Mario. M. Martinez Jr.

Vengreso | Type Less. Do More.

Vengreso (a Latino and female owned business), has had an incredible track record of success as a digital sales prospecting training company for its first 5-years in business. I had the honor to lead the company as CEO, and now I have the honor of guiding us as we pivot into a SaaS company with FlyMSG, serving the 1 billion knowledge workers worldwide. 

We are the creators of FlyMSG®, the free text expander and personal writing assistant. FlyMSG helps individuals and teams automate the written word by removing the time drain it takes to find, copy, paste or write messages. 

Our cloud-based productivity platform saves users 1-hour+ a day by expanding text of any length - anywhere online - with just a few short keystrokes. 

Talk about a time saver for any business professional!  

Best of all… there is a free plan, and it works! 

Who should use FlyMSG?

If you work behind a computer all day… then, regardless of your role (HR, Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Customer Success, Business Owners, Accounts Payable, Recruiting, or…), you likely can use FlyMSG.
 
Today, professionals around the globe, in companies like Uber, St. Luke’s Health System, 1-800-Contacts, Google, use FlyMSG to save 1/hour a day, communicate more consistently, and drive better personal and business outcomes. 

Vengreso has a history of innovation and product development as evidenced by five consecutive Gold Stevie Awards (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (2X)) for product excellence and innovation🏅

In the words of one FlyMSG user:

“WOW! FlyMSG knocks my socks off! They help you with copywriting sales notes for emails, LinkedIn, special events, follow-ups, birthdays, etc. Cuts down on the time needed, stores your custom copy in the cloud and is always ready! If you haven’t tried this, you are working too hard on your copy!”
Steve Benson

For more information about FlyMSG visit https://www.linkedin.com/redir/suspicious-page?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvengreso%2ecom and see the media below.

Specialties: Text Expander | AI Writing Assistant | Automate Repetitive Tasks

CEO and Founder | Creator of FlyMSG.io the AI Writer, Teacher and Text Expander

In Jan. 2020 I renamed my podcast formerly known as Selling with Social to The Modern Selling Podcast.  

Why the change?

Simple.  Ever since the beginning I included topics centered around #Sales, #SocialSelling, #DigitalSelling and #SocialMedia for sales and sales leaders.  As I grew the fan base and followers it transformed into topics ranging from sales motivation, prospecting, managing growth, scaling, closing and many more.  So in 2020 it was relaunched to better connect with all of you, my fans.

I'm most excited that the podcast has been heard from around the world with tens of thousands of downloads each month.   

My vision was to produce a podcast that was dedicated to sales, sales leaders and sales enablement members.  I never would have imagined that it would become an amazing hit!  

Feel free to listen to the episodes below in the multi-media section.

We can be found on 
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/selling-social-sales-social-selling-social-media-podcast/id1193697353?mt=2

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/selling-with-social

Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iyzkhh4nhox6hjtnjxhvzcvgeau

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNswoLQcNQELxUqef-DM__GNpLZTXcl6q

The #ModernSellingPodcast

Executive Producer & Host: The Modern Selling Podcast

I spent 106 consecutive quarters in B2B Sales, Marketing & Leadership roles growing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue annually and now I have the privilege of motivating sales teams to engage in the Omni-Channel approach to prospecting and buyer engagement.  

I'm not a wannabe Sales Kick-off speaker that uses social media to "be found", rather, I have lived it, breath it, implemented it (with a worldwide sales team) and finally I opened a business on it.  

I started speaking in Oct. 2015 at my first "gig",  LinkedIn Corporation's Annual Users Conference.  From there, as they say, the rest is history.  If personal brand equity looked like a straight line before the event, afterward it went straight up.  

✔ In my keynote's I'm known to walk up to Bruno Mars, UpTown Funk You Up, sing a jingle or two and at times I might open a speech with a little Salsa dance.  

👌 My style is extremely high energy, fast direct, in your face and upbeat.  If you were expecting to sleep or have your participants relaxed in their seats, then I'm not your guy.  

Some places I've spoken at include:
1️⃣ Sales Development Leadership Summit
2️⃣ Digital Sales World
3️⃣ Venture Capital Sales and Marketing Leadership Summit
4️⃣ 10th Annual Leadership Sales Summit  (Inside Sales)
5️⃣ National Sports Sales Conference
6️⃣ Dreamforce 2018: Sales Enablement Soiree

One of my greatest accomplishments is being invited to appear as one of 20 sales influencers in the Salesforce documentary film “The Story of Sales” launched in 2018.

Topics for consideration include:
💵 The Modern Buyer Requires a Modern Seller
💪 Why Sales Thinks Your Employee Advocacy Program Sucks!
💰 The Age of Digital Personalization has ARRIVED!
😞 #YourBrandSucks
👉 Feeding Your Digital Network to CREATE Conversations
💲 Borders, Sears, Blockbuster: Are “You” Next? 
😥 Old Fashioned Selling, Why You'll Lose

Take a look at some events below and reach out to info@venreso.com to schedule me for your next Sales-Kickoff.

Keynote Speaker | Professional Speaker | Sales Kick-off Speaker | Seminar Speaker

OneMob

✪ I am excited to join the Board, amazing leaders and the entire team at OneMob.com.  Social Video is the next evolution of Digital Sales 1.0 or Social Selling 2.0.    

