M.D. Wasson
Senior Sales Executive
Hernando,MS
Summary
Highly accomplished and motivated executive with over 25 years of experience in corporate and non-profit organizations. Demonstrated success in sales and fundraising, achieving outstanding results. Skilled in developing and maintaining key relationships across diverse settings. Known for inspirational leadership and a passion for public speaking. Creative and strategic thinker, focused on achieving goals and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Director
LifeWise Academy
01.2025 - Current
- Introduce LifeWise Academy to the new market, Memphis- Shelby County, through on-going public speaking engagements.
- Spearhead fundraising efforts to secure resources necessary for program sustainability and success.
- Create volunteer board to attract volunteer participation and expand donor base.
- Facilitate tours of existing LifeWise Academy classes to prospective church partnerships, businesses, and donors through cold calling in the community.
- Research, interview, and write material for email and newsletters correspondence utilizing mailchimp and canva.
- Attend community events to engage with the public and grow enrollment in LifeWise Academy classes, forming new school partnerships.
- Collaborate closely with executive leadership to refine the strategic plan for long-term growth.
- Assist with planning budget proposals and control spending for LifeWise Memphis team.
- Engage with local businesses for sponsorship branding opportunities on LifeWise shuttle buses.
- Developing plan for 1st annual golf classic in the fall 2025.
- Nurture relationships within Memphis-Shelby County schools as a vendor approved program to expand LifeWise Academy classes in the fall 2025.
Regional Field Development Officer
Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home
11.2013 - 12.2018
- Cultivated donors through customer relationship building, leveraging board members, and hosting annual donor and volunteer recognition events.
- Event planning leader for annual Champions Fore Children Golf Classic in West Tennessee with year over year growth of 15-25% and annual revenue $70,000.
- Consistent public speaking engagements throughout Tennessee to promote the George Shinn foster care program and build awareness of TBCH brand.
- Facilitated and participated in semi-annual and annual executive meetings to develop proposed and final budgets.
- Foundation relations prospect research, grant proposals, and assisted with follow up documentation within West Tennessee from ongoing grant proposals.
- Delegated cross functional internal department meetings to promote rollout of structure to new foster care program.
- Coordinated volunteer recruitment efforts to enhance community engagement while supporting fundraising activities.
- Development and implementation of $1 million capital campaign with other key leaders in the organization.
- Created marketing materials for golf classic and Mother’s Day annual giving campaign.
- Responsible for identification, cultivation, and solicitation of corporations with the capacity to give major gifts.
Senior Liaison/ Director Corporate Acquisitions and Development
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
06.2011 - 07.2012
- Researched and executed a comprehensive prospect identification strategy focused on national accounts in the consumer products goods industry with a minimum of 50-75 prospects on-going through cold calling.
- Acquired relationships with national accounts and cultivated relationships to develop mutually beneficial partnership with a minimum $250,000/annually per account.
- Managed St Jude’s largest corporate consumer product goods account, Coca-Cola, by developing new marketing fundraising efforts like Coke Rewards and Up ‘Til Dawn scholarship initiative.
- Developed cause-marketing partnerships with Coca-Cola and Domino’s pizza and other national consumer products goods companies.
- Acted as the liaison between upper management and staff members, promoting positive working relationships built on trust.
- Served as the primary point of contact, fostering strong relationships between internal teams and external partners.
- Created and presented power point and keynote presentations to c-suite executive level to enhance brand awareness and raise funds for the organization.
- Supported organizational growth through active participation in networking events, conferences, and professional associations.
- Coordinated multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion and alignment with organizational objectives.
- Established effective communication channels between departments like sports marketing, social media, and multi-cultural marketing by organizing and facilitating cross-functional meetings to strategically align with national account partnership.
District Sales Executive
The Hershey Chocolate Company
04.2006 - 05.2010
- Managed territory with volume > $20 million.
- Managed Fred’s, Inc., which generated $12 million in sales to include 700 stores in a 14-state region with consistent year-over-year growth.
- Mobilized a robust team of representatives and broker units, providing coaching and mentoring to enhance skills and drive performance improvements in $8.5 million dollars for AWG Memphis & Nashville.
- Developed strong partnerships with the President and other Key Decisions Makers and conducted quarterly and annual top to top meetings in a corporate environment.
