Farrell Management Group engages in independent consulting engagements & projects for all types of clients.
We are a value-added partner with comprehensive experience in executive management, leadership, operations, product development, project management, marketing, and media/press relations, Farrell Management Group serves a growing list of clients, providing each with custom and targeted solutions to meet their business needs.
Strategy Consulting
With experience building and leading organizations and teams, FMG prides itself on helping clients succeed. We achieve success by taking a strategic approach to our work and providing actionable advice to our clients.
Business Operations
Having worked with entrepreneurs with just an idea to start-ups getting the business off the ground to small business owners, FMG has a track record of helping tackle big challenges and helping clients build sustainable operations.
Board Member
Having served on and built boards for companies of all sizes, Farrell Management Group serves as a value-added director for early-stage and small businesses in multiple industries.
Business Advisory Services
Farrell Management Group brings experience, a fresh perspective, a passion for learning, and a willingness to understand the problem and develop solutions. Have an idea on way to work together? Contact Us
Who We Are
Owned and operated by the company's Founder, Farrell Management Group handles all business engagements directly. As needed, FMG engages a network of trusted partners based specifically on client need.
Matt Farrell
Founder / Principal
Matt Farrell is widely regarded as a strong strategic business advisor, operational leader, and value-added partner. He is known for his tireless work ethic, deep loyalty, and an ability to get things done. His approach is well-respected by the client teams he works with and the teams he builds to support client goals. Passionate about helping to build businesses, Farrell continually bringing ideas to life and connects people with ideas.
A Snapshot of Our Work
Few Farrell Management Group engagements are alike. With each, we strive to provide our partner with a custom solution based on their specific business need. Whether serving as a trusted advisor, a temporary or permanent member of executive/leadership team, or supporting a specific project or growth initiative, we bring strategic leadership and a passion for great work.
Detailed information about Farrell Management Group's role as an advisor to the University of Dayton China Institute will be added to the site in the coming weeks.
University of Dayton China Institute
Strategic Advisor
(September-December 2015)
Learn More:
To learn more about the University of Dayton China Institute, click here.
The Big Hoopla
Executive Leadership | Strategic Advisor | Business Operations | Marketing & Brand | Media & PR | Event Marketing & Production | And More...
(2012-2017) Prior to founding Farrell Management Group, Matt Farrell was recruited by the University of Dayton and The Big Hoopla NCAA® First Four® Local Organizing Committee to take an active leadership role in the efforts to ensure the Dayton region remained host site to the tip-off of March Madness® each year.
Farrell's impact to the committee was seen immediately as he was instrumental in the founding vision of the Hoopla STEM Challenge - America’s first-ever event tying together the excitement and passion for college basketball and March Madness to the power of STEM education. Farrell's experience and deep roots in the youth basketball community allowed The Big Hoopla to create a unique impact in the Dayton region. The goal: to take students focused on athletics and introduce them to the power of STEM education and get them excited about learning, building, and creating. The original vision for the Hoopla STEM Challenge was to be a free basketball and education event/competition for students (grades K-8). The hope was for the basketball contest to draw student-athletes from all surrounding districts to win prizes which included NCAA Tournament tickets, iPads, t-shirts, & gift cards (and more). With a highly captive audience, The Big Hoopla would have the opportunity to introduce an educational aspect by engaging community partners to bring focused science, technology, engineering and math exhibits to the event.
Over the last 6 years, Farrell has held both formal and informal roles in nearly every aspect of The Big Hoopla's operations and currently serves as Vice President of The Big Hoopla, Inc. and is the committee lead for Hoopla Sponsorships. Each year Hoopla sponsorships contribute the entirety of the operating budget which exceeds seven-figure numbers when cash and in-kind contributions are factored in.
By working collaboratively with all stakeholders and earning trust through flawless execution, Farrell helped bring the first-ever early-round halftime performances to the NCAA Tournament. Since 2015, The Big Hoopla has showcased its STEM Challenge winners during the first game of March Madness and worked with the United States Air Force to hold a swearing-in ceremony during halftime of another one of the NCAA First Four games.