✪ No longer is video a "thing" marketing does. Engagement with video does and is creating higher level of response rates back from your buyers.

OneMob is backed by leading investors including Salesforce Ventures, Tim Draper, Steve King (former CEO of DocuSign), Gainsight CEO Nick Mehta, Sand Hill Angels, and Alchemist Accelerator. Our platform caters to the entire customer lifecycle, starting with sales prospecting (putting a face to a name), all the way to customer support/renewals (people like to buy and renew from people they know).

Try it today at http://www.onemob.com and see what we're up to at http://blog.onemob.com

Advisory Board Member | Selling with Video Training | Video Sales Training

Forbes Business Council

I'm honored to be selected into the Forbes Business Council, the foremost growth and networking organization for successful business owners and leaders worldwide.

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.

Forbes Business Council Member

National Association of Women Sales Professionals (NAWSP)

I'm honored to join the NAWSP Advisory Board, making me the first male and first Latino male to join their leadership team. 
 
The National Association of Women Sales Professionals (NAWSP) was founded in 2016, by my friend, Cynthia Barnes in Metro Detroit. The goal was to create a national organization that could provide women in sales with professional development, training, support, and access to opportunities so that they could reach the Top 1% and Dance on the Glass Ceiling™ Since its inception, the organization has experienced explosive growth, growing to over 14,000 paid members in 30 months.  

Anyone who knows me knows that forming a company and having its team be diversified has been a #1 priority of mine since developing the strategic plan to form Vengreso.  In fact, out of the 39 partners, employees and contractors that we support, there are 22 female Vengresonians!  That equals 56% of our staff.  In addition, of our four founders, 75% are representative of minority backgrounds (2 Latino executives and 1 female executive).

To create change you must be intentional about making the change.  I'm excited to serve on the Advisory Board for NAWSP.  Let's Go!

Advisory Board Member

Sales Enablement Society

The Sales Enablement Society is a volunteer organization founded in January 2016, by a diverse group of like-minded sales and marketing professionals. The society's goal is to better define the sales enablement functions and roles that currently exist within organizations, and ultimately solve the vast disparities that exist in the profession today. The SES's overall mission identifies best practices for successful outcomes, clarifies the operations for the sales enablement business, and develops the criteria for sales enablement roles within successful organizations. The SES's mission is based on an Albert Einstein quote: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." This quote applies to most organizations tasked with driving sales and marketing productivity today. 
Visit us: sesociety.org

Advisory Board Member and Founding Member

Seamless.AI

I'm honored to join the amazing set of Advisors for one of the hottest AI companies.  Seamless.ai delivers the world's best sales leads right at the click of a button.  What I love the most is that I can find it straight from social media platforms like LinkedIn.  Maximize revenue, increase sales and acquire your total addressable market instantly using artificial intelligence. 

Join thousands who are generating millions today at www.seamless.ai.

Advisor | Advisory Board Member | Angel Investor

HubSpot Academy

I’m excited to announce I've partnered with the HubSpot Academy team over at HubSpot. For those of you who don’t know, HubSpot Academy is the training division of HubSpot. They create free video-based certification courses and learning tracks for sales, marketing, and service professionals that are used around the world to train up teams of all sizes. The courses have become massively popular, in fact, a HubSpot Academy certification is awarded every five minutes globally!

The "Twitter Strategy" course that I am a featured expert in is all about the key ways to help you grow more followers, retweets, traffic, and — most importantly — sales.

Check it out here: https://bit.ly/2oeNGls

HubSpot Academy Instructor | Selling with Twitter | Social Selling Trainer | Twitter Training

HuffPost

I am honored to have been invited to be a contributing writer for The Huffington Post!  I write about Social Selling, Social Networking, B2B Sales, Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Marketing!

Truly an exciting time for M3Jr Growth Strategies!

Contributing Writer

M3Jr Growth Strategies, LLC (now Vengreso)

I've had the privilege of speaking to tens of thousands business owners, #sales & marketing professionals, leaders, start up CEO's & entrepreneurs.  I have spoken on topics such as:
---> #YourBrandSucks - How to Attract today's Modern Buyer through Digital Branding
---> #DontDoNormal - Leveraging Digital to Explode Sales
---> #SocialSelling for the Modern Enterprise
---> Growth Mindset  

Simply put, my Keynote sessions are not ¡˥∀WɹON and will force you out of your comfort zone.

I have been engaged by companies such as SAP, LinkedIn, Cisco, NFL sports teams & others to deliver a high energy & high impact style presentation.  Regardless of the topic, you will leave ready to take your game to the next level with actionable steps! 

I've also had the amazing privilege to be counted among the world's leading Social Selling Experts.  My expertise has been sought out to help business leaders understand how to effectively grow their sales pipeline through Social Selling & effectively implement a corporate-wide Social Selling program.

Regarding my mentors:  My mom and dad.  Both instilled several key values into my heart and mind - "Never give up" & "Always give it 150%."  Other executives such as Randy Spratt, Kevin Kunkel, Lynne Pincek, Craig Kotter, Monnie McGaffigan and Social Selling Leaders from Sales for Life, Brynne Tillman, Kurt Shaver & others have all served as mentors. In addition, my beautiful and amazing wife gives me the sense of balance & focus I need as a Leader.

In my career, I've had the privilege of transforming several sales organizations (turn around teams) from the worst performing to top performing. My personal best record was taking a $300 million / year sales organization from worst performing (8th out of 9th place) to #1 in 10 months!  

