Grant Thompson
Savoy
Summary
Value Offered 27+ year Media Veteran in a variety of leadership roles. Have continually increased year to year revenue as a manager Managing teams, selling, and all aspects of successful radio Surpass goals and outpace market trends. Specialize in developing innovative ideas and new non-traditional business. Successful negotiation and communication skills and data management. Always follow-through from planning, goal setting, and budget development to implementing strategy and getting the sale. Seasoned Area Vice President with proven leadership in driving business growth and maximizing profitability. Possess strong strategic planning, team building, and negotiation skills. Known for fostering relationships with key stakeholders, developing innovative solutions to operational challenges and ensuring optimal execution of corporate strategies. Impact includes turning around underperforming regions through the implementation of effective sales and marketing strategies. Results-driven Area Vice President known for high productivity and efficient task completion. Possess specialized skills in strategic planning, team leadership, and revenue growth management. Excel in communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, ensuring successful outcome in dynamic environments.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Area Vice President / Market Manager
CMG – Central Illinois Markets
01.2021 - Current
- Recruited by new ownership of radio and newspaper group to manage and rebuild radio operation with plans of expanding radio holdings in the region, ultimately growing to 11 radio brands across 3 markets.
- Building and managing revenue and expense budgets.
- Installing best practices, setting up yield management and CRM sales systems.
- Introduced new digital sales, event and NTR programs.
Area Senior Vice President of Sales
iHeartMEDIA – Memphis & Mississippi Markets
08.2017 - 11.2020
- Asked to return in a new position to revitalize sales.
- Beat Miller Kaplan 34 out of 38 months.
- Charged with recruiting new Sales Management teams and building teams of AE’s; coaching sellers in area markets on best practices; and reenergizing existing team members with a focus on developing selling solutions to fit market changes and needs.
- Managed inventory for 7 high demand stations to maximize revenue opportunities.
- Built out and planned additional large scale six figure generating NTR events.
Market Manager
Neuhoff Media
Bloomington
12.2015 - 07.2017
- Recruited by new ownership group to return to the market and install a new culture of winning.
- Charged with rebuilding the operation including adjusting budgets and expenses, adjusting formats to fit market need; hiring and replacing staff to fill needs of the cluster; rebuilding client relationships and community trust with stations.
- Focused on developing selling solutions to fit market changes and needs, adapting sales tactics and presentations to match the individual members of sales team.
- Introduced new digital sales and NTR/ events to the market.
General Sales Manager
iHeartMEDIA (Clear Channel)
Memphis
09.2011 - 11.2015
- Recruited to manage and rebuild a sales team of 14 AE’s and increase sales by adapting best practices for new sellers as well as converting and reenergizing senior members of sales team.
- Charged early with rebuilding team morale and client relationships and managing inventory and pricing.
- Focused on developing selling solutions to fit market changes and needs.
- Found success by adapting management style to match the individual members of sales team.
Director of Sales
Connoisseur Media
Bloomington
09.2005 - 09.2011
- Developed best practices, set up yield management and CRM sales systems and hired complete sales team of 9 AE’s, Local Sales Managers, 2 Sales Assistants and promotions staff of 5 in the fall of 2005 to launch new stations.
- Introduced new digital sales and NTR programs to the market.
- Surpassed team budgets and increased sales by double digits every year.
- Stations captured 30% of the market revenue after first three years of existence.
Contract Sales Trainer
AAA Entertainment
Champaign
01.2005 - 12.2005
- Implemented the use of a yield management system to correct high inventory sell out with low revenue numbers.
- Set up CRM system.
- Developed best practices and training for sales and promotions staff.
- Designed sales programs including NTR and digital campaigns to increase overall station revenue.
Director of Operations
Forcht Broadcasting
Champaign
01.2002 - 12.2005
- Managed all aspects of radio station operations, focusing on on-air presentation, promotions and sales training.
