Steve Russo Email & Phone Number

Fort Myers/South Florida

Project Management Executive & Business Development Feb 2015 – PresentStraight Up Solutions Fort Myers, FL• Work with clients to understand their business, culture, and challenges, leading to efficient, cost-effective installations and project management of a "best fit" client solutions.• Effectively leveraging best practices for project management, leadership engagement, and efficiency services for high profile Fire, Security, and Low Voltage/Electrical projects• Vertical market penetration to include but not limited to; Hospitals, Education, Hotels, High Rises, Multi Family, Data Centers, Sports Arenas, and Contractors for new construction and facility upgrades.• Enhancing customer experience by providing supplemental skilled installation assistance.• Improving client communications by conducting and managing progress meetings to review milestones, implement change orders, and identify new opportunities that may arise from in-progress projects.• Evaluating clients’ installation backlog of low voltage/electrical projects. • Engaging with key client stakeholders to implement strategies for risk, cost, and margin erosion reductions.• Positioning the company as an industry leader by applying best practices and strategies to engage general contractors and developers.• Creating original revenue opportunities through development of bundled solutions in full electrical contracting services and low voltage packages.

South Florida

• Successfully leveraged client relationships to deliver over $1MM in annual revenue from accounts throughout Florida, with an average per-transaction price of $150,000.• Identified new business opportunities for the company by engaging with clients in the field. Developed relationships with clients (prospects and existing) and collaborated with executives to determine client product needs.• Effectively built contacts and fostered relationships with key sales influencers across a wide range of companies including SimplexGrinnell, Johnson Control, and ADT. Increased market share and revenue for the company by championing development and deployment of effective business strategies designed to drive revenue growth and boost profits. Built a multimillion-dollar pipeline of qualified projects. • Coordinated and led sales presentations to general contractors and prospective clients highlighting the features and advantages of the company’s portfolio of services.• Engaged in ongoing WIPs (Work in Progress) meetings to track the status of all open projects.• Kept all corporate divisions updated with monthly revenue projections.• Enhanced the company’s reputation by participating as a company representative at charity and trade organization events to boost awareness of the company's services, successfully positioning the company as a leading contributor.• Continually secured major projects, taking advantage of a network of contacts with key stakeholders in upper-level regional management and district level sales and operations departments of large fire and security companies along with general contractors.

Ft. Meyers Florida

• Achieved an average of $1.5MM in sales each year and sustained a 70% close rate.• Consistently surpassed quarterly and annual sales targets with a $7+MM yearly sales pipeline.• Built relationships of trust and confidence with electrical contractors, driving the formation of $700,000 in new business opportunities for the company.• Collaborated with clients to define their fire & security business requirements, and to identify challenges. • Identified and secured new revenue and cross-sale opportunities for the company by creating bundled value-added solutions incorporating fire alarms, security, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers.• Solved critical client fire & security challenges by providing recommendations on potential systems and services.• Secured agreements with clients across a wide range of sectors including contracting, education, retail, healthcare, and hospitality industries for fire alarm equipment and life safety services. Worked closely with each client to recommend and install the approach systems and solutions for each location.

Midwest

• Built a pipeline of qualified sales opportunities from the ground up, establishing and growing a nearly nonexistent revenue stream to $2MM over a two-year timeframe.• Exceeded FY2005 Sales Volume Goals by 400%.• Employed Target Account Selling methodologies to qualify opportunities and innovate strategies to build the account relationship and progress opportunities towards closure.• Engaged in monthly branch communication meetings to gain insight into methods to bring more value to clients and secure expanded market share.

Davenport, Iowa Area

• Outperformed a target of $750,000 in recurring revenue.• Strengthened relationships with client end-users and grew company revenue through referrals and renewed business by providing unsurpassed levels of quality customer support and service. • Achieved the distinction of Top Sales Representative in the United States.• Secured service contracts for testing and inspection services, with consistent performance that exceeded revenue targets.• Captured additional business for the company via referrals and renewed contracts through high-quality customer support.

Davenport/Cedar Rapids