If you are interested in having me host a speaking engagement, please contact me.

Keynote Speaker | Sales Kickoff Speaker | Professional Speaker | Seminar Speaker | CEO

Today’s sales challenges are:
--->  84% of B2B purchasers said word-of-mouth recommendations influence their decisions (Demand Gen)
--->  90% trust recommendations from people they know.  70% trust consumer opinions posted online.  14% trust advertising.  (Nielsen)
--->  50% of B2B buyers say social has a significant role in their purchasing decision (Demand Gen)
--->  There are now 7 Key Influencers in B2B buying decisions (CEB)
--->  75% of B2B buyers now use #SocialMedia to find information before making a purchase (CEB)
--->  90% of Decision Makers say they never respond to cold outreach (Harvard Business Review)

How then, can you sell to the Modern Day Buyer?

☁ This is exactly why I formed M3Jr Growth Strategies!  Simply put, I Don't Do ¡˥∀WɹON

I provide the leadership needed to help leaders, reps and businesses of any size, develop & implement a #SocialSelling strategy which, creates quantifiable sales results!  I provide coaching to help build "buyer centric" Social profiles, and then teach you how to engage online with content, which builds trust and attracts your targeted buyer.  I teach how to leverage Social Networks to do RESEARCH, be RELEVANT, build RELATIONSHIPS, which drives REVENUE!  Lastly, leveraging 18 years of Sales & Sales Leadership experience, you can have the opportunity to leverage my skills for sales coaching. 

This not so ˥∀WɹON methodology & success plan was requested by LinkedIn to be shared at the LinkedIn Sales Connect 2015 conference!

As an example, in one organization via #SocialSelling in 45 days we added over $1.5 million in annual contract value to the pipeline!  In 6 months, we added nearly $4 million and closed nearly a half of a million in annual contract value!  

If you would like to understand how to leverage Social Networks to drive revenue for your company or need help with general sales coaching reach out to me.

Contact 925-367-8836 or Mario@m3jr.com

CEO | Social Selling Training | LinkedIn Profile Makeover | LinkedIn Sales Influencer

Reported to the SVP of North American SaaS Sales, responsibilities included managing the Western US Enterprise, Public Sector and Small-Medium Business (SMB) SaaS Sales and Marketing organization. Also served as the N. American Executive Sponsor for PGi's N.A. #SocialSelling program.  

Full accountability in the management and oversight of sales, marketing, and profitability/growth objectives.  Developed sales directors, regional sales operations and field sales & support associates; built a top performing sales organization, implemented a comprehensive sales strategy including digital sales plan, business plans, quotas, compensation, incentives, forecasting, competitive analysis and organizational/talent development.

Highlighted Accomplishments:
1. In the last 5 months of 2014, the region went from 51% to 92% YTD TCV Performance

2. Achieved a 94% Month over Month Increase in TCV 2014 Sales 
(Jan - July Avg. Mthly TCV = $59K; Aug - Dec. Avg. Mthly TCV = $115K)

3. Increased the Avg. Proposals per rep/month by 971% within 5 months 
(from 0.14 per rep to 1.5)

4. Increased the Avg. Completed Appts. per rep/week by 9200% within 5 months 
(from .06 per rep /week to 5.58)

5. Selected by Exc. Leadership to train all of PGi's Sales Directors and above on Improving Pipeline Velocity during the worldwide sales leadership retreat (Oconee, GA); 3rd Qtr. 2015

6. Invited by LinkedIn to speak at LinkedIn Sales Connect Oct. 6-8 2015 Users Conference. "Drop the Mic - Driving 100% Rep Adoption by Making Social Selling Fun" @ https://youtu.be/OUVXzgQraWM

7. Launched PGi's Social Selling Program to 120 US domestic reps and added over $4.5 Million in ACV to the open sales Pipeline, closed lost of $500K  in ACV and closed won over $500K in ACV in 6 months.

Regional Vice President of Sales - SaaS Sales & Executive Sponsor NA Social Selling Program

CEO at FlyMSG.io | The World's Best Productivity App Saving Sales Reps, BDRs/SDRs, Biz Owners, Recruiters, Customer Service & Success 20+ Hours per Month | Try FlyMSG.io It’s Free! | Host of The Modern Selling Podcast

Two words started it all in 2017:
1. Ventas = Sales 
2. Ingresos = Revenue

We had two goals: increase sales and revenue for teams and companies, and thus we became Vengreso.

After making my way into the 100% Club 15 of 18 years in corporate, I started my first company in 2015. 15-months later, I did a 7-way merger and formed Vengreso. We became the world's largest digital sales prospecting training company by 2022.

On Dec. 2020 we gave birth to a new SaaS product called FlyMSG a text expander and personal writing assistant. It was specifically designed to support our sales training programs to help sellers save prospecting time and increase productivity. And, it worked. It worked very well. 

Fast-forward one year later, and I woke up to an alert that a pharmacy had onboarded all of its digital pharmacists to FlyMSG. I then asked how many users we had on the "freemium" service. To my surprise, even though we onboarded only a few hundred users via our sales training programs, we actually had 2,000 users, with 65% being non-sellers!!! 

That is when we knew we had a burgeoning SaaS-based PLG company on our hands. Overnight we went from supporting Sales to supporting every vertical and use case you could possibly think of. 

