Answers from Mike

How would you describe your dream job in 10 words or less?

International Sales Executive in a technology industry.

Posted @ 09:58PM, October 12, 2009 by Mike Sopko | Permalink
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Work history

Teledyne RD Instruments December 2007 to September 2009
Technical Sales

tags:

How would you describe your time at Teledyne RD Instruments?

International and military sales for leading maker of acoustic environmental sensors and marine navigation equipment and associated data visualization software.
- $800K annual sales run rate despite lack of funding in assigned public sector markets.
- Created business case to open a direct
sales and service office in Brazil.
- Trained customers and resellers in Japan and Korea.
... read more
Linear May 2005 to March 2007
Director, International Sales

tags:

How would you describe your time at Linear?

International sales channel responsibility for leading manufacturer of custom-installed wireless residential security, access control, home automation, audio-video multi-room entertainment, music distribution, structured wire, and intercom equipment.
- Boosted annual sales rate by
approximately 10% during first 12 months.
- Expanded global sales coverage despite shortcomings in international product offerings.
- Qualified and signed 20 new distributors in previously unrepresented markets.
- Managed 45 distributor companies in total.
- Created comprehensive long-term strategic plan and supporting documents to improve international sales performance in all functional arenas: marketing, sales, logistics, customer service, technical support, and product development.
- 35% travel rate throughout six continents to attend exhibitions and conduct training sessions.
... read more
Eaton Powerware May 2001 to October 2004
Global Account Manager

tags:

How would you describe your time at Eaton Powerware?

Latin America territory sales and channel support for major OEM accounts IBM, Unisys, and Compaq/Hewlett-Packard for #2 worldwide manufacturer of uninterruptible power systems (UPS) and bundled software. Additionally, managed Hewlett-Packard's worldwide Business Critical Servers division as a major account.
- Achieved 102% sales run rate against $3 million quota in a recessionary market.
- Maintained sales territory profitability despite regional economic problems and high price point.
- Conducted 100+ product sales training sessions (in Spanish and Portuguese) for OEM accounts' 30 regional offices and 30+ distributors.
- Created original, language-localized "Quick Card," PowerPoint, and CD-ROM sales tools.
- Proposed and championed organizational changes which aligned the goals of previously competing internal business groups.
... read more
Cisco Systems December 2000 to March 2001
Program Manager

tags:

How would you describe your time at Cisco Systems?

Member of cross-functional team tasked with developing a web-based sales force automation (SFA) portal for 20,000+ field sales and operations users.
- Defined business requirements and designed prototype user interfaces for sales forecasting tool intended to replace at least five existing
corporate systems.... read more
CAIS Software Solutions April 2000 to November 2000
Sales Manager

tags:

How would you describe your time at CAIS Software Solutions?

Direct sales of broadband Internet access network administration and kiosk software to ISPs, telcos, local exchange carriers (LECs), and other telecom service integrators.
- Achieved 200% of $50K monthly goal for November 2000.
- Closed deals with foreign and major accounts in markets which
had delivered little or no previous revenue, e.g. Telefonica S.A. (Spain).
- Translated and localized marketing collateral into 4 foreign languages.
... read more
Accel Technologies February 1997 to February 2000
Sales Manager, Pacific Rim

tags:

How would you describe your time at Accel Technologies?

Managed Asia/Pacific and Latin America Value-Added Reseller (VAR) channel sales for a leading Electronic Design Automation (EDA) CAD and Product Data Management (PDM) software publisher.
- Awarded Best Sales vs. Plan in 1999 (130% for a $1.2 MM territory).
- Maintained territory
profitability during Asian and Brazilian currency crises.
- Executed bundling strategy which increased unit sales throughout territory despite regional economic collapse.
- Increased VAR technical competence through training seminars.
- Carried out due diligence groundwork leading to opening of direct sales office in Japan.
- Initiated VAR channel sales in new markets such as India and Pakistan.
- Increased direct sales in markets which lacked VARs, e.g. Mexico.
... read more
Qualcomm January 1997 to February 1997
Technical Marketing Specialist

tags:

How would you describe your time at Qualcomm?

Technical Marketing Specialist.
Technical proposal writing and competitive analysis for CDMA digital wireless PCS and cellular subscriber products.
United States Navy May 1987 to May 1995
Officer

tags:

How would you describe your time at United States Navy?

Mission Commander, Division Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Instructor.
- E-2C Hawkeye Mission Commander responsible for two radar operators and up to 20 multimillion-dollar aircraft assets during command and control, airborne early warning, communications relay, tactical data link, and
intelligence-gathering missions.
- Decorated for directing over a dozen combat missions without material loss during Operation Desert Storm.
- Division Officer responsible for the performance, morale, welfare, discipline, training, and counseling of 20 skilled technicians and 15 field instructors.
- Led Avionics division to 2 zero-discrepancy quality assurance audits and 3 consecutive "outstanding" grades on annual maintenance inspections, directly contributing to squadron's selection as "Best in the West."
- Trained 800+ servicemen in survival skills through lecture and role-playing.
- Served as translator during joint training with Japanese Air Self-Defense Force squadron.
- Published four times in Navy media during tenure as Public Affairs Officer.
- Instituted a weekly physical fitness training program, resulting in no repeat failures during 5 semi-annual tests.
- Rewrote fleet-wide tactical procedures manual for radio-silent combat flight operations.
- Designed original geographic software overlays for radar tracking program.
... read more

Education

u.c. san diego September 1993 to June 1996
International Business Management

How would you describe your time at u.c. san diego?

Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies
Master of Pacific International Affairs (MBA equivalent).
International Business Management concentration; regional focus on Japan.
u.s. naval academy June 1983 to May 1987
Mechanical Engineering

How would you describe your time at u.s. naval academy?

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, With Distinction.

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