MLM Training | MLM Training for Direct Selling Executives and Startups

MLM Training | The Leading MLM and Party Plan Experts

The Symposium Group was founded to provide executive teams of startup MLM and Party Plan companies with the training and strategies needed for success in the Direct Selling Industry.

The Faculty

Margie Aliprandi

Margie Aliprandi, has been a top leader with Neways, for more than 17 years. Her organization of a few hundred thousand distributors spans 23 countries and is home to some of the most respected network marketing leaders throughout the world. Margie remains loyal to Neways to this day, traveling the world to inspire individuals to go for their dreams. She is one of the top and most respected distributors in Neways US who has shattered many of the preconceived notions of what's truly possible by becoming the first Crown Diamond Ambassador in North America. ...MORE...

Margie began her Neways career in 1989, building one of the largest distributorships in the world. She feels fortunate to have chosen the 'right' company the first time, and has become one of the most respected and successful leaders not only in Neways, but also the MLM industry. She has been featured in industry publications including "Money Makers Monthly", "Networking Times" and the book "Your Home Based Business and How to Make it Work." Besides serving the Neways Distributor Council for eight years, Margie has been honored with some of the company's top awards: Distributor of the Year, International Distributor of the Year, Humanitarian Award, Bull of the Woods, and the prestigious "Team Neways" Award.

Among her many passions is Margie's latest project - '1000 Moms Making $1,000 - Making A Difference.' This DVD has sold over 20,000 copies in the US within 3 months of its launch. She now travels internationally to speak on success principles and provide business and product training.

Margie had crested the pinnacle of achievement and earned the coveted recognition. Indeed, persistence has marked Margie's steady rise through her company from her first day to today. More than an honor, her remarkable achievements speak of a legacy that Margie has left on thousands of people's lives.
Craig Case

Craig Case has extensive experience in corporate sales, global training and strategic development with such companies as Daimler Chrysler, Walt Disney Company, UPS, Merrill Lynch, Avon and Nu Skin Enterprises.

Mr. Case began his career as a sales professional with Xerox Corporation where he was honored as the top sales representative in the United States and consistently earned regional and national recognition for excellent sales performance. ...MORE...

He joined Franklin in 1987 and was instrumental in setting up international offices throughout Asia and Europe. He has trained over 80,000 people in the United States and in 15 countries throughout the world in the principles of personal productivity and organizational effectiveness.

Mr. Case has been the Vice President of Sales at two companies, Nu Vision International, and at BizStrata, and served as President of Advantage Marketing Services, an Oklahoma-based nutritional network marketing company. He is also a past board member of the Direct Selling Association.

Mr. Case holds a BA in Organizational Communication and Educational Psychology from the University of Utah and a degree in sales management from the Xerox International School of Management in Leesburg, Va.
Spencer Clawson

Spence brings extensive professional experience to the direct sales industry. He has been the president and/or CEO of three direct sales companies-Stampin' UP!, Close to My Heart and Gold Canyon. Spence has directed the strategic planning, marketing, branding, compensation and incentive planning, field training and operations of companies resulting in their reaching new levels of market expansion. He has been directly involved in all aspects of operations including financial structuring and forecasting; computer system selection, design and specification planning; operations planning and implementation including manufacturing and fulfillment. ...MORE...

Spence is a past partner with Price Waterhouse where he worked in the New York and Salt Lake City offices and was the partner in charge of the Salt Lake City office. As a consultant Spence has led funding and capital financial transactions including LBO's, private equity financing, IPO's and capital funding. Spence has provided strategic consulting, business planning, modeling and advice for direct sales companies ranging from early stage to Fortune 500 companies.
Jane Deuber

Jane Deuber is the President and cofounder of the Direct Selling Women's Alliance, an Internet-based organization that provides education and resources to direct selling professionals in over 12 countries. After earning her Masters Degree in International Business, Deuber founded a Party Plan company that operated in 22 states plus touted one of the highest rates of retention and sales averages in the direct selling industry. She then sold the company in 1998. Deuber is one of the few who has worn all the hats, from distributor to company owner and brings her unique understanding of each roll to all she does. As President of the DSWA, she is now living her dream of positively impacting the profession by educating and uplifting the leaders, companies and independent distributors who are members of her international organization. For information, go to www.dswa.org.
Kevin Grimes

