Resources

The Symposium Group | We Connect Vision with Experience

In just 3 years over 500 executives, managers and owners of party plan, direct selling and network marketing companies have participated in the Symposium Group's MLM training programs.

The Board

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  Mark Rawlins - InfoTrax Systems, CEO

  With a career managing MLM and network marketing companies that spans more than 27 years, Mark Rawlins is recognized as one of the pioneers and dominant leaders in the industry's software sector. In 1998, he founded InfoTrax Systems, a company focused on delivering a complete, integrated software platform for the direct selling industry. Prior to that, Mr. Rawlins spent 19 years in executive positions at 20/21 Software, Inc., ultimately becoming the company's CEO, where he and his team delivered early solutions for telephone-based order processing systems, credit card authorization and acceptance systems, plus Internetbased communication tools. Mr. Rawlins is considered the market expert on commission design and implementation. He is a respected presenter and has been published dozens of times, including his 2002 book entitled, Understanding Multi-Level Commissions and Their Role in a Successful Company.

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  Spencer Reese - Grimes & Reese, PLLC

  Mr. Reese is a partner in the law firm of Grimes & Reese. He is a member of the Utah, Idaho, Colorado and Missouri Bars, and is an active member of the Direct Selling Association's Government Relations Committee. Mr. Reese first became involved in direct sales as a distributor for Amway and Nikken, and subsequently served as in-house attorney to Melaleuca, Inc. In 1996, Mr. Reese and Kevin Grimes formed Grimes & Reese, where they quickly established themselves as the foremost legal authorities on direct sales. Mr. Reese regularly contributes articles to industry publications and is a frequent speaker at industry events. He is also a contributing author of Angela Moore's acclaimed book, Building a Successful Network Marketing Business. Grimes & Reese sponsors the premier, direct sales legal resource www.mlmlaw.com.

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  Jerry York - ByDesign Technologies, V.P. Sales

  Jerry York's career in network marketing and direct sales spans 24 years. He has extensive experience in the field as a distributor, owner of his own network marketing company, and as an executive with software information systems. He was Vice-President of Marketing and Sales Executive for Jenkon International. He has delivered systems to start-up companies and large, established international DSA companies. Jerry has published several articles on the industry and has spoken worldwide on building strong and lasting downlines. His knowledge and understanding of the distributor field and corporate experience uniquely qualify him to bring the right software solutions to direct sales companies. He is currently Vice President of Sales, ByDesign Technologies.

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  Sandi Donaldson - Moriah Marketing, President

  Sandi Donaldson, a 30-year veteran of the Direct Sales Industry, began her career as a Mary Kay Director and has held executive positions with such companies as Avon, Matol Botanical, and Southern Living at HOME. After her last corporate position as CEO of a $300 million MLM company, Sandi founded Moriah Marketing Group. Now 17 years old, MMG focuses on marketing to women, and designing and implementing new company launches. Sandi and her team of industry experts, each with over 20 years of experience, help Direct Sales companies reach consistent, quality growth and retention by providing the critical path to success, from start to finish! An expert coach and strategist, Sandi has influenced many Consultants and owners of Direct Sales companies with her straightforward, systematic approach to sponsoring and training self-reliant, business-minded leaders.

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  Bob Hipple - Eaglecap Consulting, LLC, President

  Bob Hipple's career in the direct sales industry goes back 25 years. He spent 13 years in the field as a representative with Primerica Financial Services where he built a successful sales organization. In 1996, he left the field to work on the corporate side of the industry. He has been the VP of Sales for two of the major software vendors in the direct sales industry. Bob also was the co-founder of a Party Plan company. With experience as a distributor, corporate executive and company owner, Bob has developed keen insights into many aspects of what is needed to start, run, and grow a direct sales company. Bob is the President of Eagle Cap Consulting, which is a direct sales consulting business specializing in helping companies in sale training, recruitment, business development and software evaluation.

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  Nicki Keohohou - CEO, DSWA

  Nicki Keohohou is the CEO and co-founder of the Direct Selling Women�s Alliance, the association that provides education, resources and tools to direct selling professionals around the world. Nicki began her career as a distributor in the direct selling profession more than 30 years ago and built successful personal organizations. She has held executive positions with domestic and international direct selling companies and has consulted to hundreds of network marketing and party plan companies. She co-authored the best-selling books Build it Big and More Build It BIG: 101 Insider Secrets from the Top Direct Selling Experts. For information, go to www.dswa.org.

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  Dave Taylor - Service Quest, CEO

  Mr. Taylor has founded and sold 6 private businesses, including 2 national training companies offering hundreds of workshops and seminars per-month nationwide. His expertise lies in sales and marketing systems, communications, and customer service. Dave served for 7 years as a strategic planning director for a 12,000-person Department of Energy laboratory. He is a certified communications trainer and uses the internationally recognized Crucial Conversations® Curriculum. He has served as an advisor to such companies as Herbalife, USANA, Longaberger, Creative Memories, Avon, AmeriPlan, and Nature's Sunshine. Dave joined ServiceQuest in 2002 as co-owner and CEO. ServiceQuest provides training systems to increase field growth and retention, and builds blueribbon customer service organizations. In addition, ServiceQuest guides start-up companies through the launch process, building a foundation of tried-and-proven best practices. Mr. David Taylor has an undergraduate degree in communications and an MBA.

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  Bryan Thayer - Dream Builders, President

  Mr. Thayer is an expert at putting the "marketing" in multi-level marketing. He is a walking encyclopedia of MLM knowledge. He has acquired by interviewing thousands of the most successful MLM and direct sales professionals. This, combined with having developed a downline organization of more than 5,000 distributors, brings an added dimension to his success. In 1998, Mr. Thayer founded Dream Builders, a company dedicated to creating multimedia recruiting and sales tools for the MLM and direct sales industry. He is also a sought-after speaker and teacher, and is the author of the book, The One Minute Networker.