Corporate Information
CaffeineSM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ePrize, LLC, the most experienced interactive promotion agency in the United States, developing more interactive sweepstakes, points-based reward programs, and chance-to-win promotions than anyone in the industry. We blend breakthrough creativity with cutting-edge technology to help our clients effectively drive customer acquisition and retention. As a full-service interactive promotion agency, ePrize offers strategic, technology, and administrative services to efficiently deliver hand raisers, motivate specific consumer behavior, and give customers a reason to react.
With nearly 350 professionals and offices in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and London, we have administered more than 2,300 successful promotions for clients such as The Coca-Cola Company, Visa, The Gap, adidas, United Airlines, Procter & Gamble, Palm, ConAgra Foods, Dell and General Motors.
ePrize continues to lead the way in developing programs and support specifically designed to nurture one-to-one relationships.
Josh Linkner — Founder and Chief Executive Officer
As a pioneer in interactive marketing and promotions, Josh has been involved in the development of hundreds of digital marketing strategies and e-commerce solutions over the last 13 years. As the founder and CEO of ePrize, he has led the firm from inception to being ranked the #1 fastest growing and #3 overall promotion agency by PROMO Magazine. ePrize has produced an industry-leading 2,000 interactive promotions for clients including Coca-Cola, American Express, The Gap, Procter & Gamble, Warner Brothers, Dell, Adidas, The Home Depot and General Motors.
Despite challenging economic times, Josh achieved annualized revenue growth over 100% since 1999. He led the company's expansion into new industries including travel, automotive, financial services, packaged goods, retail, and entertainment as well as geographic expansion, opening offices in New York, Chicago, LA, Dallas, and London. In addition, Josh has led the firm through two rounds of financing and two recapitalizations, securing over $74 million of investment.
As an early Internet marketing visionary, Josh founded and built one of the first web marketing agencies, GlobalLink New Media, in 1995. The firm grew to be recognized as a "Top 100 Interactive Agency" by Advertising Age Magazine in both 1997 and 1998. In early 1999 Josh successfully negotiated and managed all aspects of selling GlobalLink to a publicly traded firm.
He also served as Senior Vice President for Rare Medium Group, a 1,100 person web consulting and venture capital firm. Josh managed 110 employees while overseeing Midwest Operations in Detroit, Chicago and Toronto. As a member of the leadership team he assisted with strategic expansion and acquisitions activities.
Josh is a frequent source-for-comment among business, technology and marketing media. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Business 2.0, AdAge, Inc, Entrepreneur, and the Direct Marketing News, and is a prominent speaker at numerous industry events. Josh has won several business, technology, and design awards including the 2004 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, The Inc. 500, Crains' Detroit 40 under 40, and the Michigan Fast 50.
Josh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from the University of Florida. He is also an accomplished and well-respected Jazz musician from which he draws the same passion and excitement toward business, and creating a culture of innovation, discipline,
and creativity.
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Gary Shuman — Senior Vice President, Caffeine Business Development
As Senior Vice President of Business Development, Gary Shuman brings his four years of ePrize core sales experience to the Caffeine product team. Gary joined ePrize in 2000 as the Chief Financial Officer and transitioned to the Vice President of Business Development role from 2003 to 2006 securing business from key Fortune 500 clients such as Gillette, Staples, Black & Decker and Marriott. In 2006, Gary headed to Fulfillment Services as the Senior Vice President, leading the drawing administration, prize fulfillment and customer service teams. Before joining ePrize, Shuman spent 12 years at Ford Motor Company and Visteon Corporation in various finance and strategic planning positions. Gary started his career at General Motors working in plant finance in Pontiac and learning advanced manufacturing techniques at the GM/Toyota NUMMI facility in California.
Shuman holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University and a master's of business administration degree from the University of Michigan. He currently resides in West Bloomfield, Michigan with his wife Stacey and three children, Rachel, Will and AJ.
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Danny Bogus — Director Business Development
Danny Bogus has over 10 years of sales experience in the retail and eCommerce industries, most recently in gaming. He was formerly a Sales Representative with the Michigan Lottery where he was at the forefront of the Club Games start-up project. His team successfully built a network of retailers from zero to more than 2000 which provides annual Lottery sales in excess of $250 million. In fact, business development was so successful that revenues for Michigan’s Club Games rank number one in the country today. In addition to many accolades, the department was reviewed by many other states and countries as a blueprint for success.
Prior to the Michigan Lottery, Danny was the Director of Sales and Marketing for a high-end tobacconist where he created an eCommerce website that has progressively functioned to shift offline customers to online while growing sales nationally. During that time he discovered a great passion for fine cigars and has helped to private label several lines of imported cigars.
Danny earned his Bachelor of Science in Advertising from Michigan State University.
