Testimonials

“I have known Michael for over a decade, having worked with him at StorageTek. As the Chief Financial Officer for the company, my roles went beyond the typical financial management responsibilities. I was fortunate to partner with Michael on many occasions in order to find ways to effectively communicate with large sales organizations. Michael was instrumental in delivering innovative techniques that spoke to the sales message. But more importantly, he helped our sales personnel to effectively sell solutions to our customers in a way where the outcome of a given sales transaction had both sides ending up being “winners”. Utilizing his own unique style, Michael leverages his deep customer background and industry knowledge to lay out the facts in a way so the solution is not only understood, but an aura of confidence is evident.

Michael’s composure and ability to lead with confidence and calmness put him in a position where others would trust and follow him and his guidance. He had a unique way of leading people, by gaining their confidence, their commitment, and their respect. I personally learned a great deal from listening and watching Michael deal with people, including their successes and failures. His willingness to share his knowledge and experience with so many is incredible. And without a doubt, he will continue to provide these benefits to all who utilize his personal and professional capabilities. I was extremely fortunate to be on the same team with Michael.”

Bobby Kocol
Former CFO StorageTek
Founder of “EPIC Impacts, LLC

“Michael is one of those rare people who have extensive experience as part of user organizations as well as vendor organizations… Michael brings real world experience that allows you to create more meaningful campaigns, as well as the communication skills to represent those campaigns before large and small audiences. The work Michael produced as a member of my staff at StorageTek and later Sun Microsystems was outstanding and directly contributed to the attainment of sales goals at the local, regional, and national level. He was constantly in demand for customer meetings as well as large gatherings, and his user experience allowed him to connect with individuals and large groups equally”

Robert Carns
VP of Sales Support, StorageTek and Sun Microsystems

“I had the pleasure of working with Michael on numerous projects while at StorageTek and Sun Microsystems. Michael has an innovative and engaging approach to translating Executive – level priorities surrounding sales training/enablement and developing practical programs that truly add value to the sales force. Too many times, corporate programs get ‘thrown over the fence’ to the Field and demonstrate minimal to no value add. By leveraging his combined experience in Corporate, Field, and Customer roles, Michael has developed effective and engaging content that is in high-demand from enterprise class direct and channel sales organizations.”

Tory Bond
Chief of Staff America’s Storage Sales, StorageTek and Sun Microsystems
Optera Group, Principal

“Michael’s appreciation of the “customer” perspective, from his own experience as an end-user/buyer, allows him to help other people through messaging and presentation to learn how to more effectively engage their customers. It is very easy for a company to become internally focused and miss what’s happening on the street. It’s very easy to allow the internal corporate machinations to cloud the external vision. This is where Michael excels. He makes sure to incorporate the important aspects of what’s happening “on the street” into any message he’s presenting. If you need someone to educate, motivate, and invigorate your audience you need Michael Spotts.”

Marcus Maddox
Director of Channel Sales Support, StorageTek and Sun Microsystems

“I have been selling technology products on the street to Fortune 500 companies for over 30 years – for IBM, for STK, for Sun and several other companies along the way. I first knew Michael as a customer championing virtual technologies for a major insurance company. Even as a customer, he had a better grasp of the intricacies of the product and what these differentiated technologies could buy for his company than the vendor who sold them. When he jumped over the fence from customer to vendor, he quickly proceeded to evangelize on the stage and demonstrate on the street in a manner the real world could understand, the simple basics of selling to direct and indirect sales forces all over the globe. Michael has incredible street sense and corporate credibility coupled with the passionate ability to motivate and equip sales teams to get back to the simple basics of selling regardless their industry or product: telling them what you have and where it is better and/or different, and then letting them know what that buys them.“

Jack Kennedy
Systems Engineer and Sales Rep: IBM, StorageTek, Sun Microsystems