The “ERA Talks” PodcastERA Talks is a series will feature informative and educational interviews with industry leaders in a quick conversational format.
Featured episodes of ERA Talks are linked below. Various key podcast networks also allow you to tune in at your convenience, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and our newest channel on iHeart Radio.
Tune in to the latest episode of ERA Talks which tackles the hot topic of digital marketing. Listen in on this valuable discussion between ERA’s CEO, Walter Tobin, and guest, Tim Kilfoil, President of JF Kilfoil Co., regarding the benefits of today’s many digital marketing tools that are available for low to no-cost to manufacturers’ sales reps and the advantages of implementing these tools. Tim offers useful insights on how to get started on a digital marketing path and why sales reps today should be embracing this way of selling and connecting. Plus, Tim provides a realistic digital marketing action plan that can be implemented with ease.
October 2022
Tune in to the latest ERA Talks podcast, hosted by Walter Tobin, ERA CEO, and featuring a discussion with Holly Good of Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Holly Myers, CPMR, of Genie Group, and Chris Straube, of Straube Associates Inc., to get a sneak peek of the 2022 ERA Virtual Sales Training – an online educational initiative to be hosted live Oct. 4 – 6.
In this episode, you will learn more about the Virtual Sales Training event, its benefits and goals. The group will provide answers to such questions as: what audience is this training targeting, how will the program differ from the 2021 training, what are the sessions that will be presented, what takeaways will the sessions provide, who is presenting the training, and how this training is different than other industry training being offered?
On the fence about attending this event? Interested in learning more of what this ERA educational opportunity has to offer? Tune in today to get more information! And we hope to see you online at the event in October.
June 2022
Tune in to the latest ERA Talks podcast featuring Ellen Coan, CPMR, of CC Electro Sales Inc., and ERA Executive Committee SVP of Education, Cameron English, CPMR, of English Technical Sales, and Aparna Sproelich, BSME, CPMR, of Aurora Group.
In this episode, you will learn about this new initiative from ERA that was launched as a way to help the rep community attract, hire and retain college graduates into the rep model to keep the electronics industry fresh and relevant. Cameron and Aparna, whose companies are recipients of the inaugural scholarships available for 2022, share their stories regarding how they found their interns, along with how they are training their interns, and how their interns have already helped to benefit and contribute to their businesses.
Learn much more about the White Pin Internship Program online here.
August 2021
On this episode of ERA Talks, ERA CEO Walter Tobin discusses “The Value of the Rep Model for Manufacturers” with ERA consultants Cesare Giammarco and John Simari.
Giammarco and Simari offer insights into the seven key attributes of the rep model value proposition to manufacturers: expertise, flexibility, advocacy, control, market coverage, affordability and demand creation.
July 2021
In the latest episode of ERA Talks, Walter Tobin, CEO of ERA, and special guest Phil Gallagher, CEO of Avnet, discuss “How Avnet Helps Its Customers and Suppliers Navigate Disruption.”
June 2021
In this episode of ERA Talks, Walter Tobin, CEO of ERA and special guest John Drabik, Senior Vice President Sales and Product Marketing – Americas at TTI, discuss TTI’s initiatives in 2021 and beyond.
March 2021
This episode features Patrick Knoelke, Partner and Founder of Spyre Group. Spyre Group, a digital design and technology company, and Silver-level Microsoft Partner.
In this episode, Patrick discusses the unique features of Microsoft 365 and properly using the applications that many are already paying for but not fully utilizing. Utilizing the applications’ full potential helps create a more organized and timely system for daily tasks.
December 2020
The Spark Professional Development Program is designed to help up-and-coming professionals advance their careers in the electronics components industry.
This episode of ERA Talks features John O’Brien, VP of Coakley, Boyd and Abbett, and a member of the Spark Planning Committee, as well as Jennifer Smith, President of JMS Synergy and the Spark Director.
Tune in to ERA Talk’s 10th episode, to learn more about the history, program growth, curriculum and how to attend.
August 2020
In this episode of ERA Talks, ERA CEO, Walter Tobin, interviews Dr. George John, Professor and General Mills-Gerot Chair in Marketing for the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
This lively discussion focuses on the academic view of the rep model. Tune in to learn more about the benefits of the rep model, the fractured customer journey, digital transformations, sales trends and more.
August 2020
In this episode of ERA Talks, ERA Membership Director, Stephanie Tierney, interviews ERA Consultant Cesare Giammarco. Prior to retiring from Honeywell in 2015, Giammarco spent most of his career in field sales management, including 35 years in the electronics component industry.
Giammarco recently authored a white paper, “Line Conflicts: Navigating to a Mutually Beneficial Resolution,” which was featured in the summer issue of The Representor magazine and can be found on the ERA website. This ERA Talks episode dives deeper into the topic! Tune in to learn more!
June, 2020
The world has seen a great deal of transformation in the last couple of months and our industry is no different. In this episode of ERA Talks, ERA Membership Director Stephanie Tierney interviews Alan Ahern, President of Crowley Associates, and Mike Swenson, President at Mel Foster Company, about the transformation of the rep role and their plans to improve business in the times ahead.
April 2020
Stephanie Tierney, Membership Director for ERA, interviews industry leaders about building business and brand awareness virtually. Graham Kilshaw, CEO at Lectrix, Rob Tavi (Sohrab Tavakoli), Managing Director at IBS Electronics and Matthew Amato, Global Marketing and Public Relations Manager at IBS Electronics discuss promoting brand image on social networks, using video, webinars and more!