Regional Sales Trainer
Forcht Broadcasting
Champaign, Terre Haute & Crawfordsville
01.2002 - 12.2005
- Trained sales staffs in three markets on the use of yield management and CRM programs.
- Helped develop company sales training and helped sales staff achieve certification of RMP or CRMC from Radio Advertising Bureau.
Senior Account Executive
Insight Communications
Normal & Peoria
03.2005 - 08.2005
- Managed multi market list of key regional and national accounts.
- Charged with developing new regional and national accounts and rebuilding relationships and exceeding previous performance of accounts list.
Senior Account Executive
Forcht Broadcasting
01.2001 - 12.2002
- Managed one of the top billing lists on station, doubling billing in a year.
Account Executive
Saga Communications
Champaign
01.2000 - 12.2001
- Took over key list that had suffered severe attrition and doubled billing in year’s time.
On Air / Promotions
Tak Communications
Champaign
01.1998 - 12.1999
Education
Broadcast Communications -
Parkland College
Champaign, IL05.2000
Skills
- Sales Team Training & Management
- Team leadership
- Market analysis
- CRM Trained
- Sale Force Lead
- Customer Needs Assessment
- Solution Selling
- Problem Solving
- Key Account Management
- Forecasting & Budgeting
- Yield Management Trained
- Account Development
- Growing Revenue
- Client relationship management
- Yield management
- Digital strategy
- Budget forecasting
- Revenue management
- Sales training
- CRM implementation
- Strategic planning
- Sales processes
- Operations management
- Data-driven decision making
- Sales management
- Financial acumen
- Report preparation
- Procedure implementation
- Operations oversight
References
- Mike Hulvey, President / Chief Executive Officer, Radio Advertising Bureau, 217-260-1700
- Allen Schemmel, Owner / Principal, Gabriel Media, 615-491-5034
- Nicky Sparrow, Executive Vice President Multicultural Sales, iHeartMEDIA, 901-674-7953
Continued Learning
- Certified Radio Marketing Consultant, Radio Advertising Bureau, 2000
- Certified Digital Marketing Consultant, Radio Advertising Bureau, 2010
- Sales Advantage, Dale Carnegie, 2005
- Leadership Training for Managers, Dale Carnegie, 2009
- Effective Communications & Human Relations/Skills for Success, Dale Carnegie, 2009
Value Offered
27+ year Media Veteran in a variety of leadership roles. Have continually increased year to year revenue as a manager. Managing teams, selling, and all aspects of successful radio. Surpass goals and outpace market trends. Specialize in developing innovative ideas and new non-traditional business. Successful negotiation and communication skills and data management. Always follow-through from planning, goal setting, and budget development to implementing strategy and getting the sale.
Affiliations
- Champaign County Crime Stoppers Board Member
- Champaign County United Way Board Member
- Parkland College Mass Comm. Advisory Board
- Vermillion County Tourism Board
Timeline
Area Vice President / Market Manager
CMG – Central Illinois Markets
01.2021 - Current
Area Senior Vice President of Sales
iHeartMEDIA – Memphis & Mississippi Markets
08.2017 - 11.2020
Market Manager
Neuhoff Media
12.2015 - 07.2017
General Sales Manager
iHeartMEDIA (Clear Channel)
09.2011 - 11.2015
Director of Sales
Connoisseur Media
09.2005 - 09.2011
Senior Account Executive
Insight Communications
03.2005 - 08.2005
Contract Sales Trainer
AAA Entertainment
01.2005 - 12.2005
Director of Operations
Forcht Broadcasting
01.2002 - 12.2005
Regional Sales Trainer
Forcht Broadcasting
01.2002 - 12.2005
Senior Account Executive
Forcht Broadcasting
01.2001 - 12.2002
Account Executive
Saga Communications
01.2000 - 12.2001
On Air / Promotions
Tak Communications
01.1998 - 12.1999
Broadcast Communications -
Parkland College
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