MARKETING TRACK
Conference Track Sponsor
Day 1, Tuesday, February 25th
10:30 – 11:20AM
Scaling Sales with Less
In this session, Brandon Dempsey will delve into innovative strategies employed by leading manufacturers in the current sales landscape. Discover how to scale your sales operations efficiently using automation, AI, and scalable systems, all while maintaining a personalized and relationship-driven approach. Learn how to achieve exceptional levels of personability, foster high-touch interactions, drive substantial growth, and enhance profitability, even with constrained resources. Join us to unlock the secrets of successful expansion in manufacturing with fewer people and greater impact.
Brandon Dempsey | Chief Executive Office, GBG
Brandon spends his time riding motorcycles, playing with his daughters, and adventuring with his wife and family around the globe. To pay for that fun, he oversees GBG, a marketing firm for manufacturing and distribution companies looking to leverage marketing for growth. For over 20 years Brandon has run his own company cold-calling his way into Fortune 100 companies and working at kitchen tables with new entrepreneurs. Today he oversees a growing firm that serves industrial companies across the globe with a presence in the US market.
1:30 – 2:20PM
Messaging Based on Audience Awareness
You can craft messaging for every level of your buying funnel. Meet your audience where they are at with messaging strategies based on how well they know your brand and product. From educating the ignorant to enticing the ready-to-buy, Allen Fennewald will teach you how to message to any prospect.
Allen Fennewald | Senior Writer, Gorilla 76
Allen is a senior writer who specializes in conversion research and copywriting. He grew up on a farm in rural Audrain County, Missouri, and currently lives in St. Louis. Allen previously worked as regional editor at the Columbia Daily Tribune, where he oversaw multiple regional newspapers. He also reported for news outlets in places like Washington D.C., Jefferson City and St. Louis. Allen graduated from the University of Missouri with degrees in English, creative writing (B.A.) and journalism (M.A.).
3:30 – 4:20PM
How People Buy: The Psychology of the Purchase
Do people make buying decisions based on logic or emotion? In this session we will dive into the four psychological buying motivators and see how we can take the pressure off discussing price early in a selling conversation. We will also discuss how to apply these insights to create more effective marketing strategies, connect with customers on a deeper level, and drive better sales outcomes in the manufacturing industry.
Aaron Solari | Associate & Sandler Sales Coach, Trustpoint, LLC
Aaron Solari became a student of the Sandler Selling System while working in a direct B2B sales role in the manufacturing industry. After graduating from Missouri State University with his bachelor’s degree in Communications and Ethical Leadership, he joined the Trustpoint team and turned his sales process study into a career. Today, he walks closely alongside sales professionals as they grow to become better versions of themselves. He will be the first to tell you the countless times he has failed and how he leverages his failures for personal growth. Aaron has a heart for servant leadership, and for helping his clients reach the next level in their sales careers.
Day 2, Wednesday, February 26th
9:00 – 9:50AM
Digital Marketing Strategies for Employee Recruitment
This presentation will explore how digital marketing can transform recruitment in the manufacturing sector. We’ll cover effective strategies for building a strong employer brand, utilizing targeted advertising, and creating engaging content that attracts top talent. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging technology and data-driven approaches to streamline the recruitment process and enhance candidate engagement. Join us to discover innovative ways to attract and retain skilled workers in manufacturing!
John Mitchell | Head of Business Development, Leadline Marketing
John Mitchell is the Head of Business Development for Leadline Performance Marketing, where he oversees the strategy and sales for 50+ clients. Having served virtually every industry over a marketing agency career that spans 20+ years, John has seen enough to know that while many things change, many remain the same. While every problem is unique, John’s approach to discovery, design, and purpose has been proven to drive results regardless of industry, brand, or time. This approach has led to success for brands such as Toyota, Lexus, Daisy Brand, American Airlines, and many more.
10:30 – 11:20AM
Winning New Business From New Opportunities - The Road Map to Greater Growth Through Marketing & Sales
Eric Knudsen, Owner & President of the NorthStar Group in Kansas City, will provide insights as to how they help their Clients have more conversations with new opportunities in new companies. It starts with Marketing Messaging – Email, Social Media Posts, Web Tracking Tools and a Direct Mail Piece that will get every decision maker’s attention. All of this will lead to a conversation with a decision maker and Eric will share the secret to converting the conversations into quotes and won business. He will share what industries are in high growth that need greater help in 2025 with more suppliers. Finally, he will close out the session with a couple of simple ideas on how to create 20 new conversations with new companies that have needs for your products, services, or equipment.
Eric Knudsen | Owner & President, NorthStar Group
Eric Knudsen has over 18 years of experience helping manufacturers and distributors grow their businesses through Lead Generation, Sales Training, Digital Marketing Strategy Development and Deployment, and Recruitment Efforts. He is a graduate of the University of Tulsa, holding bachelors degrees in both Finance and Marketing.