Executive Sales Management

Robert F. Criste, MIM

*** ******** ***** *****

Newnan, Georgia 30263

************@*********.***

www.linkedin.com/in/robertcriste

Cell: 678-***-****

PROFILE

Top tier technical sales producer – Road warrior – Based in Atlanta, GA Broad based expertise involving international sales management, global sales organizational skills & environmental program management, business finance, equity placement offerings, and public speaking. Extensive experience in complex sales closing & consistent top performer vis-à-vis goals per plan. Master of client development and ongoing management of global distribution sales channels, presentation expertise and sales-training skills. Clear execution of sales mentorship, strategic alliance formation, and marketing program management. Demonstrated track record of federal and local government sales, customer relations, prospecting, qualifying, and managing through performance contracts, client facing and closure. All within cloud tech, environmental stewardship and sustainability (CSR) products/services arenas. Global Market Experience – US, Europe, UK, Central & South America, Caribbean, Middle East, Australasia Multilingual – Spanish Fluency, Portuguese proficiency PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Lonza Water Care 2018-Present

National Sales Manager, North America & Caribbean Region

• Responsible for all Surface Water sales teams throughout North America (USA, Mexico, Canada) as well as sales support staff, research teams and technical sales and aquatic plant application/treatment/control product development programs

• Full budget authority & executive management of Aquatic plant treatment chemical distributors, professional applicators, retailers, municipal bids, water management districts, USACE, EPA, State DNR’s as well as Amazon online policy.

• Personnel management with 12 direct reports, and associated support staff, reporting to upper executive management of financial performance on a weekly basis

• Overall management of a $20MM+ revenue line for Lonza Water Care, with top level EBITDA StormTrap, LLC 2014-2017

Territory Manager, Southeastern USA & Caribbean Region

• Responsible for all sales (specifications) for underground storm water detention/retention/filtration and treatment systems in AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, & Caribbean region.

• Primary clients are civil engineering firms, architects, contractors, developers/owners, municipalities, water management districts, USACE, etc.

• Proposal generation, system design layouts, interact with technical water mgmt. issues, projects.

• Grew Territory 125% from 2015-16 and exceeded quota in each fiscal period. #3 Sales person worldwide...currently at 110% of 2017 Quota mid Q3. BigBelly Solar, Inc. 2010–2014

Regional Director, Public Sector Southeastern USA and Caribbean Nations

• Responsible for all Municipal, Federal Agencies (DOD, EPA, DOE), DOT, P&R, and Public Works sales activities within 12 SE United States and entire 38 Nation Caribbean geography

• Number one region globally in calendar 2013 revenue, combined with having the largest assigned revenue quota worldwide

• Increased sales volume from $275k to over $2.5mm (annualized) in 27 months, (i.e. ~ +900%)

• Identified forecast pipeline from $1.3mm to over $40mm

• Established and managed large multi-state channel partners and 6 sales agents

• Training/management leadership of over 400 channel sales reps and managers

• Created significant demand directly with large municipalities, transit agencies, and parks depts.

• Solely responsible for over 75 municipalities with Populations of over 100,000 (“Named accts”)

• Liaised with publicly elected officials on a daily basis as well as top-tier appointed officials

• Designated as the sales training executive for regional sales managers worldwide

• Participant in various product development committees and executive policy committees

• Ongoing speaking engagements at various industry events, City Council, Commissions, TV, etc. AquaSpy Group LTD Adelaide, Australia, 2007–2010

Global Group Vice President - Golf and Sports Turf Division

• Positioned company as a global leader in capacitance-sensor based soil moisture monitoring and water use efficiency

• Structured and launched global division, created all product and sales programs, pricing parameters, test sites, and established network of Master Certified Distributors worldwide, including Australasia, Latin America and Europe.

• Identified and secured 5 Master Certified Distributors in first 10 months

• Negotiated exclusive geography, rebate programs, pipeline identification, pricing, branding, etc.

• Conducted all training and certification programs for distributors and end-users

• Provided ongoing specification support and product education for distributors

• Established 6 test sites globally to prove value proposition and ROI re: water-use-efficiency

• Created and implemented tactical action plans (TAPs) for global expansion and revenue growth

• Successfully generated numerous product specifications via GC Architects, Irrigation designers, and Agronomic Consultants, resulting in a 125% increase in sales in 2008, over 2007

• Liaised with global industry suppliers, manufacturers, regulatory agencies and trade associations, while developing, creating and maintaining partner relationships Phil Mickelson / Gary Stephenson Golf Course Architecture, Scottsdale, AZ 2002-2007 Director of Business Development

• Responsible for identifying and securing golf course architectural design contracts for ultra-high- end master-planned community developments globally. Collaborate with developers and contractors to ensure appropriate planning and scheduling efficiencies

• Secured 3 $1.44MM architectural design contracts for Whisper Rock (N. Scottsdale, Arizona), Diamante (BCS, Baja Sur) and Palmwood (Palm Springs, CA)

• Represented Mr. Mickelson at design meetings, planning & construction meetings, and industry events

• Design company was rolled into Gaylord Sports Management in May 2004 Native Resources International, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ 1995-2002 Director of International Sales & Marketing

• Successfully increased annual company-wide sales growth from $2.7 million to over $20 million in first 36 months (740% increase).