Mr. Grimes has 20 years of diverse and expansive legal experience in all aspects of corporate operations and commercial transactions, including direct selling and MLM law. This takes in: consumer protection laws; food, drug, cosmetic, and dietary supplement law; contracts; international law; and distributor compliance. He received his undergraduate degree from The Colorado College in 1982, and his Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University in 1985. From there he spent four years with the U.S. Army JAG Corps. In 1989 he practiced law in Idaho, and in 1992 he joined Melaleuca, Inc. where he started its Legal Department. In 1995 he started a practice specializing in the legal needs of MLM and direct selling companies.
Steve Hooper

Steve Hooper is a recognized industry name in technology and operational strategy and has had the unique opportunity to head up the Technology Group for two explosive international companies, Quorum International and New Vision International. Through the design and implementation of technology and operational infrastructure, he helped grow these companies from startups to more than $200 million in annual wholesale sales. He currently heads up Ivey Consulting in Mesa, Arizona.
Dan Jensen

In 1978, Dan Jensen founded Jenkon, one of the leading software companies serving the direct selling industry. Since then, working with hundreds of new start-up companies and many direct selling giants, Dan has acquired a broad and unique perspective on what makes successful companies succeed, and what makes some of them fail. He has written numerous articles on sales force compensation and other industry issues including The 10 Most Common Mistakes of Direct Selling Companies, and has consulted for many leading companies on their technology and sales force compensation opportunities. ...MORE...

Today, Dan focuses on his passion for helping direct selling companies achieve their full potential for success while avoiding the many pitfalls so many companies have experienced. Between his executive training seminars and his consulting projects, Dan and Beverly, his wife of 30 years, also find time to enjoy their five children and ten grandchildren. His web site is found at www.jenetek.com. His email is dan@jenetek.com.
Nicki Keohohou

Nicki began her career as a distributor in the direct selling profession more than 30 years ago after choosing to leave her teaching position. She built successful personal organizations, has spoken to direct sellers at conventions around the world, consulted to hundred of companies, and held executive positions in several 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. ...MORE...

Nicki is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago Network Marketing Certification program. She was named one of the 2006 Top 25 Business Women in the state of Hawaii and one of the Top 30 Female Entrepreneurs in America. The DSWA was also recently recognized in Las Vegas, Nevada as the National Advocate of the Year for Working Mothers.

Nicki is the CEO of the Direct Selling Women's Alliance and her life work is to educate and empower home-based entrepreneurs from around the globe and educate the public about this amazing profession.
Connie Kittson

National Sales Director, Connie Kittson, joined Mary Kay in 1987 and debuted as a Sales Director the next year. She personally has 22 offspring Directors and is a member of the Millionaire's Club, which means that she has earned more than $1 million in commissions during her Mary Kay career. Connie was named Miss Go-Give November 2002 and achieved the National Court of Recruiting and the National Court of Sales. Connie also has the distinction of being a Star Consultant every quarter that she has been in the company and has earned 12 free cars over her career. Connie is from Kennewick, Washington and has two children, Kristin who is 25 and Scott, who is 21.
Brian Little

Brian is the president and founder of AccuSource, an operational outsourcing company specializing in the Network Marketing Industry. Brian has been involved in the Network Marketing Industry for many years serving in various capacities including: industry consultant, service provider, vender, and an Account Manager for a premier MLM software vender. Specializing in software integration and operational processes, Brian has helped open multi-level companies in the USA as well as several countries in Asia, Europe, and South America. He has gained a very high level of experience and knowledge in the field of Information Technologies, especially as it pertains to the Network Marketing Industry.
Jeb McCandless

John B. (Jeb) McCandless served as Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at USANA Health Sciences from 1995-2002. During his tenure, USANA's sales grew from under $20.0 million/year to nearly $130 million/year over a four-year period. Jeb holds graduate degrees in both science and business and has over 25 years of management experience. He serves as a consultant to multi-level marketing companies and is on the Board of Directors of Vitacube, a publicly held multi-level marketing company, in Denver, Colorado. Jeb is currently Vice-President of Technical Operations at Weider Nutrition International in Salt Lake City, UT.
Gerry Nehra

Gerald P. Nehra of Muskegon, Michigan, is an Attorney at Law, licensed in the states of Michigan, New York, Colorado, and the US Federal Courts. His 36 years of legal experience include 8 years on the IBM Legal Staff, and 9 years as the Director of the Amway Corporation Legal Division. His private law practice was established in 1992 and exclusively serves the legal needs of direct selling companies. Mr. Nehra is on retainer to both long term and start-up direct selling companies to protect their legal interests in his area of specialty. Mr. Nehra is a Supplier Member of the US Direct Selling Association, and serves on its Government Affairs Committee and Lawyers Council. ...MORE...

