Prior to returning to full-time college teaching, I held a variety of different positions in sales and marketing for US corporations.

CORPORATE/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1986 – 1987 FAIRFAX HYUNDAI AND BROWN'S NISSAN:  Sales. Duties included analyzing the needs of customers, identifying appropriate vehicles, explaining features and benefits, and negotiating a price.  Was consistently in the top 3 of the sales force achieving a closing rate as high as 40%. 

1985 BABY BUSINESS INC.:  Vice President/Co-founder of an exposition management and marketing firm for promotion of products and services for new and expectant parents and grandparents.  Responsible for market strategy development, business planning, operations and sales.  Researched competitive organizations, developed corporate image, identified marketing position and packaging.  Conducted media relations and advertising campaigns.

1983 – 1985 TELESTRATEGIES, INC.:  Director of Sales and Marketing. Developed and implemented complete marketing program with direct responsibility for the budgeting, production of marketing and support material, supervision of personnel, and implementation of the program, including a cold-call telemarketing program, direct-mail promotional campaign, trade show exhibits, user conferences, and marketing seminars.  Developed and administered a $1.5 million budget for advertising and promotion.  Trained and managed marketing personnel.

1982 – 1983 JOHNSON SYSTEMS:  Manager of Marketing Communications. Researched, developed and implemented the marketing communications plan, including all advertising, direct mail, and marketing support materials.  Managed a seminar program of 30 marketing seminars and 25 public relations seminars in different cities in the U.S. and Canada.  Managed a complex lead generation, qualification, and tracking program.  Authored user stories, customer newsletter, direct mail marketing copy, corporate presentations, and articles for publication and distribution. 

1981 – 1982 MITEL, INC.  Manager of Marketing Services. Developed and administered a $2 million annual budget for all of U.S. marketing services, including advertising, sales promotion, sales meetings and customer mailings.  Responsible for all aspects of sales literature:  design, format, printing, and distribution for U.S. marketing.  Instituted an inventory control system and improved distribution network of sales support materials and was involved in implementing co-op advertising program in conjunction with Mitel distributors and dealers to double sales to $400 million in 1982.

1980 MIDAMERICA INSTITUTE OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES:  Director of Research and Administration.  Duties included research in human communication literature:  organization and collation of data; administrative direction of the MidAmerica Institute office details, and working with the president authoring articles for publication.