I wish I could say we were smart enough to have forecast a horizontal application of FlyMSG, we weren't. But, we were in fact smart enough to see the trend!

That trend was further recognized in March 2022 when we were notified that we won one of the most prestigious awards in business you can achieve - a Gold 🥇Stevie Award for FlyMSG Innovation. 

We are on a mission to help the 1 billion knowledge workers around the globe to: 

​😃 Get 20/hours+ a month back in their day
​​😁 Increase revenue for the companies they work for by increasing productivity

Type Less and Do More with FlyMSG.io. 

About my leadership style. There are two words that everyone would describe me by:
1. Direct
2. Loyal

From a culture perspective, I run on high-octane. I demand nothing less than excellence from myself and expect those who work with me to demand the same of themselves.

I am also proud to say that 75% of our associates represent an ethnic minority group, and of that 75%, nearly 60% are of Latino descent. 
  
As a Keynote Speaker, I have spoken to audiences all over the world and also serve as the host of the popular podcast titled: The Modern Selling Podcast.

Downlad http://FlyMSG.io.

Specialties: Automate Repetitive Tasks | AI Writing Assistant | Text Expander

Vengreso (a Latino and female owned business), has had an incredible track record of success as a digital sales prospecting training company for its first 5-years in business. I had the honor to lead the company as CEO, and now I have the honor of guiding us as we pivot into a SaaS company with FlyMSG, serving the 1 billion knowledge workers worldwide. 

We are the creators of FlyMSG®, the free text expander and personal writing assistant. FlyMSG helps individuals and teams automate the written word by removing the time drain it takes to find, copy, paste or write messages. 

Our cloud-based productivity platform saves users 1-hour+ a day by expanding text of any length - anywhere online - with just a few short keystrokes. 

Talk about a time saver for any business professional!  

Best of all… there is a free plan, and it works! 

Who should use FlyMSG?

If you work behind a computer all day… then, regardless of your role (HR, Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Customer Success, Business Owners, Accounts Payable, Recruiting, or…), you likely can use FlyMSG.
 
Today, professionals around the globe, in companies like Uber, St. Luke’s Health System, 1-800-Contacts, Google, use FlyMSG to save 1/hour a day, communicate more consistently, and drive better personal and business outcomes. 

Vengreso has a history of innovation and product development as evidenced by five consecutive Gold Stevie Awards (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (2X)) for product excellence and innovation🏅

In the words of one FlyMSG user:

“WOW! FlyMSG knocks my socks off! They help you with copywriting sales notes for emails, LinkedIn, special events, follow-ups, birthdays, etc. Cuts down on the time needed, stores your custom copy in the cloud and is always ready! If you haven’t tried this, you are working too hard on your copy!”
Steve Benson

For more information about FlyMSG visit https://www.linkedin.com/redir/general-malware-page?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvengreso%2ecom and see the media below.

Specialties: Text Expander | AI Writing Assistant | Automate Repetitive Tasks

Fred Diamond

Institute for Effective Professional Selling (formerly IES)

The mission of the IEPS is to help B2B and B2G sales leaders engage teams, elevate leaders, and empower success. Companies with over 100 sales professionals commonly join the IEPS and participate in our programs.

Our Premier designations, including our Premier Women in Sales Employer designation help recruiters, HR leaders, and sales leaders create the optimal workplace for top sales professionals.

Subscribe to my Sales Game Changers podcast on iTunes. I interview successful sales leaders about their career journey and solicit tips about how you can sell better.

The IEPS is of service to sales professionals worldwide. Join the IEPS to get access to thought leader presentations, mentoring programs and access to great content. You will get better, stay sharp, and sell more.

The IEPS also holds the sales industry's only award program that recognizes corporate and organization sales excellence.

The IEPS Women in Sales program is the only program of its kind.

If you're a sales professional, the IEPS is for you.

President and Co-Founder

Love, Hope, Lyme Podcast

I published a book for Lyme disease survivors and their family members and friends called “Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know." I don't have Lyme but wrote it when I decided to learn more about what someone I loved at the time was going through. I've met thousands of people from the Lyme community since it was published. Was written for the people in your life who may not understand what it's like to live with chronic Lyme. The e-book is free for Lyme survivors.

Podcaster, Author

Sales Game Changers Podcast

I host the Sales Game Changers podcast and produce daily webcasts attended by sales professionals around the globe.

I also published two books. 

"Insights for Sales Game Changers: Lessons from the Planets Top Sales Leaders" features sales improvement tips and ideas from the over 500 Sales Game Changers Podcast episodes we have produced featuring global sales leaders from companies such as Salesforce, IBM, Hilton, Oracle and Nestle. You'll become a better sales professional after reading this book and applying the lessons in it.

When I decided to learn more about the Lyme disease that afflicted someone I loved, my life changed. I read every book on Lyme, joined Facebook groups, attended webinars and podcasts and quickly realized that I knew hardly anything about what Lyme disease survivors go through on a daily basis. "Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know" will offer those who love someone with Lyme ideas and tips to support this beloved person. The book features a foreword by the top Lyme doctor on the planet, Dr. Richard Horowitz. If someone you love has been afflicted with Lyme disease epidemic, read this book now.

The podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast for 2022!
It's a high-energy audio podcast where I interview top Business to Business sales leaders. On the podcast, they discuss their journey, career highlights and offer tips for emerging sales professionals and leaders to grow their careers.

