Biography
Scharp is a senior level business and marketing leader with more than 30 years successful experience driving results for world-class, category leading organizations through strategic planning with a human-centered focus.
Currently, he is the Principal and Chief Strategy Officer for Grey Matter Group, an award-winning marketing and communications firm headquartered in Grand Rapids. Previously, Scharp was a member of the senior executive team for a global, faith-based, non-profit organization, Our Daily Bread Ministries. Scharp has worked with global brands including HarperCollins Publishers, Miller Knoll, Ford Motor Company, Harvard University, Templeton Religion Trust and Water for Good.
He's an Effie Award winner, the global symbol of recognition for marketing effectiveness and proudly serves as Vice President of Programming on the board for American Marketing Association West Michigan.
Scharp has been an Adjunct and Visiting Lecturer of Business & Marketing at Calvin University since 2008 and is a recipient of Calvin University's prestigious 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award. He brings a distinctive practitioner-scholar perspsective to the classroom, integrating current marketing practice, applied learning, human-centered strategy, and a Christ-centered understanding of vocation, stewardship, creativity, and service.
If he’s not working or teaching, he’s probably out exploring the world on a bike.
Education
- PhD (ABD currently), North Central University
- MBA, Western Michigan University
- BA, Journalism and Advertising, Liberty University
- BS, Business and Marketing, Liberty University
Professional Experience
- Principal and Chief Strategy Officer – Grey Matter Group
- Senior Vice President of Global Marketing – Our Daily Bread Ministries
- Marketing Director – Herman Miller
- Vice President of Marketing – HarperCollins Publishers
