Gregg H Strum
231 Springside Drive, Elgin, IL 60124 | 224-290-3940 | gstrum21@gmail.com

PROFESSSIONAL SUMMARY

Proven top revenue producing sales professional with over twenty years of success within the brand

management and HR training industry.

 

Consistently recognized for superior performance and contributions to company profitability.

 

Motivated creative and entrepreneurial self-starter with a strong work ethic and a passion for sales and service excellence.

 

Adept at building strategic value for each client and bringing a value proposition to the table through

a consultative, creative and solution-based approach.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Swagtender | New Business Development | 2022-Present

 

Promotional product distributor and proud member of Advertising Specialty Institute.

§   Develop new national clients within the cannabis industry through cold calling, attending industry tradeshows and client presentations.

§   Create promotional opportunities through clients’ growing/cultivation, packaging and retail operations.

§   Build online branded e-commerce promotional stores and incorporate best practices distribution solutions.

Cedric Spring & Associates | Senior Account Manager | 2020-2022

 

A full-service marketing and brand management promotional consultant. Specializing creating unique promotional product solutions and PPE offerings.

§   Partner with clients to help offer creative and unique decoration and promotional solutions to make their projects a success.

§   Use a consultative approach to find timely and cost-effective solutions for my client’s promotional initiatives that protects brand integrity and improves their ROI.

§   Onboard new clients in the Chicagoland area.

MPGTandem | Branding Consultant | 2015-2020

A brand management and promotions company offering a creative portfolio of products and services including branded apparel/uniforms, merchandise and eStore creation.

§   Add strategic value to my clients by providing unique and creative ideas to improve promotional branding opportunities.

§   Use industry best practices to increase ROI on clients marketing spend.

§   Focus on local Chicagoland companies for new business development.

 

Club Colors Buyers LLC | Business Development Manager | 2012- 2015

Brand management company that delivers creative branded merchandise and apparel and offers customized solutions, rewards and incentive programs, eStores, print services and creating a lasting memorable connection.

§  New business development, with focus on manufacturing companies, through cold calling, tradeshows, LinkedIn and other social media promotions.

§  Contracted, created and updated company promotional webstores for Fortune 1000 companies. Refresh web store offerings on a quarterly/seasonal basis. Create reports for clients with suggested changes and ROI improvements.

§  Deliver on-site sales presentations to marketing executives with focus on creativity, value proposition and marketing ROI.

Lava Learning | Owner | 2008-2012

Distributor of exceptional training resources including e-Learning content, DVD programs and live on-site facilitation with subject matter experts. Areas of expertise range from management & leadership development to harassment prevention and diversity & inclusion best practices.

§  Responsible for Inside/Outside sales and new client development with a focus on the healthcare, energy and financial markets. Promote consistent and customized blended training solutions for all levels of the client’s organization. Create marketing strategy and campaigns incorporating, email, social media, direct mail and online press releases. Authored and promoted company blog.

§  Contracted with multiple leading content producers for executive distribution rights to products or services. Designed and set-up company e-commerce website. Implemented ongoing SEO best practices into site.

Learning Communications | National Client Manager | 1997-2008

Producer of management development training programs featuring motivational and business experts such as Tom Peters, Ken Blanchard, Lou Holtz and Jack Welch.

§  Team leader of four employees that increased hard copy video distributorship revenue over 40% by contracting with new distributors and creating powerful and effective marketing tools for clients to utilize.

§  Selected to pilot sales and marketing efforts for a new satellite subscription and pay-per-view service for management development training content called Business Vision. Partnered with EchoStar Communications as technical partner. Contracted with key clients including GM, Ford and Pfizer.

EDUCATION

Roosevelt University | Chicago, IL |

§   Bachelor of Science Business Administration (B.S.B.A.)

§   Marketing (Extended Major)

§   Completed degree while working full-time

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

§  Consultative Sales / Solution Selling

§  Sales Tracking & Forecasting

§  Facilis Contact Brand Management System

§  Key Account Management  B2B Sales

§  Lead Generation / Pipeline Development

§  Email Marketing & Design Constant Contact & Swiftpage

§  Website SEO Improvement

§  Saba Learning Management System (LMS)