Barbara Siss Oney

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Barbara Oney has been a leader and innovator in marketing and business alliances for over 20 years. Most recently, she was Chief Marketing Officer for the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland (CVB). While there she launched the CVB’s first fully integrated branding campaign. Technology-based marketing strategies accounted for a 10% reduction in marketing costs. Marketing alliances were developed with key events such as the Rock Hall’s CMJ Music Fest and the Grand Prix as well as with Cleveland Hopkins Airport, Team NEO and College 360 to leverage for enhanced target marketing and financial efficiency. And she was responsible for securing a founding seat on the Cleveland Marketing Alliance for the CVB.

Prior to joining the CVB Ms. Oney served as Vice President of Universal Studios. While there she developed an in-house promotional department that provided over $11 million in incremental media and sponsorship exposure within the first 9 months. She managed national as well as account specific programs. One of these programs included a multi-million dollar campaign tied to six video rental releases anchored by American Pie that tied in with Lycos, Logitech, and Vans and included retailer specific, on-cassette, print and Internet marketing. As the departmental representative to Universal Studio’s strategic partners she worked with Coca-Cola, Kodak and UNICEF on multi-departmental initiatives.

Before working at Universal Studios, Ms. Oney was founder and president of Barbara Watts and Associates, Inc. (BWA). The full-service agency provided marketing, corporate partnerships, event sponsorships, licensing, and promotions for both leading package goods corporations and entertainment companies. Clients included Warner Bros., Hollywood Video, Andrew Jergens, Columbia TriStar Pictures, Universal Television, HBO, Live Entertainment, Turner Home Entertainment, Sony Wonder, MGM/UA Home Entertainment and New Line Cinema. BWA was sold in 1998.

In 1990 she joined Twentieth Century Fox as Director of Worldwide Promotions. In this position she managed the sale and execution of promotions and corporate partnerships with film, video and television properties on both a domestic and international basis. An alliance marketing campaign she developed between Home Alone and Pepsi secured over $8 million dollars in media for the video and increased Pepsi sales by nearly $200 million. A partial list of worldwide corporate partners secured during that time includes Burger King, McDonalds, Frito Lay, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson and Kraft Foods.

Starting with MGM/UA Home Video in 1986, she instigated and managed a division that handled all of the direct mail, premium, laser and promotional licensing deals. As the Direct Mail Sales Representative she was responsible for up to $10 Million a year in sales to accounts such as Columbia House and Time/Life Home Video.