• Responsible for all sales and marketing management activities related to high-end master planned community development construction, hotel/resort construction, and golf course construction, resort development, public and private environmental contracting, native plant salvage and relocation, erosions control materials, large commercial landscape and irrigation projects

• Generated project specifications from developers, architects, engineers, municipal agencies and governmental entities including BLM, DOT, DOD, EPA, Dept. of Energy, Fish and Game, etc.

• Contracted with builders, developers, owners; such as Pulte Homes, Del Webb, Gaylord Holdings, CB Homes, DMB, Indian Tribes, etc.

• Managed a sales/marketing staff of eight talented sales/ops professionals throughout US & Mexico

• Established S.A. de C.V. in Mexico and secured $8 Million in golf course construction contracts in Mexico, building a staff of 65, including associated heavy equipment, materiel and facilities

• Created all collateral materials and presentations for conferences, websites and industry communication outlets company-wide

• Developed (WAN) Bid Management System to track up to $60 million in open bids, contracts, pricing policies and margins; all while maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction

• Speaker and presenter at numerous trade shows and conferences in US, Latin America, Central America & Caribbean...In both Spanish and English languages

• Established Saline Resources International, Inc., together with Native Resources’ ownership

• Secured $1.75 Million from private equity/debt investors to provide Paspalum turf grasses and halophytic (salt tolerant) plant stock for global resort development projects

• Developed salt tolerant turf cultivars for brackish water irrigation of golf course & resort landscapes

• Established and managed a 440 acre halophytic-saline turf farm in Tampa, Florida and a 35 acre saline research farm in Ensenada, Mexico, including market analysis, product specifications, and overseeing all freight shipments and installation supervision internationally

• Supplied material and services for Mayan Palace (Yucatán); Cabo Del Sol (BCS Baja Sur); La Palmilla (Baja México); Laguna Del Mar (Puerto Peñasco); Old Palm GC (Palm Beach Gardens, FL); WhiteWitch (Jamaica)

• Conference speaker and panelist at numerous trade shows and conferences in US, Latin America

& Caribbean focusing on ‘architect/specifyer/equity-finance community’ C.H. Masland & Sons, Inc. Mobile, Alabama 1989-1993 Territory Manager - NYC, Northern New Jersey

• Grew territory sales revenue from $350k to $2.75 Million in 4 years (~+785%).

• Generated several 1000’s of product specifications for high-end floor covering and custom rug product lines throughout Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and four (4) counties in NJ.

• Expanded account base to 350 accounts consisting of architects, contractors, designers and retailers.

• Awarded #1 salesman companywide for calendar year 1992.

• Resigned position to enter Thunderbird’s 2 year Graduate Masters’ programs. Education:

Master of International Management (MIM) - Global Marketing & International Finance - Cum Laude 1995 Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glendale, Arizona

*Ranked #1 in Global MBA – Newsweek Magazine 14 consecutive years. Foreign Service Officer at United States Embassy, Caracas Venezuela, Commercial Desk attaché 1994 Bachelor of Arts – English / Marketing and Economics - GPA 3.52 1988 University of Elon, Elon, North Carolina

Men’s Soccer, English Tutor – Learning Resources Centre University of London, United Kingdom

Languages: Spanish (Fluent), Italian (Conversational), Portuguese (Conversational) Technology skills: Salesforce.com, CRM, MS Office (complete) AutoCAD, Photoshop, Peachtree & Act, AVID Affiliations:

Chair - Environmental Committee of the Golf Course Builders’ Assoc. of America (GCBAA) Member - Golf Course Superintendents Assoc. of America (GCSAA) Affiliate Member – American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Life Member - United States Golf Association (USGA) *8.3 USGA Golf Handicap index Member, Educator, Panelist &/or Speaker at the following: Urban Land Institute (ULI) Water Council, Panelist & speaker American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) speaker International Erosion Control Association (IECA) speaker Golf Inc. Conferences (Crittenden) CEU speaker

Golf Industry Show CEU speaker

GCBAA Annual Meetings’ Council Member

Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference (CHIC) CEU speaker Caribbean Tourism Association CEU speaker

GCSAA CEU speaker

Irrigation Association Conferences (IA) CEU speaker Water Smart Innovations CEU speaker

American Resort Development Association (ARDA) CEU speaker National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) speaker Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) CEU speaker

Southeast Stormwater Association (SESWA)

**(C-Level & other) references available upon request

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