More About The Big Hoopla:
To The Big Hoopla, the NCAA Tournament & the NCAA First Four is more than what happens on the court; it’s an opportunity to come together as a community and as a country to celebrate the great things that can be accomplished with teamwork, dedication, and a shared dream.
The Big Hoopla, Inc. is an Ohio not-for-profit corporation formed to organize all activities for the Dayton region around the NCAA First Four and the Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The mission of The Big Hoopla's volunteer committee is to enlist community support for the NCAA First Four from small and large business, academic institutions, government, civic and community organizations across the Dayton region and around the world.
These dedicated volunteer committee members meet bi-weekly for much of the year to develop policies and plans that assure the growth and success of the NCAA First Four in Dayton, Ohio year after year. Guiding the activities of The Big Hoopla and the many volunteers are the committee leads and The Big Hoopla's Board of Directors and Executive Team.
Click here to learn more about The Big Hoopla, its mission, and its track record of success.
National Security Forum
Strategic Advisor | Business Operations | Marketing | Media & PR
(2015) With an event in an early concept phase and not fully defined, Farrell Management Group was brought in by SelectTech Geospatial and the Dayton Development Coalition to bring the idea to life. The idea - a top-tier forum to discuss national security and the role of the United States Air Force hosted in the Dayton region.
With a community-wide focus on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and its role in the future of the Air Force, leaders in the Dayton region wanted to bring global leaders together for a one-of-a-kind, intimate experience while discussing key national and international issues. These topics are increasingly critical as budgets continue to be tight and defense represents one of the biggest industries in Dayton, with more than 26,000 people working at Wright-Patt — the largest single-site employer in the state — and another 34,000 jobs supported by it, for a $4 billion economic impact on Dayton's economy.
With less than 30-days to prepare and top-tier event, FMG pulled together a team and got to work. Supported by a few local vendors, Farrell Management Group led initiatives focused on event production, media relations, marketing and attendance. But within just a few days, invites had been distributed, speakers were lined up, registrations started rolling in, and everything else was moving in the right direction...
And on August 11, the private event with ~100 attendees came together under the name of “National Security Forum”. The event was sponsored by SelectTech and the Dayton Development Coalition and hosted by SelectTech Geospatial at their manufacturing facility in Springfield, Ohio.
The forum was moderated by Scott Sullivan, President of SelectTech and speakers included:
General (Ret, USAF) T Michael "Buzz" Moseley, 18th Chief of Staff (Bio),
United States Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) (Bio),
General (Ret, USAF) Lester L Lyles (Bio), and
Jeff Hoagland, President & CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition.
More Information and Media Headlines from the Event:
Dayton Business Journal, "National Security Forum: Wright-Patt is the future of the Air Force": Click Here to Read
Dayton Daily News, "Experts Say More Focus Needed on Military Research": Click Here to Read
Dayton Daily News, "Portman speaks at Springfield business": Click Here to Read
YouTube (Dayton Development Coalition), "Senator Rob Portman: National Security Forum (Springfield, Ohio)": Click Here to View
Tweets and Other Coverage & Commentary from the Event:
Back-to-School Outreach with Brian Roberts
Operations, Logistics & Scheduling | Public Relations | Marketing | Community Engagement
(2017) Five-year NBA veteran and former Dayton Flyers men's basketball star Brian Roberts (Class of 2008) approached Farrell Management Group seeking support for organizing back-to-school meet-and-greet events in Dayton, Ohio. With a quick turnaround, Matt Farrell quickly leveraged his network of community partners and just a few days, Roberts was scheduled to host two events. The events put Mr. Roberts in front of nearly 200 students and another 200 attendees where he was able to share his story, spread his values, and share his experiences. Roberts delivered message of being a diligent student-athlete, a focus on education, and the need to set goals.
At each event, Roberts and his family handed out 100 backpacks, free-of-charge, and provided the students with other giveaways, signing autographs, and taking photos. The program directly benefitted students who attend DECA Middle School and children who live in the Meadowlark Apartment complex in Trotwood, Ohio.