I am an engaging, energetic professional who spent time as an in-demand party DJ when I started my career. This experience, coupled with my rich experience as a senior marketing and sales professional at Apple, Compaq, and as a consultant to hundreds of high-growth software and tech firms, bodes well for an exceptional podcast experience.

I also host the popular "Love, Hope, Lyme" podcast for the tick-borne illness community.

Award-Winning Podcast Host and Two-Time Published Author

The Sales Experts Channel

We are excited to be a sponsor of the The Sales Expert Channel in 2021. We are hosting a weekly show, called The Diamond Group, every Monday at 5PM EST featuring some of the top sales leaders in the world tackling the challenging sales problems of the day. Check it out!

Webinar/Podcast Host, "The Diamond Group"

Diamond Strategic Marketing

I often get engaged/hired by tech (enterprise software, cyber-security, mobile, device) and professional services CEO's around the world because they increase sales, generate more revenue, bring new products to market, or grow into new markets. They realize that a more effective way to go-to-market will help accelerate sales.

I've had the privilege of helping hundreds of tech and professional services firm CEOs get their vision into the market place by designing, developing, and implementing smarter go-to-market strategies for them. My tagline, "Marketing that does not lead to revenue reward is a HUGE waste of time and money"​ has been widely acclaimed by CXOs around the world and shows that I know it's about SALES

With expertise garnered at world-class firms such as Apple, Compaq, Microsoft, and Compuware, I am the outsourced marketer of choice for CEOs looking to get their vision into the marketplace and sales leaders who know that their companies can go-to-market better.  My approach to marketing has especially been well received by international companies looking to enter US markets.

DIAMOND Strategic Marketing helps companies grow business in the right vertical markets, such as public sector markets, by designing, developing, implementing, and managing sound, smart, and strategic marketing efforts that accelerate business development. “Marketing that does not lead to revenue reward is a HUGE waste of time and money”—resounds with executives and sales leaders at technology and professional services firms pursuing those markets.

Clients include Microsoft, Pleasant Valley Business Solutions, Contact Solutions, Clovis Group, Tectura, and Oracle.

Our services include the following:

Cloud Computing Product Marketing
Strategic Market Planning and Implementation Outsourcing
Product Marketing Service Engagements
Marketing Communications and PR Projects
Marketing Training and Consulting

Principal

OneSoft

I took advantage of the "new economy" by joining two pre-IPO e-commerce firms as senior marketing director. At OneSoft, once a high-flying e-commerce applications company, I helped the company get its messaging together in preparation for IPO. Also prepared the IPO Roadshow presentations and ensured that the CEO and CFO were well-rehearsed. The effort was world-class and historic.  Built a marketing team of 12 strong players managing all areas of corporate and product marketing including PR, lead generation, sales support, and brand management.

When OneSoft was acquired, I then spent a few months at a data storage/network attached storage company called Network Storage Solutions that was trying to become the next Network Applicance. Had a contract with Hitachi Data Systems. Times were tough. 9/11 happened and the company pretty much wound down and ended in the middle of the night. But it moved me to create DIAMOND Marketing, which has helped close to 100 companies grow and achieve their marketshare goals.

Senior Marketing Director

Compuware

Created, developed and instituted software product marketing plans and programs for international markets. Products ranged from mainframe to client/server to Internet offerings.  Managed great teams. Kicked off marketing programs in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Travelled around the world spreading the gospel about software quality and automation testing.

Implemented new marketing strategies such as putting customers on video, internal marketing campaigns, and marketing analytics.

International Product Marketing

Compaq Computer Corporation

When Apple decided to reduce its staff by 3,500 in the summer of 1993, many of my friends in the public sector marketing world quickly called me about Compaq’s emerging initiatives to grow its public sector presence. Compaq had grown quickly to be known as the industry’s leading high-end PC manufacturer and in order to reach the next level had decided to strategically focus on certain vertical markets, such as public sector (Government, Education), SOHO (small office, home office), and retail. For vertical marketing professionals, it was a fun time to join Compaq.

My main task was to run the marketing efforts for the Federal Sales team. These included developing and implementing the marketing communications plan, GSA reseller authorization and marketing strategies, and the sales/marketing integration plan. It was a great experience working with the field sales team, the corporate marketing group, and Compaq’s growing ranks of resellers and systems integrators.

The marketing communications plan was crucial in helping grow Compaq’s Federal revenue from $18 million to $250 million in three years.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

• We developed and implemented the industry’s top marketing communications plan which featured robust schedules in the government trades (Federal Computer Week, Government Computer News, Washington Technology, etc.) as well as first class exhibiting at the industry’s leading trade shows.

• Developed relationships with Oracle and Microsoft to produce industry-leading marketing programs that are still in effect today.

• Developed the industry’s first minority-owned business reseller program which included teaming with the distributors and top resellers for fulfillment.

• Developed and measured the GSA “letter of supply” strategy. Tasked our key resellers with growth objectives and worked with them to ensure success.

Public Sector Marketing Manager

Apple

I was thrilled when one the leading recruiters on the east coast called to say that Apple was looking to place a new manager of technical customer services in its new Federal Systems Group in Reston, VA.  I knew nothing about the Federal Government, was not an engineer, and never worked in a sales group before, but it was Apple Computer and I jumped at the chance.  Apple was one of the top companies in the world at the time, and I could feel the positive energy in everyone I met there. 

