Billy Goldberg
Billy Goldberg is a business advisor to middle-market companies in a cross section of industries ranging from entertainment, law, health and wellness, consumer goods and hospitality. He is certified as both a business and executive leadership coach, focused on behind-the-scenes support to C-Suite leadership. Private Equity firms and key stakeholders engage him to unlock complex team dynamics and maximize efficiencies to enable organizations to grow both their top and bottom lines.
Billy is a hands-on advisor, bringing imagination, drive, and a heart-centered approach to every aspect of his work. Much of The Buckeye Group’s success comes from helping uncover where (and how) small changes can make a big impact, putting people front and center of the work. With strengths as both strategist and tactician, sounding board and bat phone, Billy’s knowledge in a variety of industries and business models makes his perspective continually relevant.
Prior to The Buckeye Group, Billy spent his career honing skills that support a company’s desire to create new revenue streams through meaningful strategic partnerships. His focal points have been new product creation, licensing, and sponsorship across a wide reach of industry and deal structures. Billy has personally generated more than tens of millions of dollars in new revenue for clients such as The Miss America Organization and DirecTV. Billy was an executive at Bank of America, Tennis Channel, and the William Morris Agency.
He is a co-founder and former board chair of Melissa’s House, an organization that rehabilitates housing for adults living with mental illness.
Credentials
Paula Kaplan
Paula Kaplan is an Emmy Award-winning television producer and media executive. Her three-decade career brings the integrity of original storytelling and deal architecture together with production expertise, talent acquisition and management, and trusted, long-term industry relationships.
In her unique position at the intersection of platforms and creativity, Paula has left her mark at established global media companies like ViacomCBS and NBC Universal, while also evolving with the landscape more recently at organizations like MasterClass, AwesomenessTV and Universal Music Group. During her 20-plus year tenure at ViacomCBS, Paula led multiple teams as the Executive Vice President of Talent and Development, Viacom Digital Studios, Executive Vice President, Talent, Nickelodeon and Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Live Events, Nickelodeon. As the Executive Producer of Nickelodeon’s annual Kids’ Choice Awards, she’s credited with shepherding the show into a brand defining event. Beyond cultural zeitgeist, the show demonstrated the ratings, top tier talent participation and following to make it a must buy destination for upcoming theatrical releases and consumer product advertisers.
While at Nickelodeon, Paula was instrumental in developing and launching key talent for the network, many of whom became pop culture icons such as Kenan Thompson, Ariana Grande, Emma Roberts and Nick Cannon. She currently serves on the board of the Jenesse Center Inc. in Los Angeles. Previously, she was a Board Member with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and was a Leadership Circle Board Member for Northwestern University, her alma mater.
Strategic Partners
The Buckeye Group brings subject matter expertise through a handful of strategic advisors who add immense value to projects, as needed.
Dario Antonioni
Product + Experience Specialist
Dario's track record of building, licensing and selling businesses adds authority to TBG’s product-focused clientele.
Eric Hurwitz
Licensing + Business Development
A founding partner at the License Bureau, Eric takes concepts from design to execution.
Andrea Sabesin
Project + Administration
Josh works internally to create and facilitate operational efficiencies.
Justin Key
Growth Mindset + DEI
Justin works with creative entrepreneurs to help them expand their mindsets and better thrive in a more globally connected society.
Jeff Knupp
Commercialization + Operations
Expertise in driving growth using targeted data analytics and systems optimization.
Hilary Laffer
Creative Director + Brand Strategist
Hilary is the principal of design agency Part and Parcel and brings strategic design and branding services to TBG client needs.
Jamie Shortill
Private Equity + Business Development
Jamie raises funds and invests in businesses across a variety of industries.
Amy Swift Crosby
Brand Strategy + Messaging
Amy's work with consumer and B2B brands adds strategic messaging and positioning to TBG client needs.