**DISCLOSURE: Unfortunately, Flinch was shut down and taken off the app store in Q4 2017.**
(2014-2015) Spitfire Technologies originally engaged Farrell Management Group to oversee and lead a development project for a prototype application they were preparing to build. The prototype, which leverages video chat technology from ooVoo and emotion AI from Affectiva, was completed on time. FMG stayed on for the next phase of the project which focused on fine-tuning the technical integrations of the ooVoo and Affectiva SDKs. When Spitfire was ready to publically launch Flinch and test the technical integrations at scale, FMG was tasked with the marketing, positioning, and PR initiatives.
As the product started to take off towards the end of January 2015, Flinch users were playing between thousands of games each day.
Less than 4 weeks later, this number was exponentially increasing to tens of thousands games/day.
The run didn't stop there... By the end of March, Flinch users were playing more several million games every day and the app was among the TOP 20 in the United States App Store rankings.
Throughout the remainder of 2015, Farrell Management Group was tasked with oversight for all Project and Product Management initiatives - including oversight of all app monetization, roadmap, development, and marketing activities.
Additional Information on Flinch:
Flinch is a totally new take on the classic staring contest – just make ‘em smile. No need for a friend or third-party to call the shots. Flinch pairs up the latest in video streaming and emotional tracking technology to determine the outcome - automatically! And finding an opponent is simple, because they already exist in places like Facebook or in your contacts. Though, if you find it hard to compete against those you know, you can always join a spur-of-the-moment game and make a new friend - sharing a smile with someone new. To keep things interesting - and fun - Flinch gives you tricks to trip up your opponent with surprising sounds, photos, and much more! And, for the ultra-competitive, with every game you collect points for defeating your opponent, allowing you to rise through the ranks of the unemotional; the impassive; the truly indomitable!
FC44 Foundation, Inc.
Strategic Advisor | 501(c)3 Director | Marketing & Event Logistics | Business Operations
(2014-2015) FC44 Foundation, Inc. has been, and continues to be a philanthropic endeavor for Farrell Management Group and its founder, Matt Farrell who was one of FC44 Foundation's Founding Directors.
With previous experience standing up and supporting non-profit and charitable organizations, Farrell was asked to join the Board during the organization's formative days and supported the foundation's President, Jay Murnen in drafting and filing the necessary documentation for both the State of Ohio and the IRS to achieve 501(c)3 designation.
Upon successfully securing federal tax-exempt status, Farrell took on a leadership role within the organization when it came to website design oversight and all marketing/brand work. Farrell, along with the other Founding Directors was instrumental in creating a sustainable business plan and a set of operating guidelines which led to the formation of an annual fundraising campaign and other revenue generating activities.
Farrell remained on a Director of the organization through 2015 where he participated in interviews for and decisions on FC-44 scholarship recipients and the company's charitable outreach initiatives.
In 2016, Farrell transitioned to a Member of the organization where he and his family remain active on fundraising and marketing activities.
More about FC44:
FC44 Foundation, Inc., an exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which exists to celebrate and remember the life of Kurt Patrick Murnen (1979-1999). The Foundation's mission is to: (1) Perpetuate Kurt’s legacy (2) Fight cancer (3) Fund a scholarship awarded at Archbishop Alter High School
To perpetuate Kurt’s legacy, FC44 needs to tell his story. By creating awareness, we hope Kurt is remembered and celebrated by the people who knew him and for generations to come. To learn more about Kurt, we encourage you to read his story.
The Foundation will make contributions to organizations that have dedicated themselves to the research and treatment of cancer. We will participate in the search for a cure to cancer - of any form. We are committed to help those currently battling the disease and to be a comfort to them like Kurt was to us. It is our hope that one day; others are not forced to endure the same struggle endured by Kurt, his family, and his friends.
We will fund an annual scholarship at Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. The scholarship will be award to an incoming senior who has faced an adversity, challenge, or trauma with Kurt’s courage, dignity, and positive attitude. During Kurt’s senior year, he battled cancer to remission through series treatments of chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplant. He expected no sympathy, made no excuses, participated in athletics, and graduated high school with his class. Kurt provided memories and life lessons that will stay with us for a lifetime. FC44 Foundation recognizes and celebrates this journey in the same spirit Kurt embodied.
