Graden H.

Ashby
18 Deckers Way * Greenville, SC 29607
Mobile: 864-551-3005 * Email: gadebbda@westpost.net
Summary
A highly energetic professional with over 8 years of successful experience in bu
siness development, sales management, team leadership, sales training and market
turnarounds, meeting and exceeding sales quotas while capturing market share in
competitive markets. Accomplished in building and launching highly successful s
ales teams. Visionary and strategic thinker able to generate new ideas and initi
ate change driving sales growth and customer relations. A motivational leader an
d effective problem solver with proven ability to develop and implement effectiv
e sales solutions. Articulate communicator, with exceptional interpersonal skill
s to effectively lead and mobilize diverse groups to accomplish sales objectives
and meet critical deadlines in fast paced and high growth environments.
Core Competencies
Sales Training/Coaching & Development * Territory Penetration & Management * Mar
ket Strategy * Leadership & Mentoring * Customer Relationship Building * Perform
ance Measurement * Competitive Analysis & Trends * Sales Analysis * Account Grow
th and Planning * Vendor Relations
Professional Experience
SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL, Greenville, South Carolina
Area Sales Manager, 2008 - Present
Grow and manage $3 M annual book of business consisting of Affinity Programs for
small and large businesses, civic organizations, non-profit organizations and c
onsumers in the upstate are of South Carolina. Coordinate dinner programs and ed
ucational seminars within the community to create awareness and improve customer
and vendor relations. Work with Corporate Leadership to promote brand name in o
rder to improve overall performance and profitability. This includes conducting
competitive analysis and implementing market-specific action plans. Develop and
implement strategic sales plans to align with corporate goals and expectations.
Make sure the sales team's activities are SOX compliant.
Achievements:
* Currently, No.3 Sales Manager in the Charlotte/Greenville Market in 2010.
* Currently, 96% of targeted goal YTD in 2010.
* Exceeded Annual Quota in 2009: 111% of targeted goal.
* No. 1 Sales Manager in the South Carolina/East North Carolina Market in 2009.
* No. 4 Sales Manager in the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2009.
* Top 5 Sales Manager in the South Carolina/East North Carolina Market in 2008.
* Recipient of Sales Manager of the Year and the Century Club Award (President's
Club) in recognition for outstanding sales achievement in 2009.
* Reversed 2 year history of declining sales through effective leadership; deliv
ered a 127% sales increase in 2009 from prior year.
* Transformed an inexperienced staff into a dynamic, self-motivated, results-dri
ven sales force with 126% increase in customer retention in 2009.
* Recruited, trained and mentored four sales associates in four months: two of w
hich were Century Club Award winners (2009) and one was promoted to Sales Manage
r (2010).
* Selected as a test market to pioneer the development and use of a new Lead Man
agement Software tool which dramatically improved the sales productivity by stre
amlining incoming call center communication to the appropriate sales associate.
* Increased market share (20%) by working directly with Corporate Marketing to e
stablish an Aggressive Cross Marketing Campaign: TV, Print and Radio.
* Assigned to the SRT (Shared Responsibility Team) to work directly with Corpora
te Leadership to establish sales related Best Practices resulting in the develop
ment of new training programs and materials for the entire North American Sales
Team.

Graden H. Ashby Page 2

2AM GROUP, LLC, Duncan, South Carolina
Regional Sales Manager, 2007 - 2008
Establish and nurture relationships with existing and potential clients in South
Carolina and Georgia. On a weekly basis developed and implemented strategic sal
es plans to accommodate corporate goals while creating direct sales forecasting
activities and setting performance goals accordingly, both on a monthly and annu
al basis. Prepared periodic sales report showing sales volume, potential sales,
and areas of proposed client base expansion. Consistently reviewed market analys
is to determine customer needs, marketing strategies, price schedules, and disco
unt rates while monitoring and evaluating the activities and products of the com
petition. With each new sales representative, directed sales training and coordi
nated sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas and goals. Re
commended and approved budgets, expenditures, and appropriations for territory.
Achievements:
* Increased revenues by more than $2 million in 12 months.
* In 2008, successfully negotiated an exclusive multi-year contract with a major
automotive Tier One Supplier worth over $3 million.
* In 2008, successfully rebuilt a year-long severed relationship between 2AM and
a major Tier One Supplier worth over $1 million a year.
* In 2007, closed a deal making Caterpillar the second of only two major OEM's i
n 2AM's customer base.
* In 2007, successfully negotiated exclusive multi-year contract with an interna
tionally based manufacturing company worth over $1 million.
BELLSOUTH, Charleston, South Carolina
Small Business Sales Representative/Team Supervisor, 2005-2007
Cold calling, prospecting, scheduling appointments and developing relationships
with small businesses.
Consistently meet and/or exceed voice/data/accessory quotas. Must continuously
self educate to maintain a broad knowledge of wireless solutions, rate plans, co
mplex products and services and selling skills. Responsible for acquisition and
retention to grow small business clientele. Facilitate maintenance (reducing chu
rn) of existing small business base to drive sales.
Achievements:
* Exceeded yearly quota in 2005: 110%, and in 2006: 136%.
* Consistently exceeded 100% of the monthly objective in 2005, 2006 and 2007 thr
ough new and existing customers.
* Increased and retained a customer base from 30 to over 300 companies.
AMERITECH COMMUNICATIONS, Cincinnati, Ohio
Sales Representative - Marketing Support, Wireless Division, 1996-2000
Learned various communication technologies relating to the wireless telecom indu
stry. Selected as corporate representative at various public relations venues, i
ncluding civic and marketing events. Learned essential elements of sales, sales
support, marketing, public relations, and customer service, all of which have be
en foundational to subsequent career growth and success.
Achievements:
* Top-producing sales representative achieving as much as 364% of monthly sales
goals.
* Led the Ohio market in wireless sales and achieved number 12 ranking in the re
gion in December of 1999.
* Consistently exceeded 100% of monthly and yearly targets from 1996 to 2000.
* In 2000, named "Mr. Ameritech" for outstanding contributions to the company du
ring employment from 1996-2000 in both sales and marketing support roles.
Education
MBA, MANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP
Charleston Southern University - 2007

BM, MUSIC THEORY

University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music - 2004
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
Educated in the principles of The Ken Blanchard Companies, a global leader in pr
oviding sustainable, commonsense leadership, teambuilding, and organizational tr
aining and development.
Computer Skills
SAP, Windows, Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outloo
k)