Strategy January 09, 2019
2019 Salespeople of the Year
Check out profiles of all the salespeople of the year, including the Advantages Distributor Salesperson of the Year, Customer Service Rep of the Year, Supplier Salesperson of the Year, finalists and more!
Distributor Salesperson of the Year
Josh Ebrahemi
Jack Nadel International (asi/279600)
It’s a blockbuster-worthy storyline, which is perfect when you consider that one of Josh Ebrahemi’s biggest clients is Paramount Pictures. Read more here.
Supplier Salesperson of the Year
Beth Belich
alphabroder (asi/34063)
Beth Belich made her first sale 15 minutes after joining the promotional products industry. Read more here.
Customer Service Rep of the Year
Brenda Peralta
Crystal D (asi/47759)
Gal Gadot has got nothing on Brenda Peralta: Crystal D’s own wonder woman has racked up over 30 years of customer service experience while raising her daughter on her own. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Brett Marz
BAMKO (asi/131431)
When Dunkin’ Donuts needed a merchandise reboot, Brett Marz took it very seriously. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Johanna Gottlieb
Axis Promotions (asi/128263)
Here’s one story to capture the essence of Johanna Gottlieb. About two years ago, she sent a thank-you note to someone who really helped her, and it made their day. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Luke Freeman
Wizard Creations (asi/362568)
Known as “The Swag Father,” Luke Freeman shares his nickname with The Godfather in more ways than one: Every time he thinks he’s out, the promotional products industry pulls him back in. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Andi Vopalensky Morales
Boundless (asi/143717)
As someone who’s worked as both a distributor and a buyer, Andi Vopalensky Morales knows what her clients are going through. She also knows what they’re not: promo specialists. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Stacy Garrett
Ideation (asi/229699)
Swimming with sharks. Hiking with bears. Hanging with giant octopuses. These are just some of the “fun” things Stacy Garrett does in her spare time. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Jim Hirst
Interform (asi/231501)
Each business day until noon, Jim Hirst knows what he’ll be doing: going out to visit prospects and clients. It’s what the team calls “sacred selling time,” when all reps go out to meetings. For Hirst, it’s making time to see friends. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Christine Courtemanche
Lineaire Infographie Inc. (asi/253727)
Christine Courtemanche’s distributorship in Quebec is seeing big numbers. The company’s revenue is well over a million dollars with sales increasing by an average of 15% every year. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Casey Pepper
Wildman Imprints (asi/326625)
Casey Pepper’s father-in-law started Wildman Imprints over 65 years ago, but it’s in the past decade that Pepper has spearheaded a shift at the Warsaw, IN-based company – a sales model in which he’s purely responsible for developing new business. Read more here.
Distributor Finalist
Felipe Leighton
Sobe Promos (asi/245603)
Felipe Leighton is a rising star at Miami-based Sobe Promos, bagging large clients and becoming one of the top account managers at 2017’s fastest-growing distributor. But that hasn’t caused the University of Miami grad to rest on his laurels. Read more here.
Veteran Rep of the Year
Connie Mandula
CM Promotions, powered by Geiger (asi/202900)
Over the past 25 years, Connie Mandula has seen salespeople come and go – college graduates inspired by Jerry Maguire and The Wolf of Wall Street, eager to schmooze and build a life of luxury for themselves. Read more here.
Up-and-Comer of the Year
Quincy Edwards
Bright Ideas (asi/146026)
For many sales reps, the hectic nature of each day – from prospecting to managing current orders to following up – can make it challenging to focus on long-term goals. But for Quincy Edwards, an inside sales rep for Troy, VA-based Bright Ideas, every activity she undertakes during the day is in pursuit of her sales objectives. Read more here.