MATTHEW G BARKS
Paducah,Kentucky
Summary
Entrepreneurial and creative Founder passionate about turning innovative ideas into tangible results. Experienced leader with excellent client and project management skills. Action-oriented with strong ability to communicate effectively with technology, executive, and business audiences. Excellent communicator and team player seeking to leverage background with a progressive organization. Possesses a high degree of integrity and an outstanding work ethic seeking to apply management talents to drive long-term company growth.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Managing Partner/Founder
MidWest Financial Group, LLC
06.2016 - Current
- Devised organizational vision, mission, and foundational structure to facilitate early growth. New agents hired under company's training experienced 77% higher efficiency in acquiring new clients for their business.
- Oversaw strategic business decision-making to develop, enhance and enforce business mission. By taking on serve first mentality, advisors saw 81% higher persistency than normal statistics in field.
- Developed clear mission, vision, and culture for company as foundation for growth, branding and development of employee culture.
- Communicated with industry partners to build valuable relationships and achieve operational targets.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of all statutory requirements and regulations. Maintained bi-annual CE requirements in field of 24 hours.
- Led startup and opening of business and provided business development, creation of operational procedures and workflow planning.
Advisor/Management Trainee
Capital Financial Group
11.2012 - 06.2016
- I was an entry level advisor in which my job to strictly grow my personal practice and reach benchmarks through my career.
- My first year in the business I received the Rising Leader and Leader's advisor award which is top 15% in company.
- I maintained those awards for the next two years while being put on the management growth team in which I was promoted to build my own unit.
- Worked alongside senior team members to learn all related job tasks and roles.
- Cross-trained in every store role to maximize operational knowledge.
- Aided compilation of employee performance reviews to identify areas for training, provide feedback and set goals for improvement to increase productivity by 88%.
- Responded to advanced issues with professional and relationship-focused approach.
- Assisted with administrative tasks to better understand industry processes.
- Helped senior management streamline service operations, increasing revenue and optimizing processes to capitalize on industry changes.
Sales Rep
Nestle USA
02.2008 - 10.2012
- I oversaw growing route sales in territories of Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois
- In order to grow my route efficiently, I had to become skilled and tactful to promote products and maintain good business relationships with widely known grocery stores such as Wal-Mart and Kroger's
- When I took over my route sales were around $765,000 for the year, my last year I was able to maintain and hit 1.6 million in revenue
- After sustaining an injury at work, I decided to pursue a more entrepreneurial opportunity that would provide a better lifestyle and schedule for my new family
- Some of my responsibilities at Nestle included;
- Fostered relationships with customers to expand customer base and enhance loyalty and retention
- Identified customer needs to deliver relevant product solutions and promotions and meet target budgets
- Created and implemented store displays, promoting sales and growth
- Prepared and processed contracts and order forms for new and existing customers
- Developed customized sales techniques to successfully sell and upsell services to new and existing clients
- Created sales and revenue-generating opportunities in new markets to improve bottom line.
Education
MBA - Business Marketing, Business Management
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA06.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Business Marketing
University of Phoenix
Paducah, KY05.2006
Skills
- Management Team Leadership
- Change and Growth Management
- Talent Acquisition
- Quality Control Planning
- Team Engagement
- Contract Negotiation
- Build Revenue Streams
- New Business Opportunities
- Client Engagement
- Strategic Partnership
- Balanced Work Ethic
Accomplishments
- Marketing - Implemented marketing strategies which resulted in 68% growth of customer base.
- Staffing - Worked directly with Human Resources to streamline hiring and onboarding process.
- Supervision - Supervised sales team to monitor sales activity and goal achievement.
- Documented and resolved communication issues between new advisors and clients which led to a 86% higher persistency with building their book of business.
Certification
- Founder/CEO MidWest Financial Group : 2016-Present
- Licensed Life Insurance : 2012 - Present
- Licensed Health Insurance : 2012 - Present
- Medicare AHIP Certified : 2020 - Present
- USPTA Licensed : 2005 - Present
Additional Information
- ACTIVITIES AND HONORS
- MassMutual 2013 - Rising Leader Award 2013
- MassMutual 2014 - Rising Leader Award 2014
- MassMutual 2014 - Leaders Award 2014
- MassMutual 2015 - Leaders Award 2015
- Lifetime Financial Growth of Kentucky - 2020 Rising Star Award
- Lifetime Financial Growth of Kentucky - 2020 Life/Di Leader
- WKY Star People's Choice 2019 - Financial Planning Runner-Up
- WKY Star People's Choice 2020 - Financial Planning Winner
- WKY Star People's Choice 2021 - Financial Planning Winner
- WKY Star People's Choice 2022 - Financial Planning Runner-Up
- NAIFA Board Member 2014-2018
- GAMA Leadership Member
USPTA Tennis Professional
Received my USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) license when I was just 21 years old. Since then I work with children, adult, and help coach high school tennis teams around the community to maintain growth in the sport.
Timeline
Managing Partner/Founder
MidWest Financial Group, LLC
06.2016 - Current
Advisor/Management Trainee
Capital Financial Group
11.2012 - 06.2016
Sales Rep
Nestle USA
02.2008 - 10.2012
MBA - Business Marketing, Business Management
Tulane University
Bachelor of Arts - Business Marketing
University of Phoenix
- Founder/CEO MidWest Financial Group : 2016-Present
- Licensed Life Insurance : 2012 - Present
- Licensed Health Insurance : 2012 - Present
- Medicare AHIP Certified : 2020 - Present
- USPTA Licensed : 2005 - Present
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