Duane Ruth

Experience

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  Chase Law Group, P.C.

  Jan 1992 - Jan 1996

  Trial and Appellate Attorney

  • Aggressive and resourceful trial attorney responsible for representing criminal defendants in all types of criminal actions in state and federal trial and appellate courts at the then largest and busiest exclusively criminal defense law firm in the state of California. • Managed a busy caseload averaging 30-60 cases at a time with heavy travel throughout California.• Appeared in virtually every court in the State of California.• Achieved incredible results for clients, almost always keeping them from serving jail or prison time, preserving their professional licenses, and keeping their careers and families in tact when those outcomes seemed factually and legally rather impossible to produce according to most attorneys.• Tried numerous criminal cases including 3 bench and 2 jury trials.• Settled approximately 1,000 cases with positive results.• Drafted briefs and argued over 150 complex motion, and evidentiary hearings.• Drafted and wrote innovative motions and briefs addressing some of the groundbreaking legal issues of the day including 3-Strikes, Mandatory Minimum Sentences, Double Jeopardy DUI Punishment, and State and Federal Search and Seizure Laws. • Won consistent high praise from Defense Attorneys, Trial Judges, District Attorneys, Public Defenders and US Attorneys for my creativity and thoroughness in Out-of-the-Box legal thinking, motion work and case strategy and planning.• Drafted and argued numerous Appellate Briefs and Motions in State and Federal Post-Conviction Courts.• Brought in over $250,000 in business, my first year from referrals.• Represented clients in a variety of State and Federal cases in other states around the country. Show less

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  REMIEREGROUP, INC.

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1999

  VP of Strategic Sales and New Business Development

  Startup in the competitive Ad Specialty / Promotional Products Sector with an In-House Boutique Ad Agency. Business Grew from a Garage Business to a major player in that space, achieving Inc 5,000 status 3 times during my association with the company. • Sold and managed major national promotional product catalog fulfillment programs to Fortune 1,000 clients such as SunAmerica, Jack-in-the-Box, Microsoft, Disney, Nintendo, Countrywide Home Loans, Washington Mutual, Sony Pictures, Columbia /Tri-Star, Herbalife • Exceeded $2 million in annual program sales in 1st year which was considered to be a a top of the industry achievement.• Exceeded $7.8 million in annual program sales in 3rd year before the firm was acquired in parcels by several competitors. • Opened and managed a satellite office in Seattle, Washington, hired and trained a staff of six to service our local Fortune 500 clients such as WAMU, Nintendo, and Microsoft & acquire new ones • Trained and managed account executives responsible for an additional $6 million in annual special order sales • Responsible for designing catalogs, conceiving products, sourcing, pricing and procuring products, setting budgets and inventories, conceiving special promotions, and developing and managing account relationships from cold calls through execution and ongoing client development • Conceived and implemented marketing projects for multiple product launches for clients including SunAmerica, Jack In the Box, Washington Mutual, Disney, Microsoft, and Nintendo, including direct mail pieces, in store promotions, on-packs, branding pieces, and product support.• Worked with major Advertising Firms such as Chiat Day and Gray Worldwide creating promotions supporting projects such as the Jack In The Box Rebrand, the "Jack For President” campaign, the launch of “The Sourdough Jack Burger” product, Nintendo’s original launch of Pokeman, Denny's Magic Mugs, and the acquisition by Washington Mutual of Home Savings of America. Show less

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  Splitting Atoms, Inc.

  Mar 1999 - Dec 2001

  Principal; VP New Business Development and Product Development

  Partner in small startup service business in the Natural Stone Fabrication Industry engaged in Home Improvement Sales and Installation, Manufacturing, Job Shop Services, Architectural Product Manufacturing and Installation, and Wholesale and Retail Sales. Owned and operated precision cutting equipment including 2 multi head water jets and a laser system.• Start-up, state of the art water-jet and laser cutting and fabrication job shop focusing on precision cutting and fabrication services for the natural stone, architectural signage and construction industries• Led the company from zero $ to in excess of $1 million in sales in year one and $3 million by year 3.• Acquired major category-leading national accounts such as Walker Zanger, Disney, and The Cheesecake Factory • Managed a labor force averaging 30 direct reports, fabricators, installers, technicians • With no experience, developed manufacturing and design techniques that improved product performance, enhanced ease of installation, and solved industry prevalent quality and shipping concerns for customers • Created a profitable and practical method to replace low-cost overseas custom order production with local just-in-time production to enhance the appeal of the product category and our company for local just-in-time construction Show less

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  Legal Authority

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2002

  Director of Strategic Sales and New Business Development

  Senior Management in a small startup environment in the legal job search service industry before being recruited to my next position.• Refined the sales and marketing models for leading web-based legal career development assistance LegalAuthority.com and LawCrossing.com. • Helped drive annual revenue from subscription membership fees from less than $500,000 to over $3 million annually.• Trained, coached and managed a phone room of six phone sales associates at a time generating over $2.5 million in annual telephone sales. • Developed and refined web content working with development team • Analyzed and refined the database functionality and content (Non-Technical) Developed and refined web site user experience, and back-end database UI’s • Worked with our coding and IT teams to set requirements and implement new site and database features.• Developed web and print content for our various companies and developed newsletters, marketing and advertising materials for various ad and PR campaigns, public events, and speaking engagements.• Developed a strategic national model for acquiring law school and legal employer participation in our industry-leading subscription-based database of jobs at LawCrossing.com enhancing the quality and credibility of our job board portal.• Personally helped hundreds of attorneys and law students find jobs, make lateral transfers, go in-house, or transition from law.• Personally counseled thousands of attorneys and law students regarding their job-searching and career path choices. • Conducted speaking engagements to lawyers and law students, on behalf of the company, around the country at various Law Schools and other venues. Show less

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  Greco Technologies, Inc.