He is a support member of the MLMIA and serves on its Board of Directors. He is a support member of the Canadian Direct Selling Association, the Professional Association of Network Marketing and the Direct Selling Woman�s Alliance. He is a frequent speaker at direct selling seminars, and writes for industry publications. You are invited to visit his website at www.mlmatty.com.
DJ Poyfair

D.J. Poyfair represents corporate and individual clients in business litigation, including multi-district, class action and other complex litigation, before state and federal courts throughout the country. He has handled federal district court matters in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Utah and has also practiced before state courts in Colorado, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas and Utah. ...MORE...
Professional Membership and Achievements
- American Bar Association.
- Colorado Bar Association.
- Denver Bar Association.
- National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) - Team Leader for:
  Southern Regional Deposition Program.
  
  Pacific Regional Skills Program.
  
  Litigating Before the United States Tax Court Program.
  
  Rocky Mountain Deposition Skills Program.
D.J. has presented numerous in-house programs for the Internal Revenue Service and has served as a teacher in the:
- National Trial Skills Program.
- Robert Hanley Master Advocates Program.
- Pacific Regional Master Advocates Program.
- Rocky Mountain Deposition Skills Program. Mr. Poyfair is a member of the American, Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, as well as a member of the Faculty at Federal Advocates.
Ron Price

Ron's career in the direct sales industry began with the AIM Companies as an independent distributor. He later became president of the company and directed the strategic planning, marketing, compensation and incentive planning, field training and operations. During Ron's 11 years at AIM, he built and supported a staff and sales force that tripled the size of the company, expanded into 8 new countries and grew to $70 million in annual revenue. With experience as a distributor, corporate executive and company owner, Ron is known for bringing clarity to tough problems. ...MORE...

Ron is also the author of Finding Hidden Treasures, a series of essays combined with action steps to aid readers in mining their own inner talents. As a speaker, Ron has traveled more than one million miles, giving more than 1,000 speeches in 12 countries. He is a member of the National Speakers Bureau and speaks to organizations around the world on such topics as strategic planning, business innovation, organizational growth and talent management. Ron is the founder, President and CEO of Price Associates, a management consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations develop clarity and achieve transforming results.
Derk Rasmussen

Derk Rasmussen has been involved in consulting services since 1983. He has spent a considerable portion of his consulting career in the areas of business valuation, investigative accounting, damage analysis, projection and feasibility analysis and bankruptcy/liquidation consulting.

Mr. Rasmussen has performed over two hundred business valuations on firms doing business in a wide variety of industries. He has also been involved with several large business projection/feasibility studies. These studies usually involve assessing the value and viability of new business ventures. ...MORE...

Among the most noteworthy of these studies would be an engagement for Salt Lake County analyzing the viability of a new arena for the Utah Jazz. Additional studies would include analysis of new ski resort, golf course, transportation system, and resort hotel. Mr. Rasmussen has also been involved with the Utah Venture Capital conference and has assisted a wide variety of high-tech start-up companies with business plan presentations to venture capitalists. The presentations included projections of future revenue streams to allow venture capitalists to assess the potential return on investment, that could result by investing in the presenting company.

Mr. Rasmussen has also been involved in several international engagements. He has testified in a Portuguese criminal trial where there were allegations of stock fraud relating to two telecommunication companies. Mr. Rasmussen provided expert testimony to the Portuguese court on business valuation and forensic accounting issues. He also performed business valuation services on two companies that the Portuguese prosecutors claimed had little or no value.

Mr. Rasmussen has testified on many occasions on diverse matters including testimony before State Court, Federal Court, Bankruptcy Court and State, County and City Regulatory commissions and committees.
Jim Richmond

Jim holds a BSBA (Accounting Major) from Aquinas College and MST (Master in Science in Taxation) from Grand Valley State University. Jim has over 30 years experience in the tax field, including 19 years as Sales, Use & Excise Tax Supervisor for the Amway Corporation. Jim is currently President of Professional Tax Service Inc. which he founded in 2000. His company works with numerous MLM companies in the area of state and local taxes. Jim has also authored many articles on state and local taxes for companies in this industry.
John Terhune

John Terhune founded Rainmaker Consulting Services. Mr. Terhune brings a very unique resume to Rainmaker Consulting Services, the Network Marketing Industry and potentially to your company. Mr. Terhune spent the better part of a decade as a prosecuting attorney in the State of Florida.

