ERA Water Cooler Teleconferences

June 30, 2020, audio recording

An interactive discussion featuring Microsoft experts from Cloud 9 Infosystems Inc. focusing on an overview of Microsoft Office 365 and its uses, the difference between One Drive, SharePoint and Teams and the benefits of all, collaboration and sharing of files, security features and how third party apps work within the Microsoft Office 365 platforms.

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Facilitator: Stephanie Tierney, ERA Membership Director

Co-Facilitators: Chetan Malavia, CEO, Cloud 9 Infosystems Inc., Richard Barclay, Sales Director, Cloud 9 Infosystems Inc., Ashwin Ganesan, Associate Cloud Engineer, Cloud 9 Infosystems Inc., Dennis Swenson, Principal Consultant, Cloud 9 Infosystems Inc.

June 16, 2020, audio recording

Perspectives from a Rep, Manufacturer and Distributor regarding what they think tomorrow will look like for themselves as well as the customer, how they have recently enhanced their digital online image, preparations they are making for a potential second wave of COVID-19, new and effective ways that they are communicating with their customers, and their plans for upcoming in-person meetings.

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Facilitator: Walter Tobin, ERA CEO
Co-Facilitators: Bryan Teen, President at Tech Marketing; Steve Nolan, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Advanced Thermal Solutions, Inc., and Sean Sisson, Vice President North America & Latin America at RUTRONIK Electronics Worldwide

June 2, 2020, audio recording

An insightful conversation with rep and manufacturer focusing on how they are using social media now more than ever to reach people more efficiently, best practices they have implemented with virtual product training and demos, their thoughts on adapting to the new “fact-to-face” way of communicating, and benefits they are experiencing from less cost and time from not being out in the field.

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Facilitator: Walter Tobin, ERA CEO
Co-Facilitators: Holly Good, National Distribution Manager at Cornell Dubilier Electronics and Bruce Scoggin, CPMR, Territory Manager at Electro-Rep Associates Inc.

May 26, 2020, audio recording

A dynamic and spirited discussion around how electronics professionals are utilizing LinkedIn in today’s environment. Featuring in-depth perspectives from a rep, manufacturer and distributor on LinkedIn best practices in promoting product knowledge and brand, who to follow on LinkedIn, the benefits of using free vs. paid LinkedIn Premium services, and how to use LinkedIn for lead generation.

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Facilitator: Walter Tobin, ERA CEO
Guest Facilitator: Gary Lee Smith, CPMR, President of G.L. Smith Associates
Co-Facilitators: Zach DeVillers, CPMR, CSP, Director of Sales for Brainard-Nielsen Marketing Inc., Maryellen Stack, Director of Marketing Communications for Sager Electronics and Ken Bellero, President of Schaffner EMC Inc.

May 19, 2020, audio recording

Listen in for perspectives from a Rep, Manufacturer and Distributor as they discuss topics focusing on the cadence they have now developed in their daily & weekly schedules, what they are doing now to prepare their companies and teams for more normal times to come, and how they are redefining the role of the face-to-face sales person and arming their outside sales team for challenges to come.

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Facilitator: Walter Tobin, ERA CEO
Co-Facilitators: Tom Griffin, President at Catalyst Unity Solutions; Bob Gourdeau, Vice President of Sales at AVX Corporation; and Bill Gallucci, President at Peerless Electronics Inc.

May 12, 2020, audio recording

Gain valuable takeaways from this robust conversation covering several topics, including how reps are currently supporting principals and distributors; what distributors and principals are expecting from reps during these uncertain times; and what new e-marketing initiatives reps, distributors and manufacturers are implementing to generate leads.

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Facilitator: Walter Tobin, ERA CEO
Co-Facilitators: Dave Fitzgerald, Principal Owner at Wesco Sales Group; Tom Wichert, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing at TDK-Lambda and Anthony Disclafani, Director of Sales and Product at Dove Electronic Components

May 5, 2020, audio recording

A rep, manufacturer and distributor weigh in on new collaboration and training methods, ways they are setting boundaries since most are working from home, as well as addressing what new practices they have recently implemented that they will continue to utilize moving forward, what they are doing to prepare for more normal times, and what they are implementing to help create a hygienic and safe office environment for their staff.

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Facilitator: Walter Tobin, ERA CEO
Co-Facilitators: Joe Braun, Partner and Field Sales Rep at EK Micro; Mike Calabria, President and CEO at Abracon, and Holly Myers, Vice President at Genie Group.

April 28, 2020, audio recording

A discussion featuring two reps and a distributor centering around new ways of communicating internally with their teams, how rep companies are communicating externally to principles, customers and channel partners, learning curves they are encountering implementing new tools and software (specifically Microsoft Teams), and methods for staying focused.

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Facilitators: ERA’s CEO, Walter Tobin and Nicki Weiss of Saleswise, ERA’s sales consultant and columnist in The Representor.
Co-Facilitators: Lori Bruno, Vice President Distribution at Luscombe Engineering of San Francisco, John Latimer, President at Luscombe Engineering of San Francisco and Tom Vanderheyden, Senior Vice President, Americas Sales at TTI Inc.

April 21, 2020, audio recording

A conversation with ERA General Legal Counsel focusing on details surrounding the CARES Act and the PPP and what they mean to ERA members. Also addressing essential vs. non-essential businesses, independent contractors, dealing with communication with landlords, and how workers’ comp rules apply to employees now working from home.

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Facilitators: ERA’s CEO, Walter Tobin and Nicki Weiss of Saleswise, ERA’s sales consultant and columnist in The Representor.
Co-Facilitators: Gerald M. Newman and Adam J. Glazer, ERA General Counsel

April 14, 2020, audio recording

Three ERA Rep members discuss what they are doing to lead and nurture their teams remotely and describe tools they use to stay in touch with customers, distributor partners and manufacturers. This conversation also features input by Rich Greaves from Empowering Systems, Inc. on how different systems can be linked to various software to help companies manage their data and teams.

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Facilitators: ERA’s CEO, Walter Tobin and Nicki Weiss of Saleswise, ERA’s sales consultant and columnist in The Representor.
Co-Facilitators: Richard Greaves, Senior Partner at Empowering Systems, Inc.; David Norris, president and owner of Norris and Associates; Chuck Tanzola, VP of Fusion Sourcing Group and John Hutson, President MacInnis Group

April 7, 2020, audio recording

A conversation with a Distributor, Rep and Manufacturer on tools and methods to keep employees engaged with customers, engineers and co-workers, and ways to keep everyone sane and connected while working from home.

Facilitators: ERA’s CEO, Walter Tobin and Nicki Weiss of Saleswise, ERA’s sales consultant and columnist in The Representor.
Co-facilitators: Craig Sanderson, VP Supplier Marketing & Product Management at Sager Electronics; Dave Foster, Director of Sales at Ohmite Manufacturing and John O’Brien, VP at Coakley, Boyd & Abbett

March 31, 2020, audio recording

An open forum on the challenges of working from home, taking care of yourself and team, software tools and more. Listen in for the rep and manufacturer perspective.

Facilitators: ERA’s CEO, Walter Tobin and Nicki Weiss of Saleswise, ERA’s sales consultant and columnist in The Representor.
Co-facilitators: Craig Anderson, President of Sumer Incorporated; Mike Swenson, President of Mel Foster Company and Ken Bellero, President at Schaffner, EMC.