Bluegrass Angel funded media company, uHAPS, names former Anheuser-Busch VP strategic advisor and board director

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 10, 2011) ─ uHAPS Media named Keith Levy strategic advisor and to the board of directors effective Oct. 1, 2011. Levy is the former vice president and chief marketing officer of Anheuser-Busch. He has nearly 26 years of experience in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) marketing, advertising, sales and general management. The Bluegrass Angels have invested in uHaps, a Lexington-based mobile marketing company.

During his tenure at Anheuser-Busch, the largest brewer in North America, Levy led several dynamic cross-functional teams responsible for achieving nearly 50 percent of market share in the highly competitive U.S. beer industry.  Levy was responsible for the company's total marketing operations, including the development and implementation of the company's marketing vision and strategy. 

"Keith Levy is an exceptional leader with deep strategic marketing, organizational development and brand building knowledge and experience to help our company accomplish its short- and long-term strategic objectives," said Matthew Wiley, CEO of uHAPS Media. "He has achieved an incredible record of accomplishment and success in growing and delivering superior results. The significance of his role at uHAPS Media and how his leadership will help us continue to grow our business can't be overstated."

New board member Levy said, "While it's true that companies do business in a global world ─ consumers live, shop and connect locally. What got my attention about uHAPS Media is that they have been quietly carving out a unique niche in today's increasingly complex marketing world. That niche is all about helping big national brands as well as smaller local brands achieve local relevance and a stronger consumer connection. They've just begun to scratch the surface of what I believe can be a tremendous value equation for companies looking to unlock the power of local marketing. I know firsthand the challenge that marketers face in this environment and my involvement is designed to help them 'scratch deeper' and explore more relationships and avenues for growth.”   

Founded in 2008 by Matthew Wiley and Stepfan Jefferies, uHAPS Media specializes in experiential local marketing through event teams, web, mobile and social media. The company helps both established and emerging brands build a stronger connection with consumers in local markets around the United States by creating memorable in-person events and experiences, and then reliving those experiences through the web and social media. By providing breakthrough media support in more than 70 markets nationwide, uHAPS is currently working with some of the most dynamic clients, including Anheuser-Busch, Ford, Smoothie King, Fantastic Sam's, Rainforest Beverages, banks, auto dealerships and other businesses. The number one commitment is to make sure clients win by capturing the attention and engaging consumers through alternative experiential media solutions, as well as traditional local media. www.uhapsmedia.com

About UKCED
The University of Kentucky Office for Commercialization & Economic Development accelerates the Kentucky economy by commercializing UK research, facilitating university-industry collaboration, and assisting UK innovators, local entrepreneurs and Kentucky small business in creating jobs. UKCED manages UK's intellectual property assets, licenses technology, and includes the ASTeCC campus incubator, Coldstream Research Campus, Kentucky Small Business Development Center, Kentucky Technology Inc., Lexington ICC, Technology Transfer, and the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship. The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship helped develop the Bluegrass Angels and in 2010 screened more than 100 deals.