Business Operations | Stand-up of Employee Benefits | Human Resources | Employee Relations | Rewards & Recognition
(August-November 2015) Although at the time, Farrell Management Group had limited experience and knowledge of employee benefits, FMG did possess strong organizational and project management skills to the table for Krush Technologies, Inc. Thus, FMG was tasked with standing up and coordinating most every aspect of what would be the newly formed company's primary selling point to perspective employees.
To recruit and retain top talent from across the country, Farrell Management Group knew the benefits package would have to be top-tier. But, FMG also needed to make sure the benefit plans were financially responsible and sustainable for the start-up client.
After quickly evaluating the landscape, understanding the market, and learning the ins and outs of healthcare, dental, and vision coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, and countless other fringe benefits, FMG had a proposal approved by the Krush Founders and began executing and operationalizing.
Engaging a knowledgeable local partner in McGohan Brabender, Farrell Management Group had Krush up and running with a full slate of benefits in less than 5 weeks.
As soon as the insurance plans were in place, FMG shifted their attention to other peripheral employee benefits - specifically standing up the company's 401(k) plan. Working closely with Callahan Financial Management Group, LLC, Farrell, the team of advisors at Callahan, and their partners at MassMutual had Krush set-up and employees could immediately enroll and rollover previous retirement plans.
Today, Krush Technologies continues to offer the highly competitive, but efficient benefits package which FMG put in place before the first employee enrolled in Krush's plan.
In the months that followed, as Krush began onboarding employees, FMG's focus shifted to standing up virtually every aspect of the day-to-day operations for Krush Technologies... Farrell touched everything from recruiting to finance to legal and contracts; from marketing/branding and defining the company’s value proposition to strategic planning; from product ownership to business development; from board presentations to social media / community management. By early Q4 2015, Farrell's fingerprint was on anything and everything Krush related.
More Details Coming Soon...
Detailed information about Farrell Management Group's role as a consultant to the Dayton Development Coalition will be added to the site in the coming weeks.
Dayton Development Coalition & Dayton Region Annual Meetings
Marketing | Media / PR &Communications | Public Relations | Community Engagement
(November 2013 to January 2016) Beginning with the Dayton Development Coalition's 2014 Annual Meeting and for each of the next three years, the DDC engaged Farrell Management Group to support their annual gathering of community leaders and stakeholders.
Learn More:
To learn more about the Dayton Development Coalition, click here: daytonregion.com
Intelligent Video®
PR | Marketing | Client Lead with Vendor(s)
(2014-2015) Farrell Management Group was tasked with countless initiatives around the rollout of ooVoo's Intelligent Video® platform - including copywriting, brand positioning, public relations and marketing support in addition to being the primary in-house contact for ooVoo's agency of record, Real Art and PR firm, DKC.
The goal of the campaign was to showcase ooVoo as more than the world’s largest independently-owned video chat and messaging app. With next generation integrations demonstrating that live video communication can be something more, FMG lead media relations, story placement, and copywriting for the client.
After of the campaign, all of the goals were delivered on. A summary of the project from Real Art can be found here: ooVoo & CES 2015.
Tier 1 Press coverage on Intelligent Video:
Wired - "Computers that know how you feel will soon be everywhere": Read More Here
Wall Street Journal - "The Technology that Unmasks Your Hidden Emotions": Read More Here
Wall Street Journal - "What is Intelligent Video?" Read More Here
AdWeek - "ooVoo and Intel Bring Augmented Reality to Video Chat" Read More Here
The Telegraph (UK) - "Face scanning technology to be used by..." Read More Here
BetaBoston - "Intelligent Video system analyzes facial expressions in real time" Read More Here
PSFK - "The ooVooTique Let's Extroverts Exchange Friends for Products": Read More Here
More Details Coming Soon...
Detailed information about Farrell Management Group's role as a consultant to the Dayton Development Coalition will be added to the site soon.
Dayton Development Coalition & Dayton Region Communications
PR | Media Relations | Marketing | Stakeholder Relations
(2013-2015)
Fuyao Glass America
Media & PR | Community & Stakeholder Relations
(July 2015) As Fuyao Glass America, JobsOhio, and the Dayton Development Coalition prepared for the first windshield produced by in Moraine, Ohio to be unveiled publically, Farrell Management Group was brought in to help organize a media and community event at Carillon Park.