In law school he was named the best Trial Advocate in the United States in a trial competition sponsored by the American Trial Lawyers Association. As the chief felony prosecutor of his judicial circuit he won 232 of 241 cases tried in front of a jury. While executing his duties as a prosecuting attorney, he simultaneously acted as an adjunct instructor at multiple law schools, universities and law enforcement academies. ...MORE...

Mr. Terhune saw the Network Marketing opportunity in the late 80's and promptly went to work. Within 24 months he was well into a six figure income in his Network Marketing Opportunity and within 3 1/2 years was qualifying as a Diamond in the Amway compensation plan. Mr. Terhune maintained the level of Diamond for 7 consecutive years before starting his consulting, writing and coaching careers.

His consulting career started as the result of a phone call where a publicly traded Network Marketing Company asked him to consult with them and help their management team work in greater harmony with their field leaders. This started a series of clients seeking consulting services from Mr. Terhune. Mr. Terhune's expertise extends to the areas of business model development, compensation plan design, strategic planning and execution, and growth strategies that include creating the infrastructure of training systems that will support short and long-term growth.

Mr. Terhune has taken time out of his busy schedule to author several books and training programs that are Industry guideposts for success in business and Network Marketing. Mr. Terhune's audio program Basic Training is used by thousands of Network Marketers each year as a foundation to growing a significant downline organization.

His brainchild, Attitude Pump www.attitudepump.com has become one of the fastest growing communities in the world. Through this property Mr. Terhune has taken the lead as the most articulate spokesman for the power of a great attitude. His newest book "Decide to have a Great Day" is a highly acclaimed compendium of life lessons regarding the power of a great attitude.

Mr. Terhune's book The True Entrepreneur www.thetrueentrepreneur.com has been described by Dr. Denis Waitley as, "the definitive work on the subject of Entrepreneurship."

Mr. Terhune serves on the Board of Directors for multiple Network Marketing Companies and has acted a legal counsel and strategic advisor for multiple start-up and well established companies.
Orville Thompson

After graduating with honors from the University of Washington, Orville had plans to attend graduate school to become a history professor. Like many, he found his initial dream sidetracked while he went to work to support a growing family. Formal graduate school was replaced with years of experience developing one of the largest specialty retail companies in the West, selling products through state fairs, trade shows, mall kiosks and direct response television commercials. In 2004, he purchased Scentsy, moved it to Idaho and set to work building a party plan company around the products. He lives in Boise with Heidi, his wife, and their five children. One day he hopes to discover a hobby.
Terrel Transtrum

Terrel Transtrum started his business career at Melaleuca at the beginning of its historic growth period to $250 million in annual sales. During that time, in charge of distributor service and internal operations, Terrel started with the company when it had 35 employees and was part of the team that helped to grow the company to more than 1,100 employees, 250,000 active customers and distributors, and $240 million in annual revenues. Since 1988 Terrel has worked with more than 130 companies, thousands of executives and managers, and hundreds of thousands of field reps and distributors, observing retention best practices in the office and in the field, training organizations in the office and in the field, and developing the most efficient methods of delivering the knowledge, skills, tools and techniques that guide clients toward retention mastery.
Ron Wade

Ron Wade received his MBA in international business from the Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management and holds Bachelor's degrees in Finance and Marketing. He is currently Managing Director for R&R International Consulting where he works with numerous direct selling companies on international expansion and development. Prior to co-founding R&R Consulting, Ron was Director of Marketing and Director of International Development for EOLA International. He has worked and lived in 25 countries around the world, and is the co-creator of the popular "Express" international expansion model.
Janet Wakeland

Janet Wakeland is the kind of leader every Company owner would like to find. Her loyalty has made for a long and successful career, having grown her party plan organization to more than 2700 consultants. As a Senior Director for Stampin' Up, Janet has been awarded 11 cruises, 6 Founders Circle titles, has served on her company's Advisory Board for three terms and is consistently in the top ranking for total sales, top recruiting and leadership promotion awards. Janet is a role model outside her company as well. ...MORE...

