Fudan-MIT International MBA 2008
|
Non Profits:
|
 “Grace's passion for the Society's mission, coupled with her marketing expertise, makes her an invaluable member of our Board of Trustees and chair of our PR and Marketing Committee. She helps me in my role as the head of the chapter to connect with new audiences in a strategic yet practical way that only Grace can do. Grace's positive energy is contagious!” |
Robin Boettcher
Executive Director
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Eastern North Carolina Chapter
|
|
 "As a dedicated director on the board of the Harvard Club of Research Triangle Park, Grace possesses the unique leadership to attract both new members to the club and fresh talent to the board, while making a significant contribution in recruiting quality speakers for our club programs."
|
Bob Whyte
President
Harvard Club of Research Triangle
|
|
 “Having seen Grace in action, it was clear that she would be an invaluable Chair for our Board of Advisors – her passion for adding value in the China business food chain as well as her reputation in the Research Triangle made her a natural choice. In a very short time, she has added tremendous value toward the vision of our organization.” |
YanChing Zhang
President
North Carolina Chinese Business Association
|
|
 “When we were looking to scale our organization, we immediately thought to engage Savvy Marketing Group to run an offsite board retreat to strategize and update our business plan. Their thoughtful preparation, in session facilitation and on target exercises, and follow up topline deliverable provided the roadmap that will take us through our next phase of desired growth. I highly recommend hiring Savvy Marketing Group if you are thinking of holding an offsite for your board or executive team.” |
Sarah Powers
Executive Director
Visual Art Exchange (VAE)
|
