BYOBiz Director Robert Bloch brings experience, vision to Champlain

“My hands-on experience as an entrepreneur will serve me well as we build a program that will deliver a particularly intense, immediate and meaningful educational experience to young entrepreneurs,” says Robert Bloch, Director of Champlain’s BYOBiz Program, who was recently named to the position. “I knew that Champlain College was an exceptionally innovative institution because I’ve lived and worked in this community for years,” he says. “When the opportunity to help build the BYOBiz Program arose, I couldn’t pass it up.”

As a marketing strategist and business executive known for his ability to see significant strategic opportunities, Bloch’s skills are well-suited to lead the BYOBiz program.

“I’m excited about putting my experience to use in helping educate and develop our future leaders,” Bloch says. “It’s going to be an exciting challenge to help the program realize its full potential.”

Bloch spent the past 15 years in entrepreneurial pursuits. Most recently, he was lead investor and CEO of Ricochet Manufacturing Company, Inc., a manufacturer of protective garments for both military and public safety applications. He oversaw the strategic repositioning of the company from solely a military gear provider to serving a broader market, successfully establishing Ricochet as an innovative, customer-focused brand.

In 1992, Bloch co-founded Northeast DBS Enterprises, L.P., a rural distributor of DirecTV® broadcast satellite service. As CEO of NEDBS, he built the business from the ground up, identifying the market opportunity, raising the equity funding and establishing market leading operations. In 1997, the Company was sold, yielding investors substantials returns on their investment.

Bloch also spent 17 years at some of the country’s “best managed” Fortune 500 global services companies. As Chief Marketing Officer for Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites, Inc. he implemented innovative research strategies that boosted customer service ratings. Business Travel News named him one of the “Twenty-Five Most Influential People in the Travel Industry.“ Previously, as CMO of Four Seasons Hotels Ltd., Toronto, Bloch helped reposition the company from a collection of 13 boutique hotels into a leading global luxury brand. He began his career in consumer packaged goods at General Foods, rising quickly into increasingly responsible brand management positions.

Bloch received his MBA from Harvard University and his BA in Government from Cornell University. He is active in land conservation in his community. He enjoys golf, skiing, motorcycling and other outdoor pursuits.