I had three different roles at Apple, all which were challenging, fun, and worthwhile:

(1) Technical Customer Service Manager (TCSM), Federal Systems Group
(2) New Product Development, Service Product Leader for the Quadra and PowerBook lines
(3) Channel Development Manager, Enterprise and Government, my first real job in marketing

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

• As TCSM, I got to travel all over the US helping our government customers and the partners that were servicing them make the most out of their Apple investment. I learned was that it was all about sales and that my job was to remove any objections prospects might have. One way we achieved this was by creating the prototypical Apple champion program, called the Federal Support Coordinator program. We identified a few hundred Federal Apple fans and offered them extra support to ensure that they could help us develop business within their agencies. Program was huge.

• Working on the product development team for PowerBook Duo was an incredible experience. My job was to prepare the support and service world for when the products were launched and work to lower the warranty costs of the product.

• My final job was to put together the government channel of sales distribution strategy, including optimum GSA strategy and state contract policies. Saw a lot of politics, worked with a lot of ambitious people, understood the role of sales contract development, and tried to figure out how to balance all of the above.

Channel Manager

McGraw Hill

I look back on my years at the McGraw Hill division Datapro fondly. Datapro produced loose-leaf technical product guides that were bibles for IT professionals who needed up-to-date product and market information. Today, you just go to the search engine and type in “top laptops,” and you get a million pages. Back then, it wasn’t so simple.

Datapro produced guides on dozens of technology segments ranging from mainframes to software to copiers.  We produced reports on entire markets and individual products. Our “comparison charts” were scrutinized by tens of thousands of IT buyers around the world.

I worked in the new product development department during my tenure at Datapro, which gave me a great appreciation on how large firms decided which products to bring to market. During that time, we produced half a dozen new loose-leaf books on telecommunications, data communications, and information services.

The best experience for me was being an editor on “Datapro Reports on Information Security.” I wrote product reviews on encryption devices, physical and information access control solutions, and bank security solutions. Although I started with no knowledge AT ALL of any of the solutions I was tagged to cover, I quickly got up to speed on all of the technologies. I made trips to vendors, attended dozens of conferences, and read whatever I could. I remember taking a trip to Manhattan with a vendor to a half dozen Wall Street banks to see how they secured their assets.

The highlight of my time there was when the company president returned from a trip to Russia. During his meetings, his customers were most interested in the articles I had written on the imminent changes to the Data Encryption Standard (DES), which I estimated would have cost vendors millions. He said they wanted to know all about “Meester Diamond.”

Working at Datapro exposed me to the new personal computer market and attracted the eyes of the recruiters searching for Apple. Read more above.

Industry Analyst

💚 Author of “Love, Hope, Lyme: A Book about Chronic Illness Support” and “Insights for Sales Game Changers” ✔ Ask about the “Premier Women in Sales Employer” designation ✔ Host, Sales Game Changers Podcast

My Institute for Effective Professional Selling (IEPS), formerly the Institute for Excellence in Sales, helps B2B and B2G employers around the globe better engage teams, elevate leaders, and empower success. Our Premier Sales Employer and Premier Women in Sales Employer designations help companies be seen as great employers for top salespeople and saves millions in retention costs. I am an ally for women in sales.

My two books are “Insights for Sales Game Changers” and “Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know.”

The IEPS was created to helps companies solve the retention challenge with our live, virtual, and specialized programs such as our Women in Sales Leadership Forum, Premier Sales Employer designation, Sales Game Changers Podcast and Young Sales Professionals program.

Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast at http://bit.ly/sgcitunes. Thanks! You won't regret it.

My favorite quote is "Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living," Einstein.

SOME PERSONAL BACKGROUND

I'm an advocate for chronic Lyme awareness and treatment. I've written multiple blogs for LymeDisease.org, wrote a best-selling book and host a podcast for family members of Lyme disease survivors.

Before co-founding the IEPS, many people knew me as a world-class marketing consultant to companies such as Microsoft and Oracle. I helped companies develop vertical, product, and revenue-generating marketing strategies and execution programs for tech and professional services firms.

However, my motto was “Marketing that doesn’t lead to revenue reward is a huge waste of time and money” demonstrated that it's about accelerating the sales process. “It’s about sales.”

The mission of the IES is to help employers attract, retain, motivate and elevate top tier sales talent. The IES helps sales teams improve their performance in the art and science of professional, B2B and enterprise selling. 

Our Premier designations, including our Premier Women in Sales Employer designation help recruiters, HR leaders, and DEI leaders create the optimal workplace for top sales professionals.

Subscribe to my Sales Game Changers podcast on iTunes. I interview successful sales leaders about their career journey and solicit tips about how you can sell better.

The IES is of service to sales professionals worldwide. Join the IES to get access to thought leader presentations, mentoring programs and access to great content. You will get better, stay sharp, and sell more.

The IES also holds the sales industry's only award program that recognizes corporate and organization sales excellence.

The IES Women in Sales program is the only program of its kind.

If you're in sales or BD or are a service professional who needs to make it rain, the IES is for you.

🤔 QUESTION: Have you ever worked with someone who appeared at just the right time and helped your business or sales career grow?

🎂 I saw today on LinkedIn that it's sales expert, author, and speaker Ian Altman, B2B Growth Advisor's birthday. Ian was one of those guys in many ways at the Institute for Effective Professional Selling (formerly IES) when we were starting out.

