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Franklin Kessler
Vancouver,WA
Summary
Accomplished sales and leadership executive with 20+ years of experience, specializing in developing relationships with C-Level executives. Strong technical background enables successful training and fostering of collaborative engagements for Fortune 1000 technology and security organizations. Directly contributes to record-setting sales figures, developing new and existing accounts, and building a successful Fortune 1000 C-Level community. Proven track record in complex sales, consistently achieving multimillion-dollar revenue gains. Approach centers around relationship-based sales and community-building processes, emphasizing value at every stage. Expertise in strategic planning, operational management, and team leadership. Leverages comprehensive business acumen to drive organizational success and foster growth. Implements effective strategies to enhance productivity and profitability.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
SVP, Program Management
CDO Magazine
01.2020 - 11.2024
- Responsible for creating and developing a scalable approach to the company's event portfolio. Additionally, I created a revenue plan and sponsorship strategy that focuses on both retaining direct client contract value and promoting growth through new business acquisitions, contract expansions, and the introduction of new products and services.
- Manage the entire sales process to ensure delivery against key performance metrics, with an initial focus on new business sales while adopting a “land and expand” approach.
- Delivered new business model that expanded current business capabilities and processes for 40% year-over-year growth plan over 5 years.
Relationship Officer & General Manager
CISOExecNet
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Responsible for CISOs - to one another, to industry resources, and to solution providers to provide subject matter expertise to our members across all the disciplines of cybersecurity and help our members solve professional and career issues.
- Chapter Creation - Created 8 New West Coast Chapters of CISOs in the following Cities: Seattle, Boise, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Salt Lake City
- Roundtable Moderator for Chapter Breakfast Roundtables. Led moderated and engaged members in in-depth discussions on eight different topics of Cybersecurity challenges and best practices.
- Sales Relationships – Targeted and developed leads for the sales team for new and existing clients with the intent to grow and develop our relationships and sales opportunities.
Enterprise Client Director
GDS Group
07.2021 - 01.2022
- Responsible for both direct client contract value retention, as well as growth through new business acquisition contract expansion and the introduction of new products and services.
- Consult with C-level executives to develop and implement an effective, enterprise-wide strategy that maximizes the value delivered by GDS Group’s products and services.
- Manage the entire sales process to ensure delivery against key performance metrics, with an initial focus on new business sales while adopting a “land and expand” approach.
Executive Director
CyberEd.io (a Division of ISMG)
07.2020 - 01.2021
- Relaunching and upgrading ISMGs CyberEd.io platform to tactically upskill in-role cybersecurity professionals and enhance security awareness for enterprise employees and executives.
- Consulted with Founder on LMS platform acquisition
- Developed Cybersecurity training curriculum and supplier partner training & certification programs relationships for inclusion in the CyberEd.io platform.
- Developed marketing and tiered pricing strategies in line with annual sales goals
Founder & Voice Talent
Frankly Speaking Voice Services
01.2020 - Current
- I offer voiceover services such as TV commercials, TV promos, documentary narration, radio spots, eLearning, IVR, corporate narration, tutorial videos, and auctioneering for businesses, corporations, as well as local and non-profit organizations. I consistently exceed client goals and expectations, achieving an average of 130% above revenue targets for auctioneering services.
Sales Director, Strategic Relations
Singularity University
06.2019 - 01.2020
- Developed strategic engagement solutions with enterprise organizations, governments, education institutions and non-profits, with an eye toward leveraging the value of exponential technologies, tools and resources, in a global network.
- Worked with Executive teams to identify key new business opportunities for event sponsorships
- Identified and negotiated 1st sponsorship sales ever for Abundance 360 program ($500,000)
Senior Sales, Training Director
Evanta, a Gartner Company Inc.
10.2006 - 06.2019
- Developed and blended in the Acquisition of Gartner, CEB and Evanta a successful training program that saw the creation of an onboarding sales academy for new program manager sales executives, as well as 15 separate sales training sessions for tenured, Program, Senior Program, and Business Development Managers.
- 2018 sales objectives saw revenue growth of 129% and C-Level event attendance growth of 151%
- 40% of new hire Sales Program Managers exceed 120% of sales revenue objectives to earn Winner Circle status
Senior Sales, Brand Director, Professional Development Academy
Evanta, a Gartner Company Inc.
