Christopher (Kit) Lawson

Experience

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  Insurance sales

  Jan 1969 - Jan 1978

  Sales agent; Asst sales manager; Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)

  Life insurance, also disability and health insurance...mostly to individuals and small businesses. Some estate planning, key man coverage.I was agency supervisor for several years in Coral Gables. Moved to Jacksonville. Assistant sales manager @ Sun Life.Numerous award trips earned; learned a lot about sales...and character building/humbling sales efforts. It was never Easy Street.

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  Dean Witter Reynolds

  Jan 1978 - Jan 1979

  Account Executive

  Stock brokerage. I trained at the World Trade Center for several weeks (I was chosen as the class representative to be interviewed on in-house TV by Robert Stoval...Wall $treet Week regular). The business was sales via telephone. Not as sexy as it sounded... I learned a lot about money...and that I didn't like telephone selling...not to say that I didn't do well, opening more new accounts than anyone in my class that year. Was recruited by Deknatel.

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  Deknatel

  Jan 1979 - Jan 1989

  Division Manager

  Starting as a rep in Tampa, I became a trainer and then moved to Illinois to be division manager. Had 7-9 reps (at various times) in Midwest and Canada. THE most valuable and enjoyable working experience of my life. Great friends, a top product line, high professional standards...good pay, executive-type benefits. The company was sold to a French company...but it was a wonderful ten years.

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  Water's Edge Inn and Conference Center

  Jan 1987 - Jan 2007

  Partner

  My parents and I became 49% owners of this facility, across Old Forge Pond from our summer cottage in the NY Adirondack Mtns. For 15 years I functioned as a sales counselor to the telemarketing effort to build conference business, from my home in Illinois (very much part time). I hired and trained sales personnel. We were successful in that we filled the rooms in all but the most difficult parts of the year through the efforts of a small sales staff. The property was sold, at a handsome profit, in 2007. Show less

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  Applied Vascular

  Jan 1989 - Jan 1991

  District Sales/Sales Manager

  An innovative vascular product manufacturer, I was an excited and productive salesperson in the Midwest region. I created several sales records of various products. It was fun to be pioneering those products. As an old sales pro, I was sometimes asked to teach my sales methods to the younger guys. A very rewarding time.

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  Applied Medical Devices

  Jan 1991 - Jan 1993

  Regional Sales/Mgmt

  Applied Vascular changed their name: add: urology and general surgery products

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  Northgate Technologies

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1997

  National Sales Manager

  Our product line was thin and diverse, so it was hard to develop volume from 50 or so independent sales firms. I hired 4 top quality regional managers...and we worked it hard. The Canadian owner eventually pulled the plug on the sales effort...saying he preferred to be an OEM; a smart decision.

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  Heelbo, A Holister Company

  Jan 1997 - Jan 2001

  National Sales Manager

  A neat niche-market product line in wound management. Hollister owned this small company; and the VP at Hollister was against hiring any sales manager...and was a thorn in our sides every inch of the way. Despite that, I hired and trained 74 sales reps around the country; sales numbers were wonderfully improved; I implemented the ACT! sales software, which was their first effort to computerize. A win-win experience (except for that guy!)Thanks to Cheryl's job at McDonald's and our investments, I retired after this experience. Show less

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  Suburban Real Estate Services

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2003

  Associate Partner

  A thoroughly enjoyable experience, selling and leasing commercial real estate sites. I specialized in medical space for medical professionals.If I had discovered this business in my youth, it would have been the path I'd have taken from the beginning.I enjoyed considerable success, thanks to the help of the General Partner, Bryan Barus. Because of world travel plans, I reluctantly gave this up.

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  SummerPlace

  Sept 2007 - Apr 2014

  Property manager and rental agent

  Our summer cottage in Old Forge NY is getting a facelift, thanks to being rented out for much of the summer. The cash infusion allows for regular upgrades of the old lakeside property.The property has been sold.

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  Lawson Ergo Sum

  Jan 2013 - now

  Managing Principal

  Total 24/7 personnel management of eccentric retired person, his home, gardens, spouse, pets. Care of his car, computer and other worldly possessions. Responsible for all healthcare including exercise chores. Social behavior & family relationships. Full commitment to educational needs and development of philosophies.I.E. I am retired!