MarketProMBA

My name is David Beckham. I was born in Burlington, IA, in May, 1966. I graduated from Burlington Community High School, 1984. I attended DeVry Institute of Technology for a year, and then decided to do something different. I went to work for Hallmark Marketing Corporation as a Retail Installations Coordinator.  I installed new Hallmark stores and visual merchandising fixtures.

It was while I was working for Hallmark that I decided to join the U.S. Army Military Police. About 2 weeks after signing the papers to join the Army, I met my wife Sheri. We were married May 1986 after I completed Military Police Training at Ft. McClellan, AL. We spent the next 3 years in Germany. It was some of the best years of our young life. I have been married to my lovely wife now 22 years this year.

After the military, I decided to go to college at Iowa State University. I started out in Computer Engineering, but after almost three years, I found my self more interested in marketing and advertising so as many college students do, I switched majors. I graduated from ISU in 1996 with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing and a minor in M.I.S and Psychology.

I worked for several years through my college education as the facility manager for the City of Ames, IA. My responsibility was over the city golf course and the Ice Arena.   I logged hundreds of hours on a Zamboni and learned to love hockey! During my time as a facilities manager, I learned a great deal about marketing, human resources, and overall operations. I made some very positive changes while I was employed with them that resulted in increased profits and higher customer satisfaction.

In May 1997, while visiting my in-laws on Pensacola Beach, FL, I found a job in the newspaper with BellSouth Advertising & Publishing, The Real Yellow Pages. I purchased a suit while on vacation, tested and interviewed for the job while I was there. I was offered a position a week after I left as an inside sales rep.  July 1997, we packed up the house and moved to Florida.

After one year with BellSouth, I was assessed for management and out of six people tested in our region, was the only one to pass. I was promoted 6 months later as a trainer for the new sales system we were rolling out. After spending 9 months in training, I took a job back in Pensacola, FL as the Sales Support Manager where I have been since.

In 2004, I started my Masters of Business Administration in Marketing with the University of Phoenix and finished in 2007 with a 3.93 GPA. It was a challenge working full time and completing my M.B.A, but in the end was worth the effort.

In my current position, now with AT&T Advertising and Publishing, I am responsible for the overall operations of our district, which runs from Pensacola, FL to Tallahassee, FL. My responsiblities include, sales management, operations, human resources, labor relations, process management and product marketing.

In June of 2007, my wife Sheri and I purchased a franchise from The Original Basket Boutique (OBB). I was so intrigued with the company that I wrote my M.B.A. final project on the company. It was after our purchase of the franchise, that I really got to know the franchisor of the company, Patrick Lamoureux. We discovered that we had the same vision for this company and the potential it could achieve. After some lengthy discussions, in January of 2008 we agreed that I would become the Directory of Operations in charge of new franchise sales & development, marketing and overall web site operations.

Owning a small business has given me valuable perspectives that have allowed me to help other small business owners in our community. My job background and education has given me a vast array of experience to draw from. My hope is that I can reach other small business owners through this blog and my website at www.marketpromba.com (under development) to help them through some of the rough spots with their marketing & operations.

I look forward to meeting new friends and learning about your business ventures through this blog.

Best wishes and prosperity,

David Beckham

MarketProMBA www.MarketProMBA.com

The Original Basket Boutique www.obbgifts.com