Who We Are – The Pathfinder Team

Management Profile

Jay Gronlund is the president and founder of The Pathfinder Group, which was created in 1988. Initially the firm focused on sourcing products and finding subcontract manufacturing operations in emerging countries, with a team of New York-based partners. Since 1990, the focus has shifted to international expansion, with Jay Gronlund managing a consulting team for each project on a subcontract basis, usually involving a local affiliate abroad and/or a U.S. based strategic partner.

Jay's main expertise is in marketing and business development. His career, with major corporations and as a consultant, has been devoted to finding innovative ways to expand sales and improve efficiencies, both domestically and internationally. After graduate school, Jay Gronlund held executive positions at well known international companies for more than 20 years, most recently:

• Newsweek — VP, Director of Marketing


• Seagram — Sr. VP Marketing & New Business Development, Wine Division


• Church & Dwight (Arm & Hammer) — Group Manager, New Business Development


• Richardson-Vicks — Brand Management and New Product Development

Jay Gronlund is a graduate of Colby College and has an MBA from Amos Tuck, Dartmouth College. Jay also teaches a course on "Positioning and Brand Development" at New York University. He is a member of the American Marketing Association, The World Trade Club of New York, and the Yale Club of New York City. Jay has lived and worked in foreign countries (UK and Sweden), and has traveled extensively throughout the world. He presently lives outside NYC in New Canaan, CT.

Strategic Partners on the Pathfinder Team

Depending on the requirements of each project, Jay Gronlund often partners with other U.S. consultants who have a special expertise in related fields. Working as a team, we can deliver for the client a more professional and creative solution to his problems. The partners working most often on Pathfinder projects include:

John Nelson - specialist in direct marketing and selling, including business-to-business programs, with extensive experience in consumer products (started at Richardson-Vicks, then Avon), financial services (American Express) and various entrepreneurial ventures in the high tech field. Graduate of Colgate University.

Tom Pluta - highly skilled in project management activities, especially in the environmental area (worked together at World Environment Center on projects in Central & Eastern Europe). Holds BS and MS (Environmental Sciences) from Rutgers University.

Nancy Schaefer - from Consumer Dynamics, a reputable new product and marketing consulting firm, which focuses on strategic assessments, market research, consumer insights, new business development, proprietary ideation sessions, and concept development.

Todd Selbert - an advertising and media professional, with a career starting at Procter & Gamble, then several ad agencies and magazine publishing firms. Graduate of Miami of Ohio.