Sales Center Biographies

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  Alan Hall

  Chairman

  Mr. Hall is a founder and a managing director of Mercato Partners, a top performing growth equity venture capital fund. Its focus is to invest in high growth technology companies that need additional funding and expertise in marketing and sales. He is also a prolific Angel investor and has over fifty personal investments in early stage companies. Mr. Hall is also the founder, chairman and former CEO of MarketStar Corporation, a global out sourced marketing and sales company with a focus on assisting high technology companies increase sales. The company employees several thousand employees and generates billions of dollars annually for its clientele. He is an Ernst and Young and Mountain West Capital Network Entrepreneur of Year recipient. He is a frequent speaker, author of three e-books on entrepreneurship, and a regular columnist for Forbes and Harvard Business Review.

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  Aaron Hall

  Executive Director

  Aaron Hall is the Director of the Alan E. Hall Center for Sales Excellence and brings 20 plus years of sales and executive leadership. Hall, a 22-year veteran of MarketStar (OMC Company), is the former COO and EVP of Client Services. Hall has created and lead successful channel and direct sales execution for leading technology and consumer electronics companies such as Intel, HP, IBM, Sony, and Cisco. Hall launched MarketStar operations in Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA, and built a workforce of 6000 sales representatives. In addition to leading the sales center, Hall is a Director at Mercato Partners and member of the firm's Investment Committee. Aaron is responsible for sourcing new investment opportunities, negotiating transaction terms, structuring investment securities, leading due diligence efforts, and providing oversight and value to the Mercato portfolio. Aaron received an Executive MBA from the University of Utah and Bachelor of Arts in Professional Sales from Weber State University. Hall completed Omnicom’s Senior Management Program and is a two-time Omnicom Catalyst Award Winner in Marketing and Sales Integration. Hall is an avid triathlete competing in IronMan and other multi-sport events.

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  David L. Ferro

  Dean

  David L. Ferro has unique mix of academic and corporate experience. He became dean of the college in 2011 after a ten-year stint as professor in Computer Science. Prior to that he worked at Iomega as the Senior Manager of Ebusiness, as a programmer/analyst in Voice Recognition at Unisys, and as Software Engineer at companies such as Lotus Development, DRI/McGraw-Hill, and Hayden Software. He holds a PhD from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor's from UMass/Lowell, MA. He has academic and professional interests in UI/UX and the intersection of technology, business, and society. He has published three books and lectured widely. After spending time with his family he likes learning new things and his latest hobby is curling.

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  Tim Border

  Assistant Professor

  Tim Border has taught in the Department of Professional Sales at Weber State University since 1992. Currently he is teaching Fundamental Selling Techniques, Customer Service, Contract Sales and Negotiation, Sales Personalities and Profiles and Principle Centered Selling. He has an M.S. degree in Oral Communication with and emphasis in Training and Development. Over the last 25 years Tim has consulted many Fortune 500 companies and government agencies throughout the world in the areas of sales, customer service and leadership. He has also owned several successful businesses and has extensive field experience in sales and negotiations.

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  Vel Casler

  Professor, Department Chair

  Mr. Casler is a Professor of Professional Sales and Service Technology at Weber State University. He currently serves as Department Chairman for both Professional Sales and Service Technology as well as teaching various classes. He has received various forms of recognition for his excellence in the classroom. He received a Master Online Teacher Certification and received the Utah Post Secondary Educator of the Year Award for 2009 - 2010 from the Marketing Educators Group. Prior to joining Weber State he was in the corporate business world. He has over 20 years of experience in running companies at the executive level serving as Vice-President, President or CEO of numerous companies. In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors of various companies. His vast background includes extensive experience in all aspects of management, sales & marketing, and customer service both domestically and internationally. Mr. Casler holds a B.A. degree in Mathematics from the University of North Texas and an MBA from Franklin Pierce College. He also received postgraduate training from The University of Utah and Stanford University.

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  Desiree Cooper Larsen

  Professor

  Desiree is a professor of Professional Sales at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. She has been presented the Utah Association of Marketing Educators “Teacher of the Year” Award twice in her tenure at Weber State. She currently teaches courses in sales presentations, merchandising, interviewing, business etiquette and corporate relations. Desiree has over 25 years of experience consulting and providing customer service and sales training to national and local fortune 500 companies. She has been recognized on a National level for teaching and National conference participation. Desiree has a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State University in Marketing/Education. She serves on numerous national boards and has a strong presence in the local and regional community. Desiree was instrumental in starting the Alan E. Hall Center for Sales Excellence at Weber State University. She is currently a national board member for the University Sales Center Alliance. Desiree Cooper-Larsen brings a strong element of sales experience to the Center of Sales Excellence.

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  Rick Dove

  Associate Professor

  Rick Dove is a professor of Professional Sales. He holds an A.S. degree in Business, a B.S. degree in Marketing Education and a M.S. degree in Business. He has been teaching at Weber State for 25 years. Prior Weber State, he owned/managed a chain of 3 retail grocery stores and a clothing store employing over 100 people. He has extensive experience in Real Estate sales and Advertising and Promotion. He currently teaches courses in Team Leadership, Sales Supervision, Sales Proposal Writing, Social Media in Sales, and Sales Ethics. He was honored in 2013 as a long standing Partner in the Ken Blanchard Companies Channel Network and is certified in Situational Team Leadership. He works with companies to improve team performance and cohesion through understanding personality differences (DISC) and empowering employees through ownership and accountability. He is currently authoring two books dealing with management and leadership. He has provided training throughout the years to a diverse group public and private institutions. You may join Rick at www.linkedin.com/in/rickdoveonline/

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  Steve Eichmeier

  Professor

  Steven Eichmeier is a Professor of Professional Sales. He holds an Doctorate degree in Curriculum Design and Instructional Methods, and a Masters degree in Marketing Education. He has been a teacher and administrator at Weber State University for over 45 years and was the individual hired by the University to start the Professional Sales department in 1968. He teaches Marketing, Supervision and Customer Service courses, also, specializes in teaching students how to prepare for Career Job Opportunities in sales relating to resume and interviewing methods. Steven is the recipient of the "Dean Herman Schneider" National Award for his Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of the Philosophy and Practices of Cooperative Education. He has been recognized as a National Workshop Presenter and Consultant to Universities of Higher Education and Business.

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  Carl Grunander

  Professor

  Carl Grunander is a professor of Professional Sales. He holds a B.A. degree in Communications with an emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations and a M.S. degree in Marketing Education. He has been teaching at Weber State University for over 35 years and was one of the original architects of the four-year Professional Sales program. He teaches courses in fundamental and advanced selling, customer service, advertising, sales supervision and sales planning and forecasting. He was recently honored as the 2013 Post-Secondary Marketing Educator of the year in the state of Utah. He has provided customer service and sales training throughout the years to a multitude of public and private institutions.

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  Jo Ellen Jonsson

  Assistant Professor

  Jo Ellen Jonsson is currently an Assistant Professor at Weber State University. Her primary teaching areas include Retail Management, Business Ethics and Personality Profiling. Jo Ellen has been teaching for Weber State University for over 10 years both part and full time. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Weber State University in Professional Sales and a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology from Utah State University. Her research and training interests are in the area of human resources, personality profiling and using technology in education.