Instructor, facilitator and coach for Manager Essentials Training Program - Helping manager's unlock their potential and unleash their team's performance.Michael draws on 25+ years of experience as a software sales executive, startup leader, and professional coach to help his clients design more intentional fulfilling careers.Michael helps managers looking to improve their skills and managers making the transition from individual contributors to managerial roles.The Manager Essentials Program was built to make becoming a great manager a positive and transformational experience - for the individual, their team, and their company. We do this by providing experiential learning and best-in-class instruction for:• Delegation and Accountability• Implementing a Management Operating System™• Providing Feedback and Team Communication• Managing Team Conflict & Courageous Conversations• Caring for your Team & Maintaining Peak Performance• Developing a Manager Action Plan (MAP)™

Michael Knouse is a Business and Leadership Development Coach. He helps impact-focused entrepreneurs and leaders ditch the drama and develop more intentional and meaningful careers.Michael draws on 25+ years of experience as a software executive, startup leader, and professional coach to help his clients design more intentional and profitable careers and businesses.Michael helps entrepreneurs with:• Sales and marketing strategy• Business simplification and design• Mapping out the next stage of your business• Business vision, mission and purpose development• Improving the quality and structure of your sales consultations• Codifying your intellectual property• Growing your leadership skills so you feel ready, capable and inspired to lead your business to the next stage of growthMichael helps executives, leaders and their teams with:• Executive and leadership development• Team building and cohesiveness• On-site and remote team building and facilitation• Effective communication and conflict resolution• Building earned trust and mutual accountability• Increasing vitality while reducing overwhelm and burnout• Performance optimization• Work + life integration

Driving software growth through HDS field sales and channel partner engagements for the Western Region. Responsible for identifying, diagnosing, mapping customer pain to software capabilities, and quantifying ROI through Solution Selling methodology. Built and evolved relationships with multiple district management and sales teams while achieving exponential quarter-over-quarter growth. Managed and grew net revenue of select HDS software solutions through direct and indirect upsell and add-on opportunities.

Founded a boutique pet products on the idea that high quality, limited ingredient, and locally sourced pet supplement products should be the standard, not the exception. Managed day-to-day operations including sales, product development, promotion and market research for specialized, high quality supplemental pet products. Responsibilities included hiring, overseeing company operations, implementing policies and procedures and executing all growth related sales and marketing functions. Established and measured performance against company metrics. Coordinated inventory, finances, and directed retailer relationships.

Defined and executed sales strategy to surpass all original financial performance and revenue goals for investment real estate company. Responsible for building the customer base and directing start-up procedures to establish a strong, reliable infrastructure in highly competitive industry. Managed all aspects of company finances, marketing, sales and operations. Hired and trained four team members.

Spearheaded and established growth plans for customer accounts and managed client sales cycles for Microsoft .Net application development solutions. Responsible for building new partner relationships and strategic account development. Expertly guided complex, strategic sales cycles. Coordinated sales activities across several departments. Routinely secured board/executive approval for large software development projects.

Strategically developed and secured new business by marketing, selling and managing technology solutions for Fortune 500 enterprise clients. Directed the entire sales process, including defining territory plans and goals. Assertively sought out profitable opportunities within current enterprise accounts. Negotiated deals with C-level executives.

Marketed and sold Internet banking software to financial services companies. Created comprehensive account development strategy. Motivated cross-functional teams in expediting product development, quality assurance, sales and implementation efforts. Collaborated with the VP of International Channel Sales in launching the Professional Services Channel Program from the ground up.

Pioneered and developed accounts for IT and systems integration company. Built and managed relationships with top-level executives. Promoted new and existing products/services, skillfully marketed and sold service and consulting engagements. Received numerous awards, recognition and bonuses for performance.