Marketing exec tumbles into new post at Ringling College

SARASOTA — Rich Kaplan, a 30-year marketing executive who helped build Tervis Tumbler into one of the region's fastest growing companies, has taken a new position with Ringling College of Art and Design.

Kaplan was named vice president for marketing and innovative partnerships, according to a release. Kaplan will work with Ringling College President Larry Thompson on strategic growth initiatives, the college says. Kaplan will also oversee marketing and the school's ancillary programs, which include the Englewood Art Center and Longboat Key Center for the Arts.

“Rich is a dynamic and innovative creative leader who served as a Creativity Champion for Ringling College's Imagination Conversation in November 2011,” Thompson says in the release. “He is a visionary who understands strategic marketing at the highest levels and will help make us develop this aspect as we attempt to attract new students, donors, supporters, and partners for the college. He also will help us analyze and develop new strategic partnerships to increase additional revenue streams because we can no longer continue to rely solely on the traditional tuition model in order for this institution to thrive.”

Tervis hired Kaplan to help oversee marketing in 2008. He previously worked in branding and marketing in the consumer products industry, including a 20-year stint at Levi Strauss & Co. Kaplan was promoted to the title of president-chief brand officer in February 2012 at Tervis, where he worked alongside new CEO Pat Redmond. Kaplan created a national ad campaign for the company, and he also helped generate new licensing agreements and find new distribution partners. Tervis grew revenues more than 100% while Kaplan was there, to where sales now surpass $100 million annually.

“I am extremely excited to join the Ringling team,” says Kaplan in the release. “I am passionate about enabling people to succeed, attain their goals, and creating an atmosphere where people can debate, participate, communicate openly and develop to their highest capabilities.”