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Sean Marra, Chief Executive Officer, Sales Director
Eric Gerard, President, Production and Administrative Director
Joseph Lowrance, Vice President, Field Operations, OnPoint
John Colucci, Vice President of Sales, OnPoint
Barry LaChance, Controller
Sean co-founded BIGgross and co-developed its business model with Eric Gerard. Sean also drew upon his sales and marketing background to develop the BIGgross sales process and methodology. Sean is responsible for BIGgross sales and marketing, dealer relations and, with Eric, new product and creative development.
A life-long entrepreneur, Sean launched his first business at 16. Then after setting up and running a telesales operation for the nation's largest pest control services company, he launched the first glossy arts & entertainment magazine serving the West Coast of Florida by the time he was just 19 years young. After selling that magazine, Sean used his sales and marketing experience to work his way up in several sales organizations and eventually opened his own call center, which serviced national companies like Miracle Ear. Sean ran that business successfully for three years and simultaneously launched OnHold communications, which was sold to the largest provider of on hold digital communications after just 12 months of operation. For the next few years, Sean accepted positions as sales and marketing director for two national companies.
Sean has been a guest speaker for marketing and business-related classes at the University of South Florida (Tampa) and the University of Central Florida (Orlando), and has been quoted in such publications as Dealer Marketing Magazine, The Business Journal and Business 2.0, which credited him with pioneering viral marketing for music on the web.
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Eric co-founded BIGgross and co-developed its business model with Sean Marra. Eric is responsible for the company’s production of all print, direct mail, television and radio advertising, and a staff of creative artists, video and audio editors, web designers, account service representatives and production coordinators. Eric also supervises the company’s administrative staff. Eric and Sean work closely together on new product and creative development.
Prior to opening BIGgross, Eric was a Senior Account Manager with several regional advertising agencies servicing automobile dealerships throughout Florida. Eric designed and implemented campaigns for his clients, performing research, developing creative, copy, media placement and art direction, and walking projects through every stage of production.
Earlier in his career, Eric worked for over a decade as a staff reporter for newspapers in Ohio and Florida including the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Evening Independent. During that career, Eric covered the entire spectrum of news in America including Presidential and U.S. Senate campaigns, government at all levels, science and medicine, urban riots, and breaking news, earning writing awards for both investigative reporting and spot news coverage.
Eric’s articles about advertising strategy and execution have appeared in several trade publications such as Dealer Marketing Magazine.
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Joseph joined OnPoint in 2005 as a Team Leader where he consistently received accolades from dealers and continually trained and promoted his staff. He was promoted to Vice President of Field Operations for OnPoint in 2006. He has greatly contributed to increasing business and is responsible for ten teams consisting of 100 + people in the field. In his short tenure as Vice President of Field Operations, Mr. Lowrance has added structure and elevated the meaning of the word professionalism in the staffed event business!
Joseph started his career in the automotive industry in 1997 as a salesperson at a Dodge dealership in North Carolina where he was eventually named General Sales Manager. From there, he went to the Sonic Organization where he was General Sales Manager for two stores in South Carolina. He then joined the Keffer Group in 2001 as a General Manager in Charlotte, NC. In 2002, he entered into a partnership as Dealer Operator of a Toyota dealership.
In early 2005, he chose to leave the dealership environment to take his years of experience on the road. He has since been in the staffed events business with an impeccable record and has formed many lasting relationships with his dealers.
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John came to BIGgross as a young sales professional straight out of high school in 1998, and over the years has become an integral part of the company's planning, product development and strategic partnerships team. In 2005, John was named Vice President of Sales for BIGgross, specializing in staffed events, dealership training and management services. In that position, John manages a team of five BIGgross Producers responsible for over 45 staffed events a month, in addition to training and other services.
Since his first year with BIGgross, John has personally booked over $1-million in annual billing, and has participated in the development and early testing of several of BIGgross' most successful products, including the launches of Power Packed(tm), Drive $95, Automotive Road Show of America(tm) and Customer Cloning(tm) (all featured in the Campaigns and Direct Mail sections of this website).
John's entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond BIGgross. With the encouragement of the company's ownership, John also launched and operated one of the top nightclubs on Florida's west coast for nearly two years before selling it. In 2004, John also launched a highly successful real estate investment firm that he still operates in his "off hours" with his partners.
Over the years, John has completed several continuing education courses to hone his skills and insights into the automotive marketing profession. He has completed advanced account management and account planning courses with Second
Wind Ltd., and continuing education courses through N.A.D.A. training.
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Barry joined the BIGgross team as its Controller in July 2004, bringing with him over 15 years of in-depth financial management experience with major worldwide organizations.
Prior to joining BIGgross, Barry was Accounting Manager with the World Champion Florida Marlins, responsible for the team’s monthly financial statements, keeping track of co-operative advertising and sponsorship arrangements, and a host of other financial matters for the team during his four-year tenure. And for 10 years prior to joining the Marlins, Barry was Controller for International Maritime Resources, a subsidiary of Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Barry holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of South Florida with majors in Accounting and Business Administration. Barry is married with three children. He enjoys golf, tennis, a good cigar, and spending time with his family.
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