She is a contributing author to Build It Big, has been interviewed for Jan Ruhe's books, profiled in various industry publications and appeared in the popular recruiting DVD, Dream It Big, Build It Big. Whether training at her company's convention, conducting a training or workshop or sharing her leadership expertise through the DSWA - Janet exemplifies all that you want to look for in your future leaders and we are honored to have her on the Symposium faculty.
Craig Wennerholm

Craig Wennerholm is Vice President of Sales for InfoTrax Systems, one of the leading providers of software and systems to both domestic and global Network Marketing companies. In addition to his years of industry experience at both InfoTrax and 20/21 Interactive, he brings 12 years of Fortune 500 experience to InfoTrax, having worked with the Omnicom Group, a global marketing conglomerate and Joy Technologies Inc. Craig regularly shares his expertise with both industry leading companies and the many startups that work with InfoTrax, and is well qualified to address the technology issues facing network marketing companies today. Craig is a graduate of Brigham Young University and received his MBA from Arizona State University
Ron Williams

Ron Williams, born and raised in Southern California, learned his greatest lessons in life playing sports. These lessons continue to contribute to William's passion for life, music, and especially humanity. Today, he is a successful lecturer and advocate for health and personal development through the U of YOU. He is committed to a philosophy of using his time, talent and resources to making a difference in the world, one person at a time. Williams has successfully led multi-million dollar corporations with his unique talent for creatively bringing intangible concepts to life. He is also an award-winning filmmaker, author, and music writer/producer. ...MORE...

In the Network Marketing industry, Ron is a 20-year veteran. He started in the industry as a distributor at NuSkin, and eventually became the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Neways. Williams then became the CEO at Young Living Essential Oils before starting his own company, Brain Garden. He served at the Brain Garden as the Founder/CEO and Chairman of the Board, and after a brief retirement, decided to start the international organic wellness company ForeverGreen International. In 2006, ForeverGreen acquired the Brain Garden and became a debt-free, publicly traded company. Ron currently serves as the CEO, Founder and Chairman of the Board at ForeverGreen. Recently, Williams was elected president of the MLMIA (Multi-Level Marketing International Association). Williams is a proud husband to his wife Kandi, father to his daughter Maron, and master to his dog, Zorro.
Kent Wood

Although Kent Wood is licensed as a CPA, with undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in Accounting from Brigham Young University, his brilliant money-managing skills surpass those of any ordinary accountant. Before starting XanGo, Wood spent nearly his entire career auditing, consulting or being employed by some of Utah's most successful multi-level marketing companies. Spending five and a half years with Utah's largest MLM, doing over a billion dollars in annual revenues, and four and a half years with a Utah firm whose current sales are about $500 million, prepared Wood for his role as XanGo's original CFO. ...MORE...

Since then Wood has also been XanGo's COO and since 2006 has served as their President of Operations. As President of Operations, Wood is responsible for handling XanGo's operations, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, quality assurance, facilities, accounting, finance, and tax departments. Wood and his team have thrived on managing XanGo's record-setting growth.
Lee Wright

Lee graduated from the University of Utah with his JD in 1999, where he was a published member of the Utah Law Review. He clerked for Judge Gregory K. Orme at the Utah Court of Appeals after graduation then joined the law firm of Kirton & McConkie in 2000 in their International Law Practice Section. His practice focused on advising clients how to handle foreign business transactions or introduce products into foreign countries, deal with foreign governments, locate and manage foreign legal counsel and cope with or avoid overseas litigation. ...MORE...

In 2001, Lee was asked by the Office of General Counsel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to assist their operations in Africa. He lived for two years in South Africa with his family, dealing with various international legal issues on behalf of the Church and still has a special love for that area of the world.

In 2004 Lee accepted the position as Director of International Law and Intellectual Property for Mrs. Fields Famous Brands, where he manages litigation, trademarks, and all international issues facing Mrs. Fields, TCBY, Pretzelmaker, Pretzel Time, and other brands held by Mrs. Fields Famous Brands.

Lee has developed an expertise in international licensing, franchising and distribution agreements and has assisted companies in establishing joint ventures in China. He has also written articles on direct selling issues internationally, has helped clients with introducing direct selling activities into other areas of the world and analyzing legal challenges to introducing such activities. He has worked a great deal on legal matters in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia for various clients. He maintains an of-counsel relationship with Kirton & McConkie, and is presently a fellow at the BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies and Vice-Chair for the International Section of the Utah State Bar.