One thing we are known for is putting on live events for sales teams in the #Washington DC region every month.

In the early days, we would bring a top sales author or speaker to town every month, provide a hearty breakfast, and then do a mini-workshop on a sales topic. We would get hundreds of sales professionals and business owners every month.

We continue to hold our "Selling Essentials Workshops" monthly but now hybrid with the in-person portion being held at the Carahsoft Conference and Collaboration Center in Reston and virtually around the globe.

Ian was our very FIRST speaker ever and then graced the stage a half-dozen times. He also was the emcee at our annual award event for a few years. Our 16th annual event will be in April 2026.

We were grateful to have Ian help us launch the business and build our reputation as the premier place to help B2B and B2G selling organizations Engage Teams and Customers, Elevate Leaders, and Empower Success.

!yadhtrib yppAH, Ian.

⁉️ Want to shout out someone who helped you like he helped us help thousands of selling professionals?

I Run the Most Important B2B/G Sales Leadership Organization in the World ✔ Host, Sales Game Changers Podcast ✔ “Women in Sales” Ally ✔ Author of “Insights for Sales Game Changers" 💚 Lyme Disease Expert and Advocate 👍

🤔 QUESTION: Have you ever changed just one word in a LinkedIn title search and seen it unlock a whole new world of opportunities?

🏨 On today's Sales Game Changers Podcast, special #SalesStoryAndATip episode, a leader from Hilton shared how a small tweak in his team’s LinkedIn search, simply adding “executive meetings” to their keyword list, led to a new contact, a fresh RFP, and a new stream of business for one of Hilton’s luxury properties.

🎤 EPISODE 793: How a Fresh LinkedIn Job Title Search Led to New Business for Hilton’s Shawn Parker
🎧📖 Listen to the show and read the transcript at https://lnkd.in/eav7Sev4
🎥 Watch on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/exbQ83mF.

SHAWN SAID:
“It might seem like a stroke of luck, but when you really break it down, it’s about being hungry, curious, and humble enough to admit we don’t know what we don’t know and using the tools and drive to go find it. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from the smallest shifts in how you look for opportunity."

⁉️ What’s one creative way you’ve used LinkedIn (or another tool) to uncover hidden opportunities?

#SalesGameChangers #LinkedInTips #SocialSelling #SalesLeadership #Hilton #B2BSales #ProfessionalSelling #CuriosityInSales

🤔 QUESTION: Is there anything else besides your work and customers that you're passionate about? Maybe a completely other community that you're involved with?

💚 In addition to running the Institute for Effective Professional Selling (formerly IES), I also am an active advocate for #LymeDisease treatment, care, and support. I was fortunate to present my book, "Love, Hope, #Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know" at the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Scientific Conference last week. Great conference run by Sarah Meltzer Quillen CFRE. The PR team led by Alexandra Moresco did a great job.

In the photo is Tanya Hoebel, host of the Lyme and Beyond podcast.

I also do a biweekly podcast called the Love, Hope, Lyme podcast. Today's show dispelled the myth that Lyme disease is only found in New England. The show featured Korine Kolivras, a geography professor at Virginia Tech.

She's done groundbreaking research that challenges the long-held belief that “we don’t have Lyme here.” "Here" is fill in the blank.

It's on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/ePRzv9se.

⁉️ Anything else besides your work you'd like us to know about?

If you know anyone who struggles with Lyme, let them know about my book. The pdf is always free.

🤔 QUESTION: Should you be in planning right now to make 2026 your best sales year ever? 

🙋🏻 Of course you should be. In fact, you should be thinking about your future sales goals and initiatives all the time.

And we're going to make it easy for you. The upcoming Institute for Effective Professional Selling (formerly IES) Selling Essentials Workshop will be happening on Thursday, November 20 in person at the Carahsoft Conference and Collaboration Center in Reston, Virginia, and virtually for anyone outside the area.

Our sales leader panel will feature three of the top sales leaders around:

Andrew Schnabel, VP of Federal for Zscaler.
Melissa Adamson, Director Public Sector Partnership Sales for Snowflake
Darryl E. Peek II, Vice President Partner Sales for Elastic Public Sector

Register now at https://cvent.me/rmNYZ1.

The panel will address:

☑️ How to lay out a great plan
✅ What you as a selling professional need to do to make sure you are set and ready to go
☑️ Who you'll need to help you make it happen.

Sign up now! It'll be great.

Register now at https://cvent.me/rmNYZ1.

⁉️ What questions do you have for the panel? What questions do you need to answer to plan accordingly?

🤔 QUESTION: How do we prepare the next generation of sales leaders, those specifically attending college right now, for a world driven by AI, data, and adaptability?

🙋🏻 Right? There are a lot of new variables thrown into the education mix with the evolution of AI tools. How has this impacted the curriculum and how we're preparing the young adults for a career in professional selling?

🎓💡That’s the question I explored with Semiramis (Semira) Amirpour, at the Center for Professional Sales at the The University of Texas at Dallas, on our latest Office Hours - Sales Professors Unplugged episode. This podcast is a sub-brand of the popular Sales Game Changers Podcast.

🎤 EPISODE 795: Inspiring Future Sales Professionals at UT Dallas with Semira Amirpour
🎧📖 Listen to the show or read the transcript at https://lnkd.in/e6mpRyEh
🎥 Watch the video on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/e5VTBvuC.

