Damien Conner
Houston,TX
Summary
Relationship-driven sales professional with experience across CPG/beverage, health & wellness, and hospitality. Proven success in new business development, territory expansion, key account management, and exceeding sales targets. Skilled in trade marketing, event activation, and collaboration with distributors, suppliers, and retail partners.
Sales professional with deep expertise in driving revenue growth and developing strong client relationships. Proven success in sales strategy implementation, team leadership, and fostering collaborative environment. Strong negotiation skills, adaptability, and focus on delivering impactful results. Known for reliability, effective communication, and ability to thrive in dynamic markets.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
On-Premise Sales Lead
Republic National Distributing Company
Houston, TX
01.2025 - Current
- Managed a portfolio of 60+ on-premise key accounts across Sugar Land and Lake Jackson.
- Planned and executed promotional events, tastings, and bar activations to increase brand visibility and sales.
- Partnered with suppliers to stay current on new product launches, category trends, and competitive activity.
Area Sales Manager
Slate Milk
Houston, TX
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Drove product velocity by collaborating with key retail accounts and leveraging distributor partnerships.
- Planned, budgeted, and executed trade shows, demos, and promotional activations to increase brand awareness.
- Expanded territory from 12 to 31 active accounts within one year, contributing to significant regional growth.
Activation Specialist (SmartWater)
Greenhouse Agency
Houston, TX
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Executed sales and marketing initiatives across 85+ key accounts in the Houston region.
- Managed and trained a team of 16 field marketing reps to deliver high-quality sampling and sales performance.
- Consistently achieved or exceeded 300+ cases/month sales targets.
Account Executive
Spiceology
Houston, TX
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Built and maintained B2B relationships with distributors, brokers, chefs, and key accounts.
- Onboarded and managed partners to strengthen advocacy and improve product placement.
- Led food show exhibitions to increase brand exposure and drive market penetration.
Sales Specialist I & II
Peloton
Houston, TX
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Consulted with prospective customers on wellness goals, consistently exceeding 40+ units/month sales targets.
- Represented Peloton at community wellness events to drive lead generation and brand engagement.
- Promoted into a leadership-focused role supporting sales training and showroom team development.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Sales Management
University of Akron
Akron, OH05.2021
Skills
- Key Account Management
- Territory Expansion
- Distributor & Supplier Relations
- Trade Marketing & Event Activation
- New Business Development
- Sales Forecasting & Reporting
- Relationship Building
- CPG & Beverage Industry Knowledge
- Retail Execution
- Team Leadership & Training
- Upselling strategies
- Account management
Certification
Spirits Prep, Powered by Pronghorn — Nov 2024
Timeline
On-Premise Sales Lead
Republic National Distributing Company
01.2025 - Current
Area Sales Manager
Slate Milk
01.2024 - 01.2025
Activation Specialist (SmartWater)
Greenhouse Agency
01.2022 - 01.2024
Account Executive
Spiceology
01.2021 - 01.2022
Sales Specialist I & II
Peloton
01.2018 - 01.2021
Bachelor of Science - Sales Management
University of Akron