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With nearly 350 professionals and offices in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and London, we have administered more than 2,300 successful promotions for clients such as The Coca-Cola Company, Visa, The Gap, adidas, United Airlines, Procter & Gamble, Palm, ConAgra Foods, Dell and General Motors.
ePrize continues to lead the way in developing programs and support specifically designed to nurture one-to-one relationships.
- Developed and managed over 2,300 campaigns for major brands since 1999
- One of the few full-service agencies delivering strategy, creative design, software engineering, technology, security, digital fulfillment services, eCRM solutions and full legal/promotion administration
- Proven technology platform to deliver high quality, fast, and affordable programs
- A pioneer in using interactive technology to drive immediate and measurable results
- Ranked as one of the top U.S. agencies on the PROMO 100 (#3 overall promotion agency, 2005 and 2006; #1 fastest growing in 2002) and the only interactive agency on the list
- Produced 85% more national promotions in the US than any other firm in 2005
- Customer service maniacs whatever it takes attitude
- Passionate about our clients' success
Caffeine Leadership Bios
As a pioneer in interactive marketing and promotions, Josh has been involved in the development of hundreds of digital marketing strategies and e-commerce solutions over the last 13 years. As the founder and CEO of ePrize, he has led the firm from inception to being ranked the #1 fastest growing and #3 overall promotion agency by PROMO Magazine. ePrize has produced an industry-leading 2,000 interactive promotions for clients including Coca-Cola, American Express, The Gap, Procter & Gamble, Warner Brothers, Dell, Adidas, The Home Depot and General Motors.
Despite challenging economic times, Josh achieved annualized revenue growth over 100% since 1999. He led the company's expansion into new industries including travel, automotive, financial services, packaged goods, retail, and entertainment as well as geographic expansion, opening offices in New York, Chicago, LA, Dallas, and London. In addition, Josh has led the firm through two rounds of financing and two recapitalizations, securing over $74 million of investment.
As an early Internet marketing visionary, Josh founded and built one of the first web marketing agencies, GlobalLink New Media, in 1995. The firm grew to be recognized as a "Top 100 Interactive Agency" by Advertising Age Magazine in both 1997 and 1998. In early 1999 Josh successfully negotiated and managed all aspects of selling GlobalLink to a publicly traded firm.
He also served as Senior Vice President for Rare Medium Group, a 1,100 person web consulting and venture capital firm. Josh managed 110 employees while overseeing Midwest Operations in Detroit, Chicago and Toronto. As a member of the leadership team he assisted with strategic expansion and acquisitions activities.
Josh is a frequent source-for-comment among business, technology and marketing media. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Business 2.0, AdAge, Inc, Entrepreneur, and the Direct Marketing News, and is a prominent speaker at numerous industry events. Josh has won several business, technology, and design awards including the 2004 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, The Inc. 500, Crains' Detroit 40 under 40, and the Michigan Fast 50.
Josh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from the University of Florida. He is also an accomplished and well-respected Jazz musician from which he draws the same passion and excitement toward business, and creating a culture of innovation, discipline,
and creativity.
Back to Top
Gary Shuman — Senior Vice President, Caffeine Business Development
As Senior Vice President of Business Development, Gary Shuman brings his four years of ePrize core sales experience to the Caffeine product team. Gary joined ePrize in 2000 as the Chief Financial Officer and transitioned to the Vice President of Business Development role from 2003 to 2006 securing business from key Fortune 500 clients such as Gillette, Staples, Black & Decker and Marriott. In 2006, Gary headed to Fulfillment Services as the Senior Vice President, leading the drawing administration, prize fulfillment and customer service teams. Before joining ePrize, Shuman spent 12 years at Ford Motor Company and Visteon Corporation in various finance and strategic planning positions. Gary started his career at General Motors working in plant finance in Pontiac and learning advanced manufacturing techniques at the GM/Toyota NUMMI facility in California.
Shuman holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University and a master's of business administration degree from the University of Michigan. He currently resides in West Bloomfield, Michigan with his wife Stacey and three children, Rachel, Will and AJ.
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Danny Bogus — Director Business Development
Danny Bogus has over 10 years of sales experience in the retail and eCommerce industries, most recently in gaming. He was formerly a Sales Representative with the Michigan Lottery where he was at the forefront of the Club Games start-up project. His team successfully built a network of retailers from zero to more than 2000 which provides annual Lottery sales in excess of $250 million. In fact, business development was so successful that revenues for Michigan’s Club Games rank number one in the country today. In addition to many accolades, the department was reviewed by many other states and countries as a blueprint for success.
Prior to the Michigan Lottery, Danny was the Director of Sales and Marketing for a high-end tobacconist where he created an eCommerce website that has progressively functioned to shift offline customers to online while growing sales nationally. During that time he discovered a great passion for fine cigars and has helped to private label several lines of imported cigars.
Danny earned his Bachelor of Science in Advertising from Michigan State University.
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