The ceremony scheduled to be held on July 23, 2015, would welcome local, state, federal, and international dignitaries and members of the media for a globally relevant event which was sure to make international headlines.
Farrell Management Group supported all stakeholders on this project; working collaboratively on drafting a media notice and authoring the final press release. When it came to day-of operations, Farrell coordinated event timing, logistics, and seating while supporting set-up, and organizing the signature ceremony.
The first windshield had been allocated for donation to Dayton History and would be placed on display next to a white GMC Envoy, the last vehicle produced at the GM Moraine facility which came off the line in December 2008. But before the commemorative windshield was placed on display, it would be signed by elected officials, executives from across the Dayton region, and the leadership team from Fuyao, including their Chairman, Cao Dewang (pictured above singing the commemorative windshield).
For the Dayton region, this ceremony represented an important moment for the economic growth of the region and a sign of the revival of the auto-manufacturing industry. Fuyao's job commitment and direct investment breathed new life into a plant which had been empty for 7 years after General Motors shut down its operation in Moraine.
Heystax
Product Vision & Development
**DISCLOSURE: Heystax was shut down and taken off the app store in Q4 2017.**
(2015-2016) Throughout 2015 and into 2016, as Farrell Management Group was overseeing all Project and Product Management initiatives for Flinch - including oversight of all app monetization, roadmap, development, and marketing activities - FMG was tasked with helping concept and prototype a new, complimentary mobile application, Heystax, a digital speed dating mobile application.
The concept for Heystax was born out of the user behavior and customer feedback from Flinch. As product owner for Flinch, Farrell communicated directly with users to understand the reason they were using the product. What he learned was that users were interested in the video chat staring contest because it allowed them to meet someone new, randomly and communicate with them in a live, face-to-face setting. One of the biggest user requests was to only be paired with someone from the opposite sex and/or someone close to their age. Thus, proving there was a market need for a targeted way to discover new friends. Through more user testing and research, it was uncovered that something casual, fun, playful, and 'gamified' made meeting someone new less "creepy".
From there, Farrell and others were tasked with developing the concept for the new application, wireframing out the main user flows, designing the main screens, and more… So, FMG got to work...
The team wanted to leverage much of the learnings from Flinch and the ooVoo/Affectiva integration and ooVoo's Intelligent Video® platform, so a compatibility feature was developed where after the 60-second video 'speed date', the users would be presented a score which represented the engagement, happiness and emotional compatibility of the video chat participants. The team believed this would allow the product to be differentiated in the market and add a little science and 'magic' to the user experience.
More about Heystax from the Original App Store Description:
Heystax is your go-to wingman for finding friends, baes, beaus, ride-or-dies, peeps, the like-minded, your Ace, your boo, your WHATEVER. Meet. Mingle. Chat. And Score Friends.
Finding someone worth your time isn’t easy. Trust us, we get it! And don’t even get us started on the online dating scene. You waste SO much time swiping and messaging; and after weeks, or months, of the back-and-forth, you FINALLY work up the nerve to meet IRL… at your favorite coffee spot. Within seconds of hanging out face-to-face, you know the person is a huge NOPE. (Cue the escape route. Now you’ll have to find a new coffee spot. This is the 4th one this year.)
Stop wasting your time—and your coffee spots. Skip right to the face-to-face from the comfort of… wherever. (YAY mobile technology! YAY video chat!)
Enter Heystax.
Think of Heystax as the kinda weird, super-smart, hella-loyal friend you’ve had since before you can even remember. The one that knows everybody and is always telling you about a person you NEED to meet. The friend with no fear and no shame who can make anything fun. You know who we’re talking about. Heystax is THAT friend — but in app form.
The Wright Way Foundation
501(c)3 Director | Strategic Advisor | Event Operations
(April-July 2014) Having spent 5-years coaching college basketball, Matt Farrell developed strong relationships with the players he coached. Thus, when it came time for former Dayton Flyer and professional basketball player Chris Wright (University of Dayton Class of 2011) to stand-up his charitable foundation, he turned to Matt to support.