- Elevated Hershey brand stature as category captain among all confection category based on excellent rapport built at Fred's headquarter account.
- Generated marketing and advertising campaigns and consumer tie in opportunities with other company brands to effectively promote brand and products at each account.
- Optimized resource allocation for maximum impact on sales outcomes, maintained deductions, and controlled excess waste in each of my accounts.
- Generated post analysis (key performance indicators) of all promotions at each account to measure the success and missed growth opportunities for the following year.
Customer Sales Executive/ Key Account Manager Kroger Team
The Hershey Chocolate Company
07.2000 - 03.2006
- Performed effectively in self-directed work environment, managing day-to-day operations and decisions for a 110 store Kroger Delta division which generated $8 million.
- Managed a team of retail sales merchandisers and developed sales plans and growth targets.
- In 2003, Kroger Delta division was the highest performing division among all seventeen Kroger divisions.
- Researched, designed, and implemented, with Vice President Merchandising, a new U-scan rack for new U-scan checkouts in the Kroger Delta division which was acquired by all other divisions.
District Account Supervisor
The Hershey Chocolate Company
12.1995 - 06.2000
- Managed a team of ten retail sales merchandisers in San Antonio, TX; Austin, TX; and Corpus Christi, TX representing the largest chain HEB and accounting for 70% of district sales.
- Hired, trained, and coached retail sales merchandisers.
- Achieved new business growth of four military bases in Texas market totaling $1.5 million and was the model for other military accounts for direct sales representation vs. broker.
- Managed fourteen convenient store headquarter accounts which represented $4 million.
- Responsible for largest convenient store account in the region, Tetco, which represented $1.5 million.
Retail Sales Representative
The Hershey Chocolate Company
01.1991 - 11.1995
- Maximized selling, advertising, displaying, distribution, and merchandising of Hershey products and programs at store level.
- Responsible for military base Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS as one of several sales representatives who initiated direct selling vs. brokerage selling and support.
- Leadership role included -New Hire Field Day Evaluator for potential new employees.
- Boosted customer satisfaction by providing exceptional product knowledge and personalized recommendations.
- Demonstrated adaptability by quickly mastering new products, promotions, and retail systems as they were introduced.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration with Emphasis: Marketing
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MSSkills
Proven strategic leadership
Strong organizational skills
Effective multitasking
Strong verbal communication
Versatile approach to changing conditions
Cross-functional collaboration
Organizational skills
Strategic planning
Fostering collaborative relationships
Skilled in crafting effective content
Engaging presentation skills
Awards
- President’s Cup winner 1st year as sales representative, 1991
- President’s Cup winner managing top grocery chain, 2001
Special Skills Training
- Fluent in utilizing the company’s analytical tools to include CSI, Siebel, Nielsen, and EBUF (forecasting) to drive profitable sales results.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office, Excel, and Power point.
- Proficient with Blackbaud Razor’s Edge.
- Key Account Strategic Selling I and Selling II workshops, Bay Group International.
- Situational Sales Negotiation I and Sales Negotiation II workshops, Bay Group International.
- Targeted Selection workshop, Bay Group International.
- Management Skills Workshop, Bay Group International.
Published Author
Wasson, Mary D., A Rose with Broken Thorns, Esperanza's Story: Redemption from Human Trafficking, Innovo Publishing, 2021
Wasson, Mary D., Marvel in your Autistic Eyes: Character Lessons from my son, Innovo Publishing, 2016
Wasson, Mary D. Potter's Hand Poetry, Innovo Publishing, 2011
Timeline
Program Director
LifeWise Academy
01.2025 - Current
Regional Field Development Officer
Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home
11.2013 - 12.2018
Senior Liaison/ Director Corporate Acquisitions and Development
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
06.2011 - 07.2012
District Sales Executive
The Hershey Chocolate Company
04.2006 - 05.2010
Customer Sales Executive/ Key Account Manager Kroger Team
The Hershey Chocolate Company
07.2000 - 03.2006
District Account Supervisor
The Hershey Chocolate Company
12.1995 - 06.2000
Retail Sales Representative
The Hershey Chocolate Company
01.1991 - 11.1995
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration with Emphasis: Marketing
University of Southern Mississippi