Laura Szeliga

President | CEO

Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

About

I am an executive with a successful track record of growing consumer facing businesses across diverse industries, categories, marketing targets and global markets. My expertise is in quickly learning a new business and driving change to address consumer needs. I am skilled at engaging cross functional and multinational teams to perform beyond their expectations, and I am passionate about building brands that consumers love. I'm a classically trained CPG marketer, but I've pursued new opportunities in other industries so that I could keep growing as a marketer and businessperson. Career highlights include the following: In 2018, I was recruited to help turnaround Papa Murphy’s take & bake pizza, a brand that had not stayed relevant. We achieved the highest comp sales in 3 years and grew EBITDA by +8.9% thereby enabling the company to sell for +46% vs the pre-sale announcement price. These results were achieved in part through expanded digital marketing, a new advertising and social media campaign targeting millennials, as well as increased online ordering and delivery. I joined the eCommerce company, Provide Commerce, to bring consumer centric marketing and strategic leadership to direct response businesses and to become digitally fluent. I led a new gifting strategy for Shari’s Berries and began launching a more diverse pipeline of products such as Cake Pops. We also created a more modern and personalized gift experience which was unique in the category. I was promoted to lead ProFlowers where we launched incremental assortments to tap into trends such as Air purifying plants. While at Dean Foods, I transformed the Dean Foods chocolate milk business with a new strategy and brand (TruMoo) that unified 35 brands for the first time with a consumer preferred product and new, highly effective advertising. This drove +24% volume, +30% profit and +6pp share in the pilot market followed by +11% growth in year 2. During my successful tenure at Kraft Foods, I honed my marketing skills leading several iconic brands including Jell-O and Crystal Light. I led every phase of new product development and was subsequently recruited to an expat assignment in Central and Eastern Europe. In that role I led a cross functional international team in launching Kraft Dinners in the Czech Republic in just 7 months despite lengthy prior delays. I also led marketing for global brands Timex and Oral-B. I have a passion for food, food trends, nutrition and the impact of food in culture. I have traveled to over 35 countries and speak fluent French.

Experience

  • President at Stumptown Coffee Roasters
    Dec 2020 - Jun 2026 · 5 yrs 7 mos

    Stumptown is a leading 3rd wave specialty coffee roaster founded and based in Portland, OR with sales across 7 owned & operated cafes, 1000+ wholesale customers, eCommerce, and grocery/mass. I had direct leadership over the 200+ cross functional team located in Portland, New York and LA with full P&L accountability. Grew Net Sales +11% and EBIT +29% CAGR 2021-2025.

  • Chief Marketing Officer at Papa Murphy's International
    Feb 2018 - Jul 2019 · 1 yr 6 mos

    As part of a turnaround, drove new value oriented promotions and digital strategies that resulted in the highest sales comp in 3 years from down (10)+% to nearly flat. Participated in the successful sale of the company to MTY Group at a stock price +46% to the pre-announcement price. Led new advertising agency review and launch of new “Bake It Up a Notch” advertising and social media campaigns. Drove a +10 point increase in online ordering and +300% increase in Third Party Delivery. Reported to CEO with a team of 39. Chose to depart post sale amid Management changes.

  • FTD Companies, Inc. (formerly Provide Commerce) (San Diego County, California, United States)
    • SVP/GM ProFlowers & ProPlants
      Apr 2015 - Nov 2017 · 2 yrs 8 mos

      Promoted to bring consumer centric marketing and strategic leadership to this direct response business post acquisition by FTD. Improved Mother's Day TV drove +15% units, +20% revenue and 16% lower CPU than plan. Led new website guest experience improvements including a new "gift finder" which drove +1.8% in conversion. Initiated new consumer insight driven innovations and promotions which were unique to the category such as a new Air Purifying plant collection launch and a new Mother's Day promotion with All Across Africa. Successfully led 50+ member cross functional team in scaling the business to fulfill increased demand across 5 peak holidays. Reported to President

    • VP/GM Gourmet Foods (Shari's Berries)
      Jul 2013 - Mar 2015 · 1 yr 9 mos

      Grew Revenue +7.3% and Profit +1.2% despite multimillion dollar sales loss during PAX east coast snowstorm at Valentine's Day. Successfully launched first ever off-peak integrated marketing campaign that resulted in +22% visits, +25% revenue +29% repurchase rate. Greatly improved team performance by establishing new cross functional role sort, creating a new NPI process, and establishing a well-coordinated peak holiday 'play book' for scaling the business. Developed new gifting strategy and began launching new products beyond dipped berries. Reported to SVP Brand Management with a cross functional team of 30.

  • Chief Marketing Officer at Timex
    Feb 2012 - Feb 2013 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Recruited to lead revitalization of global Timex brand. Substantially upgraded marketing with new, global brand positioning, better focused trademark programs, and significantly increased investment in consumer research. Created Stage 0 Innovation Process and initiated first ever concept screen to fill product pipeline with consumer validated ideas. Reported to CEO with a team of 36.

  • Vice President Marketing at Dean Foods
    Dec 2007 - Jan 2012 · 4 yrs 2 mos

    Transformed the $700M flavored milk business with a new strategy and brand (TruMoo) that unified 35 brands for the first time with 1 brand positioning, 1 consumer prefered formula, and 1 national advertising campaign. Achieved +24% volume, +30% profit and +6pp share in test market. TruMoo placed #4 on IRI New Product Pacesetters for 2012. Led evolution of local field marketing role from sales support role to strategic role. Reported to CMO with team of 6 and led all marketing activities for 17 brands representing $5B in sales.