The Eagle Wing Strategies Team

WILLIAM F. HOLBROOK – Principal Partner

Mr. Holbrook is a recognized consumer packaged goods and retail veteran with more than 30 years experience in the marketing, advertising, food retail, and consulting fields.  Mr. Holbrook started his career in the supermarket industry where, as an internal consultant and field operations executive, he turned around a $3 billion New York supermarket chain’s profitability. His leadership and expertise in operations and merchandising led to a complete organizational restructuring and merchandising strategy overhaul.

Mr. Holbrook moved into consumer-packaged goods via the beverage industry where he advanced from market planning manager to VP Marketing and VP Strategic Planning roles.  His creative flair and innovative thinking led to more than 100 national creative awards, including an unprecedented two “Reggies” (the promotion industry’s “Oscar”) in one year.  His leadership facilitated such internationally recognized advertising programs such as The Pepsi Challenge, the Bartles & Jaymes Front Porch, and the Coors Light Dancing Can and the Talking Can. His expertise was recognized by appointment to the Boards of Directors of the Promotion Marketing Association of America and the Point of Purchase Advertising Institute.  Through involvement with the two associations, he instituted Integrated Marketing in the marketplace.

His strong organizational abilities led to the development of a nationally recognized in-house marketing services agency.  This group won numerous creative awards while developing some of the most recognizable and effective merchandising and promotional programs.

Mr. Holbrook’s strategic planning prowess has led not only to a company’s profit turnaround, but also the spin off of two $8 billion organizations.  In each case, he initiated the strategic groundwork.

Throughout his career, Mr. Holbrook has clearly recognized the value of employee contribution.  In managing small and large groups his focus was on individual development.  Many executives today were the beneficiaries of Mr. Holbrook’s unique management and leadership style.  Having learned the value of people and teamwork while an officer of the United States Marine Corps, Holbrook extended that experience into full time practice.  True to this inclination, Mr. Holbrook has spent several years in consulting for industry and individuals.  His focus on assessing strengths and weaknesses, skills, personal qualities, experience and knowledge has led his clients to learn much more about what they had to offer the business, legal, educational, and government areas.

Mr. Holbrook’s professional success has been recognized in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the West, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry.  He is a life member of the Reserve Officers’ Association and Navy League. He is also a member of the Marine Corps Association, the Marine Corps League, and the American Legion.  He is a 25-year member of Mensa and a Life Loyal Sigma Chi. He graduated with a B.A. in History from Denison University and earned his M.B.A at Columbia University in New York.

Bob Walsh – Principal Partner

Bob brings over 25 years of extensive corporate experience in domestic and international executive management, marketing, and sales.  His experience living and working overseas brings a unique breadth and depth to his knowledge of overall business and marketing.  He brings team building, leadership, and has helped companies adapt to changing situations and markets.

After graduation from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Bob began his career as an engineer with Schlumberger, Ltd., a high technology corporation providing products and services to the oil and gas industry. He has managed divisions with P&L responsibility generating $30 Million in revenue.  Constantly using his marketing and sales skills Bob advanced through his career becoming Director of Marketing for North American operations and ultimately Director of Marketing for the UK and Ireland.  Utilizing his business and marketing skills, Bob was General Manager and President of two start-ups for European technology companies establishing businesses in the US and South America. He was successful in turning these operations into profitable ventures for the parent companies by focusing on continuous improvement of corporate performance, planning, and communication with a strategic vision.

As an executive management consultant, Bob has provided invaluable guidance to corporate management on business development, marketing, sales development, and start-up support.  He has consulted for a diverse spectrum of companies from executive training to business development and automation in the commercial greenhouse industry.  Successful assignments ranged from developing a restructuring plan for failing companies to the development of a business plan for a high tech start-up searching for capital funding from venture capitalists.

Through his technical background he has developed strong analytical skills, but Bob’s true passion is marketing and sales. He has worked successfully at all levels and is adept at mentoring and training. This blend allows Bob to help clients evaluate their options, develop strategies, and execute tactical campaigns to successfully market their strengths into new career opportunities.  Bob’s broad experience in the corporate arena allows him to provide strong guidance and direction to executive clients.

Ed Awen, Ph.D. – Principal partner

Dr. Ed Awen has almost 35 years of professional experience providing training and educational services to individuals.  Having earned a Ph.D. in Education from Syracuse University, his higher education experience includes tenures at Kent State University in Ohio and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  In addition, he has nine years experience in business in association management.

During these experiences, he recognized that many people were dissatisfied with their career positions and were at a loss as to how to achieve career satisfaction.  This led him to a 15 year career in Career Management.  He became associated with one of the oldest and largest career management firms in the United States.  He quickly rose from an Advising role to Director of Client Services and ultimately to a Vice President of Training and Client Services having worked in several markets including Milwaukee, WI, Chicago, IL, several markets in New England, including Boston, MA, Providence, RI and Albany, NY.  He relocated to the Colorado market in 2001 as Vice President of Client Services.

During these years, Dr. Awen has had exposure to multiple industries, including high technology, health care, manufacturing, retail and social services, among others.  He has worked extensively with individuals at all levels within corporations, including presidents, vice presidents, managers and in multiple functions from management to sales to production.  In addition to working with thousands of clients, Dr. Awen provided extensive training to career advisors including initial training programs as well as on-going professional development.  He has presented workshops and seminars at national conferences and was a recipient of the Advisor of the Year award.

Dr. Awen’s background in education and training has been instrumental in his involvement in both developing workshops and seminars and facilitating them.  He has lead hundreds of workshops focused on client self-marketing in the workplace, successful interviewing techniques, writing effective correspondence, negotiation skills development, and effective communication skills in the workplace.  He incorporates principles of education, combined with an organized leadership style that is sensitive to participant concerns and has received highly favorable feedback from participants.

Dr. Awen has dedicated his professional life to serving those in career transition and crisis.  His genuine concern, professional approach, strong educational background and sense of humor has provided guidance to thousands of professionals.  His familiarity with group dynamics and learning styles has provided both supportive workshop facilitation and beneficial experiences for participants.