10.2006 - 06.2019
- Selected by President & CEO to personally manage and lead the sales team for the launch of the Professional Development Academy. A leadership development program led by C-Level executives for high potential business leaders. Endorsed and narrated by General Colin Powell. Developed sales & marketing strategies, account development initiatives, major account presentations, and profit-based sales targets that include market development, key account expansion and soliciting new business.
- Program developed over 500 leaders from over 150 Organizations in 120 Cities and 10 Countries
- Major Accounts Included: Chevron, Harley-Davidson, 7-Eleven, Hewlett-Packard, Schneider National, Vanguard, AmerisourceBergen, General Mills, Ford, Walt Disney, USAA
- 1st year sales revenue target $1M / Actual $1.65M
Senior Sales, Brand Director
Evanta, a Gartner Company Inc.
10.2006 - 06.2019
- Spearheaded successful launch, program development and oversight for CIO/CISO/CDO Executive Summits across North America. Managed Program Director teams across multiple regions and platforms that had trained and developed all sales support staff to meet program and sales forecasts.
- Launched CISO brand and led the single largest expansion in company history (10 Markets/300+ CISOs)
- Trained and developed 100+ Program Directors in event management, sales strategies and relationship building.
- Over 75% of those trained were promoted to Senior Program Directors and Brand Director positions
- Responsible for personal revenues in excess of $3.5M on a goal of $2.5M an annual basis
- Team revenue goals in excess of $10M that consistently met or exceeded expectations
- Presidents Club honors: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014
Sales, Program Director
Evanta, a Gartner Company Inc.
10.2006 - 06.2019
- Spearheaded successful launch, program development and oversight for Toronto, Minneapolis and Vancouver BC CIO Executive Summits. Responsible for relationship development with C-Level Executive Leadership Board Members, Speakers and Sponsoring Organizations Executives. Duties included interviewing C-Level Executives for agenda and topic content and audience outreach and development. Responsible for meeting or exceeding event revenue goals.
- Managed Premiere Sales Accounts: FireEye, Forcepoint, Proofpoint, Trend Micro, Contrast Security, Raytheon Cyber
- Grew FireEye account relationship to $750,000 in three years. Helped drive their enterprise strategy creating a $100M return on a 2 year $1M investment
- Voted Evanta’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2007, 2008, and 2012
Education
No Degree - Criminology
Southern Oregon State
Ashland, ORSkills
- Strategic thinking and leadership
- Collaborative team management
- Transformational leadership
- Strategic issue resolution
- Resource allocation planning
- Financial oversight responsibility
- Sales coaching and development
- Sales forecasting and goal setting
- Business framework optimization
- Organizational strategy development
- Customer acquisition and engagement
- Contract negotiation
- Team engagement
- KPI tracking
- Advanced skills in MS Office
- Skilled in CRM platforms
Voted Evanta’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2007, 2008, and 2012
This award is presented to the employee who had the most significant impact on the business through innovation, vision, and productivity throughout the calendar year. This award is voted on by all company employees.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
On-SiteRemoteHybridImportant To Me
Work-life balanceCompany CultureHealthcare benefitsPaid time offStock Options / Equity / Profit Sharing401k matchPaid sick leaveCareer advancementQuote
Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
Interests
Outdoors
Cooking & Grilling
Timeline
Relationship Officer & General Manager
CISOExecNet
01.2022 - 01.2024
Enterprise Client Director
GDS Group
07.2021 - 01.2022
Executive Director
CyberEd.io (a Division of ISMG)
07.2020 - 01.2021
SVP, Program Management
CDO Magazine
01.2020 - 11.2024
Founder & Voice Talent
Frankly Speaking Voice Services
01.2020 - Current
Sales Director, Strategic Relations
Singularity University
06.2019 - 01.2020
Senior Sales, Training Director
Evanta, a Gartner Company Inc.
10.2006 - 06.2019
Senior Sales, Brand Director, Professional Development Academy
Evanta, a Gartner Company Inc.
10.2006 - 06.2019
Senior Sales, Brand Director
Evanta, a Gartner Company Inc.
10.2006 - 06.2019
Sales, Program Director
Evanta, a Gartner Company Inc.
10.2006 - 06.2019
No Degree - Criminology
Southern Oregon State
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