E97: Ken Grouf - Building Community

Ken was the Chairman and co-CEO of Kriser’s Natural Pet. Raising
capital from private equity firms, Ken led the operations to grow
Kriser's Natural Pet into one of the largest natural pet
retailers in the country with stores in 12 markets nationwide.
Recently he sold the company to TPG and the chain currently has
over 170 stores nationwide.

After 5 years as Director of brand management at Yahoo!, he moved
back to NYC shortly after 9-11 to co-found City Year New York. He
quickly built a team of 250 staff and full-time Americorps
members that served New York City in 4 boroughs. While guiding
the policy, strategic, and product development for the
organization, he led a team that raised over $25M from
corporations, foundations, and individuals and over $10M in city
and federal funding .

Before founding CYNY, Ken spent over five years at Yahoo! as the
Director of Brand Management. While building one of the world's
most popular Internet brands, he oversaw a team that managed the
marketing and communications strategy for the communities and
media divisions.

Prior to Yahoo!, Ken helped build Do Something as the Director of
National Programs and Marketing. While managing media
partnerships with MTV, AOL, Nickelodeon, he directed the
communications messaging via print, television, and radio
PSAs.

No stranger to start-ups, Ken is an advisor and active investor
with current investments in teaRIOT, Mack Weldon, Tender Greens,
Blaze Pizza, Breez Mints, Namaste Nail Sanctuary, and Park Place
Payments. He also served as the founding chair of Kaboom!, a
national non-profit that builds playgrounds across the country;
the Painted Turtle, a camp for kids with life threatening
illnesses; Ramapo for Children, a camp for special needs
children; and the Northwest Settlement House.


Learn more about Ken at:


Ken Grouf | LinkedIn 


Learn more about the Child Welfare League at:


CWLA – Child Welfare League of America


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