Farrell Management Group quickly leveraged relationships with financial advisors and attorneys to make sure Chris and his family were protected every step of the way.
Once The Wright Way Foundation, Inc. was established, Farrell Management Group turned its attention to supporting the first of countless events the organization would host - a 2-day basketball camp for students (K-12).
FMG developed every aspect of the camp's framework for the 2014 Chris Wright Basketball Camp & Flyght School. From drafting the letter used to solicit camp sponsors to the minute-by-minute camp schedule; from the game and contest rules to the registration infrastructure and website, FMG handled every aspect of the pre-camp operations. The framework proved to be highly successful in the camp's first year, and the camp continues to gain momentum, having completed the 4th annual event in 2017.
Welcome To College
Strategic Advisor | Business Operations
(2011-Present) Prior to the formation of Farrell Management Group, Matt Farrell served (and continues to serve) as a strategic advisor to Justin Bayer, Founder & CEO of Welcome To College.
Farrell and Bayer are long-time friends and former colleagues who each have deep passions rooted in people, professional development, and entrepreneurial endeavors. As Bayer began forming Welcome To College, building business plans, and lining up investors, Farrell served as a trusted advisor - always available to Justin to bounce an idea off, read through an investor pitch deck, or critique the latest marketing collateral.
Most recently, Farrell Management Group has worked with Bayer and Welcome To College on new market strategies.
More About Welcome To College:
Welcome To College ignites meaning and purpose into how colleges are connecting with prospective students before, during, and after the college visit experience. They are providing campus tour guides and admission teams new tools to enhance one of the most critical aspects of the recruitment process. The Welcome To College products help identify, connect, and retain students who will flourish during the college experience.
To learn more about Welcome To College, their mission, and the team behind their remarkable work, click here: welcometocollege.com
You can feel the passion from CEO, Bayer in a New York Times article on the revival of New Orleans here.
More Details Coming Soon...
Detailed information about Farrell Management Group's role as an advisor to Conduit Ventures, Inc. will be added to the site soon.
At Conduit Ventures, we enable our clients to dream big, build fast, and accelerate growth. As a full-service, value-added advisory and venture partner, Conduit brings industry-leading expertise in software development, product, design, and more.
The C/V team has experience shaping the software development culture of startups across the country. Combining a startup mentality with a unique skill-set developed at leading global tech companies, the C/V team puts an emphasis on service above all else.
We have a big vision to find creative ways to invest in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping founders build great software, take their products to market, and expand their team.
Detailed information about Farrell Management Group's role as a strategic advisor to Curafied will be added to the site soon.
Curafied
Strategic Advisor
(November 2017-PRESENT)
Learn More:
Visit the Curafied website to learn more and register for your FREE account today.
Krush Technologies
Executive Leadership
(July 2015 - June 2017) As Co-Founder of Krush Technologies, Matt Farrell and Farrell Management Group had a direct impact on virtually every aspect of in standing up the company's day-to-day operations... From recruiting to finance; from HR and benefits to legal and contracts; from marketing/branding and defining our company’s and our products' value proposition to strategic planning; from product ownership to business development; from board presentations to social media / community management – Farrell's fingerprint was on anything and everything Krush related.
As the company's operations were stood up and as hiring kicked-off, some of the tactical to-dos were passed off and Matt Farrell was brought on in a full-time, executive role.
Farrell was named Director of Business Operations before being promoted to Vice President. During this time, Farrell was focused on one of most critical aspects of the business - helping build out and hire a great Product Team consisting of software engineers, digital (UI/UX) designers, marketing and product managers. The team assembled combined technical expertise with empathy, collaboration with leadership, and great people with a clear direction.
Under Farrell's watch, the cross-functional Product Team on-boarded three highly complex digital/mobile products inside of five months. When the products were being maintained and iterated in-house, Farrell led the team in shifting their focus to something that was 100% theirs – a new product with tremendous potential. The team’s continued success was a direct result of their ability to balanced maintenance and innovation all while pushing the limits of tight deadlines and huge expectations.
Learn More:
To learn more about Krush Technologies, their work, and the experiences they built, click here: krush.com
More Details Coming Soon...
Detailed information about Farrell Management Group's role in this project will be added to the site soon...
