Bernhard Schroeder

Bernhard Schroeder is Director, EMC Programs and oversees all of the undergraduate and graduate internship programs, the Lavin VentureStart Programs, the SDSU Venture Challenge MBA competition as well as the SDSU business plan competition teams. He also has responsibility for EMC marketing on both the SDSU campus and in the San Diego community. He is a part-time Clinical Faculty, Marketing within the College of Business Administration at San Diego State University. Bernhard brings over 20 years of marketing and entrepreneurial experience both as a Senior Partner in a leading global marketing agency and as a former Chief Marketing Officer on the client side.

Since moving to San Diego in 1997, he has specialized in working with senior executives and venture capitalists in either growth or turnaround opportunities with several companies including Nicholas-Applegate and Stellcom. In addition, he has received his master's degree from San Diego State University.

Prior to moving to San Diego, Bernhard was a Senior Partner in the worlds' largest integrated marketing communications agency, CKS Partners, which in 1998 had offices in over 30 countries, more than 10,000 employees and over $1 billion in revenue. Bernhard joined CKS in 1991 when the firm had only 35 employees and just $5.5 million in revenue. He opened the first out of state agency office for CKS in 1993 in Portland Oregon and, working with the other four partners, grew the firm to almost $40 million in revenue by 1995 and led CKS to a successful IPO that same year.

He has experience working with Fortune 100 firms like Apple, Nike, General Motors, American Express, Mercedes Benz, Kellogg's and others as well as start-up companies. He was involved in the initial branding and marketing launches for companies like Yahoo!, Amazon, Corbis, ESPN and Travelocity. Prior to CKS Partners, Bernhard worked with direct mail and database marketing agencies helping them grow significantly.