What stood out to me most was Semira’s balance between innovation and realism in teaching sales. Her students aren’t just learning theory, they’re using AI tools, mastering CRM systems, and working directly with corporate partners to secure real-world sales experience before graduation.

Semira also shared a powerful message for young sales professionals:
“Take feedback as a gift. If I didn’t want you to be successful, I wouldn’t take the time to give it.”

That mindset of curiosity, coachability, and continuous improvement is exactly what defines the next generation of sales game changers.

⁉️ Do you think the growth of #AITools has made it harder to educate students going into sales?

#SalesEducation #ProfessionalSelling #SalesLeadership #AIinSales #UTDallas #FutureofSales #SalesGameChangers #OfficeHours University Sales Center Alliance Sales Education Foundation Dr. Howard Dover

Loved meeting the young adults studying professional sales at McCoy College of Business at Texas State University.

Thanks to Linda Alkire (née Nasr) and Juan Holguin, Jr. for hosting me.

Center for Professional Sales at Texas State University

View company: Center for Professional Sales at Texas State University

We had the incredible privilege of welcoming Mr. Fred Diamond, author of Insights for Sales Game Changers, President, and co-founder of the Institute for Effective Professional Selling, and a respected voice in the world of sales, to our sales classes this week!

Students were fully engaged as Mr. Diamond shared practical advice, tips for future sales professionals, and honest insights into the evolving landscape of sales. 

He took time to sign copies of his book, answer questions, spark conversation, and encourage students to think critically about what it means to build trust, deliver value, and grow a successful career in sales. 

Moments like these remind us of the power of bringing industry leaders into the classroom. They bridge the gap between theory and practice and inspire students to see what’s possible.

Thank you again, Mr. Diamond, for your generosity, authenticity, and the impact you made on our students.

🤔 QUESTION: Are your first meetings laying the groundwork for real deals, or just polite conversations?

Sales professionals love to focus on closing techniques. But as my Sales Game Changers Podcast guest Lee Salz reminds us today, weak deals often trace back to weak first meetings.

Lee’s new book, "The First Meeting Differentiator," flips the script on traditional “discovery.” It challenges salespeople to move beyond gathering information and start delivering meaningful value from the very first conversation.

He brought one of his customers from Filterbuy on the show to discuss how he's implemented Lee's strategies.

🎤 EPISODE 794: Creating Meaningful Value on the First Sales Call with Lee Salz and Wesley Amann 
🎧📖 Listen to the show or read the transcript at https://lnkd.in/eeiK5NTP.
🎥 Watch the video on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/ekYP5CnE

Key insight:

“Discovery needs to die. The first meeting should be a consultation where both sides walk away wiser. You must provide meaningful value at this meeting." Lee

We also heard from Wesley Amann, VP of Sales at Filterbuy, who’s put Lee’s ideas to work. His team built a 50-page playbook and achieved 50% year-over-year growth by turning routine sales calls into valuable consultations.

Wes shared a great insights including:

“Salespeople need to listen. That’s one of the big problems. If they listen, they’ll get the information they need to better differentiate themselves.”

⁉️ How successfully do you differentiate yourself at the first meeting? Are you conscious of doing so? Do you always leave with a follow up?

#SalesGameChangers #ProfessionalSelling #SalesLeadership #FirstMeetingDifferentiator #LeeSalz #SellingDifferently #SalesGrowth #B2BSales Tina LoSasso

🤔 QUESTION: Do you agree that one of the big problems with #AI in sales today is that we're throwing more and more tools at our selling professionals while discarding better workflows? Load on the tools, forget about the process?

🙋🏻 I'm asking because Franci Hirsch, Vice President, Sales Operations and Enablement at Cvent was featured on a panel at last week's Center for Elevating Women in Sales Leadership (CEWL) #WomenInSales Elevation Conference chaired by Gina Stracuzzi. The panel discussed best practices for AI utilization at the sales team and organizational level.

Harkened me back to her appearance on a recent #AIForSellingEffectiveness Podcast with Zeev Wexler.

Her take on AI adoption stopped me in my tracks. She said:

“Workflow is the North Star. Don’t give sellers something extra to do. Make AI part of what they already do every day.”

That’s why Cvent earned our AI for Sales Effectiveness Award earlier this year. They embedded it into the way their sellers prospect, plan, and engage.

🎤 EPISODE 780: Inside Cvent’s Award-Winning AI for Selling Effectiveness Strategies with Franci Hirsch
🎧📖 Listen to the show or read the transcript at https://lnkd.in/gmumeTbJ.
🎥 Watch on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/eWa_CrwJ

Franci’s team focused on integration, making tools like ZoomInfo Copilot, Salesloft, and custom AI prompts part of one seamless selling motion.
The result? Faster ramp time, more productive reps, and higher adoption rates.

If you’re a sales leader exploring AI, take this to heart: AI succeeds when it disappears into the workflow.

⁉️Is it about the tool or the workflow?

#SalesGameChangers #AIforSales #SalesEnablement #WorkflowDesign #SellingEffectiveness #SalesLeadership #Cvent #AIIntegration

taplio

The Battle

Mario. M. Martinez Jr.

Fred Diamond

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreFred Diamond's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Mario. M. Martinez Jr.

Fred Diamond

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Fred Diamond's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreFred Diamond's LinkedIn Performance