1. EXECUTIVE PROFILE
Proven entrepreneur, business builder and leader. High operating experience across all key functions
of business, including operations, personnel, sales, marketing, finance, product development, strategic
development. Extensive development of outside business partners, both domestic and international.
CORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Co-founded Timeworks, Inc. and lead the development of the company from $0 to over $11M in annual
sales in a period of 5 years. As CEO, my role was to oversee and lead all key operational functions of the
business as well as leading the strategic, market and business development of the company.
• Built & supported a retail base that averaged 6,000 accounts per year
• Developed long term relationships with dozens of large accounts (Ballard Designs, Restoration Hardware)
• Domestically produced on average 150,000 products per year
• Provided career growth and maintained key personnel for long periods of time
BUSINESS SKILL HIGHLIGHTS
• Extensive product and market development
• Comfortable & experienced in overseeing and leading a 100+ person company
• Understanding of importance of personnel career development
• Strong in both linear and non-linear approach to problem solving
• Successful in planning along short, medium and long term time horizons
• P&L and general finance management
• Adopted and developed market/customer focused business culture
• Extensive experience with key outside partners (legal, finance, other)
• Diverse market and industry knowledge
• Extensive international background and experience in Europe and China
• Bi-lingual English / French (worked and lived in Europe for 7 years)
1020 Lake Washington Blvd. NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
T 510.812.1248
john@floatingcircus.com
www.floatingcircus.com
JOHN KOWALSKI

2. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITÉ DE BORDEAUX | 1989-1990 | French Language Immersion Program
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY | 1980-1984 | BA in Political Science | Go Bears!
REFERENCES
Available upon request
FOUNDER / OWNER | JUNE 2013 TO PRESENT
FLOATING CIRCUS, INC. | SEATTLE, WA
Founder Owner of start-up Home Accent/Home Décor company. Responsible for all
strategic marketing product directions. Floating Circus is in a logistic and operational
partnership with Santa Barbara Design Studio, who provides warehousing, inventory,
customer service, and other back office support.
CONSULTANT | JANUARY 2011 TO MARCH 2014
UTTERMOST COMPANY | ROCKY MOUNT, VA
As part of the acquisition of Timeworks by Uttermost, I was involved in managing the
transition of the Timeworks, Inc. product into into the operational, sales and off-shore
production structure of Uttermost.
CO-FOUNDER / CO-OWNER | JUNE 1995 TO JANUARY 2011
TIMEWORKS, INC. | BERKELEY, CA
As co-founder and co-owner, and with no prior experience in building a company from
scratch, I lead the development of the company from revenues of less than $400,000
in 1995 to over $11,000,000 in 2000. During this time became highly knowledgeable
and experienced in all key aspects of running a business, from longer term strategic
planning (e.g. entering into new business segments, developing off-shore production)
to daily interaction with all key personnel and key business partners.
RETAIL MARKETING MANAGER | SEPTEMBER 1994 TO JUNE 1996
NINTENDO OF AMERICA | REDMOND, WA
Responsible for all advertising and promotional programs between Nintendo and key
retail partners (Target, Toys R Us, Wal Mart, etc). Programs ranged from overseeing
partner advertising activity to in-store programs at the launch of Nintendo 64 and other
products.
ADVERTISING MARKETING DIRECTOR | SEPTEMBER 1993 TO SEPTEMBER 1994
NINTENDO OF FRANCE | PARIS, FRANCE
Responsible for all advertising (print, TV, radio) as well as co-marketing programs with
companies like Mars, Duracell and Kellogg’s.
BRAND MANAGER | AUGUST 1990 TO AUGUST 1993
YOUNG RUBICAM | PARIS, FRANCE
Responsible for developing advertising strategies for a number of brands both within
France and across Europe (Colgate Palmolive, Gatorade, Cutty Sark Whiskey,
Nintendo Europe, others).
TIMEWORKS, INC.
makers of fine clocks
A R T T H AT W O R K S
F R A N C E
PA R I S