Dr. Robert Urban

Executive Consultant Resume

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DR. ROBERT URBAN, PhD

DeLand, Florida | Available for Remote, Hybrid, & On-Site Global Engagements

Executive Advisor | Growth Strategist | AI & Innovation Leader | Board & CEO Consultant | Bestselling Author | Marine Veteran

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

A distinguished executive advisor, strategist, national bestselling author, and recognized storyteller who bridges the gap between visionary high-level strategy and practical, hands-on execution. Dr. Urban specializes in helping organizations navigate growth, innovation, and digital transformation, with a profound focus on cultivating the vital emotional relationship between businesses and consumers. His highly versatile, multidisciplinary expertise spans early-stage startups, small businesses, luxury brands, B2C, SaaS, and cutting-edge AI technologies, alongside brick-and-mortar landmarks, zoos, museums, charities, and religious organizations.

A former United States Marine Corps Infantryman (10 years of service) with an honorable discharge, Dr. Urban earned his PhD in Earth and Environmental Science from Columbia University. This rare combination of rigorous scientific thinking, narrative craft, and operational marketing strategy allows him to serve as a highly adaptable partner to CEOs, founders, and boards worldwide. Through an independent consulting and creative practice, he provides a deeply personal, hands-on approach. He is passionate about philanthropy, community impact, and STEM, ensuring that institutions do not merely increase traffic or revenue, but build deep emotional equity and sustainable financial resilience.

EXECUTIVE SPECIALTIES

AI & Digital Transformation Leadership

  • Artificial Intelligence Strategy & Enterprise Adoption
  • Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) & AI Overview (AIO) Strategy
  • Conversational Search Strategy & Digital Modernization
  • SaaS Growth Models & Platform Transformation

Corporate Governance & Executive Advisory

  • Executive Advisory & Board Consultation
  • Executive Storytelling & Thought Leadership
  • Strategic Planning & Corporate Growth Frameworks
  • Change Management & Organizational Resilience

Experience Architecture & Growth Strategy

  • B2C & Premium Brand Relationship Dynamics
  • Customer, Member, & Donor Journey Mapping
  • Omnichannel Lead Acquisition & Retention Strategy
  • Account-Based Marketing (ABM) for B2B/Enterprise Engagements

Targeted Industry Verticals

  • Cultural, STEM, & Experiential: Museums, Science Centers, Zoos, Aquariums, & Heritage Sites.
  • Leisure, Hospitality, & Premium Retail: Tourism Bureaus, Destination Attractions, Entertainment Brands, & Luxury Concepts.
  • Philanthropic & Institutional: Non-Profits, Foundations, Charitable/Religious Organizations, & Higher Education.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Independent Executive Advisory Practice | Founder & Principal Executive Advisor

2011 – Present Provide comprehensive strategic consulting and hands-on execution for a diverse, industry-agnostic portfolio. Partner directly with early-stage startups, local small businesses, luxury brands, enterprise operations, and major cultural institutions to align culture, technology, and long-term vision.

Comprehensive Service Capabilities & Frameworks:

  • B2C, SaaS, & AI Advisory: Guiding tech startups and SaaS platforms through scale strategy, digital customer acquisition, cross-channel performance marketing, and executive AI adoption.
  • Institutional & Luxury Brand Positioning: Refining the consumer-business relationship for luxury brands, brick-and-mortar attractions, and experiential concepts to accelerate reservation demand and premium guest revenue.
  • Philanthropy & Non-Profit Acceleration: Designing robust donor pipelines, membership recruitment models, and grant-funding frameworks for charities, foundations, and religious organizations.

Selected Career Highlights:

  • Scale & Engagement: Completed more than 350 executive consulting engagements and advised over 300 CEOs, founders, and board members across public, private, and philanthropic sectors.
  • Financial & Investment Impact: Guided leadership teams through modernization and AI adoption initiatives influencing over $750 million in strategic investments and growth models.
  • Revenue & Philanthropic Growth: Developed B2C customer experiences and fundraising strategies contributing to more than $500 million in combined revenue, ticket sales, memberships, and philanthropic support.
  • Capital Management: Managed and advised client organizations overseeing more than $100 million in cumulative advertising, communications, and digital media investments.
  • Public Engagement & Authorship: Delivered over 250 keynote presentations reaching 75,000+ professionals. Authored 7 national bestselling comedy and humor books; highly sought-after executive ghostwriter.

REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENT CASE STUDIES

STEM, Museums, Zoos, & Brick-and-Mortar Cultural Institutions

  • Historic Landmark & Heritage Site: Partnered on an immersive regional heritage campaign combining archival media, docent-led digital assets, and geo-targeted marketing. Generated a 42% increase in annual visitation and a measurable lift in out-of-state donor contributions.
  • Urban Park & Waterfront Landmark: Developed a localized interactive mobile walking tour application, pairing historical narration with immersive social-sharing elements. Drove a 28% increase in guided tour bookings within six months.
  • National Historical Site & Cultural Hub: Served as a strategic partner on a regional tourism board-led effort to reposition a major historical site via bilingual storytelling, producing a 34% increase in international visitation during a single summer season.
  • Civic & Presidential Museum Portfolio: Developed a specialized content series connecting foundational civic ideals to modern engagement initiatives, contributing to a 22% rise in annual memberships and unlocking new grant funding. (Completed on a pro-bono basis; all fees donated to conservation and animal welfare non-profits).
  • Aviation, Military, & Aerospace Museums: Collaborated on donor funnels, digital exhibitions, traveling exhibit strategies, and educational program distribution to expand national awareness and strengthen philanthropic pipelines.

Attractions, Luxury Brands, Startups, & Philanthropy

  • Family-Owned Theme Park & Entertainment Brand: Served as Senior Advisor for 8+ years to a major regional attraction. Guided multi-year digital transformation across ticketing systems, CRM platforms, reputation management, mobile guest experiences, and paid media ecosystems—significantly increasing per-visitor revenue and guest acquisition.
  • Premium Culinary & Luxury Hospitality Brand: Guided experiential branding, market segmentation, and multi-location growth strategy to accelerate reservation demand and repeat guest revenue.
  • Fine Art Gallery Portfolio & State Heritage Sites: Advised on visitor acquisition, regional tourism positioning, and interpretive branding to generate double-digit revenue growth and turn educational outreach into active memberships.
  • International Zoological & Conservation Park: Partnered on international tourism acquisition campaigns, driving a measurable increase in foreign visitation and strengthening conservation-focused donor engagement.

Note: A comprehensive portfolio of additional organizations, measurable outcomes, representative engagements, and executive references is available upon request under mutual confidentiality agreements.

PRIOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP SUMMARY

  • Chief Marketing Officer: Provided executive leadership across communications, business development, customer experience, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships. Served as an integral advisor to enterprise leadership.
  • Director of Search & Performance Marketing: Advanced through progressively senior roles following military service. Led enterprise search, analytics, and digital strategy initiatives that evolved into early AI-enabled customer acquisition models.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Education

  • Columbia University – Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Earth & Environmental Science

Specialization in Cryosphere Systems & Wildlife Management

  • Columbia University – Master of Science (M.S.), Earth & Environmental Science
  • Columbia University – Bachelor of Science (S.B.), Environmental Science

Military Service

  • United States Marine Corps – Infantry (10 Years of Service) | Honorably Discharged

CERTIFICATIONS & ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT

Professional Certifications

  • Agile / Project Management: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
  • Google Skillshop:
    • Google Ads Certifications (Search, Display, Video, Measurement, Apps, Shopping)
    • AI-Powered Performance Ads Certification
    • Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Certification
  • Microsoft Advertising: Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional (MACP)

Advanced Professional Development

  • Generative AI for Digital Marketing (Google Skillshop)
  • Performance Max Campaigns & AI-Powered Performance Ads (Google Skillshop)
  • Google Marketing Platform Training & GA4 Architecture
  • Enterprise AI & Large Language Model (LLM) Applications
  • Conversational Search & Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
  • Executive AI Adoption & Organizational Readiness

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & PERSONAL

  • Philanthropy & Community Advocacy: Active volunteer and advocate for literacy initiatives, STEM education, entrepreneurship, conservation, and animal welfare organizations. Led branding and membership recruitment strategy for local civic and fraternal organizations to strengthen community visibility and generational participation.
  • Interests: Restoring classic muscle cars, playing guitar poorly, fishing, camping, and enjoying life with family and friends in DeLand, Florida.

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