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2004

  VP of Sales and New Business Development

  Start-up Firm launched to capture outsourced IT services and Technology Management. Sales of internally developed small niche software solutions. Early entrant in the digital Cost Per Click management sales model. We developed an extremely disruptive consultative sales process for capturing Copy, Print, Fax, Scan business from high-volume clients in the legal, healthcare, and entertainment sectors. Sold packed service and equipment leases including equipment management and deployment, service, and supplies, to provide a lower cost per click to the organization, yielding 6 to 7 figure savings direct to the bottom line. • Cold Called and Sold $6 million dollar 3 year contract to a major hospital for outsourced professional services within 3 months of start with no prior experience• Managing Sales Executive responsible for monetizing and implementing a financial selling model for various IT Consulting, Cost Management, Document Management and Equipment Solutions. Accounts were in the Healthcare, Legal and Entertainment Industry sectors. • Recruited, trained, and managed team - averaging 5 sales consultants, 3 lead generators and multiple account techs • Designed and implemented tools for the comprehensive financial and operational management of copy, print, fax, scan equipment and procedures • Trained account executives to successfully sell this model prior to the sale of our primary business unit to a competitor• Sold and managed complete outsourced IT and network services and project-based IT services in excess of $1 million dollars annually • Sold and provided consulting services for cost reduction and process improvement in a variety of business sectors saving client companies millions of dollars annually Show less

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  SYNLawn

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2010

  Principal; Executive VP of Channel Sales and Business Development

  Co-Founder of Synthetic Landscape Grass Sales and Installation company that grew to be one of the largest in Southern California without outside investment. Developed the sales and marketing strategy, defined the product in the space, and trained and managed the sales force to deliver 7,000+ installed customers in about 6 years starting from zero. Innovated and implemented new processes to improve sales, lower cost of acquisition, and increase referrals. Developed innovative materials sourcing, estimating techniques, and installation and project management methodology that lowered the cost of acquisition, operating costs, and cost of goods sold. Drove sales from zero to an aggregate of $25,000,000+ in about 6 years - during the worst economy in 50 years.Developed, Launched, and managed successful Golf, Architectural Sales, Production Home Builder, Wholesale, Big Box (Lowe's), Commercial, and DIY Channels.Worked closely with the Brand Manufacturer to work on National Initiatives like Product Development, Franchise / Dealer Programs, Corporate and Product Branding, Big Box Store Programs, Pre-Cut Goods Programs, White Label Programs, Golf Sector Strategy, CRM and strategic expansion plans.Installed some of the most impressive Artificial Grass projects in the So-Cal Region and Consulted on projects throughout the country, and the world as a a trusted expert. Proudly installed Synthetic Grass projects for a long list of celebrities and well-known business executives. Developed the first program to include Artificial Grass as a standard feature on Production Homes by a major builder in CA with Pardee Homes. Show less

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  Electric Rain

  Jun 2008 - now

  Leading Residential and Commercial Solar Power Professional

  I'm one of the leading professionals in the country in the field of Residential Solar Power. My Team and family of Solar Power Professionals help homeowners and commercial building owners use Solar Power in 23 States and counting. My team is unique and you should contact us to learn about what's REALLY going on with Solar Power. Reach out to me directly to see how much it can mean for you to finally solve your problem painlessly and easily!If you are looking for a career change that is super rewarding in every way that matters? Then join my Residential and Commercial Solar Power Team and be a part of the most innovative and effective Solar Power training available in the marketplace. There's everyone else in the industry saying the exact, same 15-year-old things, and then there is our Team. We will support you like no one else can or will, and we will help you become so in tune with the Solar Power message that NOTHING can stop you. Talk to me before joining any Solar Power Team or Company. You will see that there is truly only one way to be a Solar Power Professional. Message me here anytime, any day, and see for yourself. Show less

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  American Solar Direct

  May 2010 - Nov 2013

  Regional Distributor For Southern California

  For 3 and a half years I developed and managed some of the most effective residential Solar Power Sales Consultants, Sales Managers, and Sales Directors in the industry. We were ranked in the top 10 exclusively Residential Only Solar Power contractors nationwide in 2013, and were the largest operating solely in California. Many of the people I helped develop became Regional Directors and have gone on to quickly become top Solar Power Consultants, Managers, and Owners of other Solar Power operations - large and small, throughout California. My business experienced growth in the range of 800% during my first year. My role beyond lead generation & sales included developing the sales process, recruiting, hiring & training Solar Residential Power Sales Consultants and Sales Managers, Developing Sales Directors to open Sales Offices. Working with my teams, we refined, to a science, the practice of selling fixed-rate Residential Solar Power System Leases - an industry first in CA made common by my teams' performance. The large downstream of Consultants, Managers, and Regional Managers that I helped develop for my business propelled us from less than 2 customers to being one of the largest and most successful exclusively Residential Solar Power System Lease providers and Solar Power System Integrators operating in California, installing well over 1MW a month in 2011 - 2013, and ultimately, with over 7,000 installed customers.Amazingly, lead generation was achieved solely through door-knocking & referrals. I quickly developed teams of effective Independent contractors working on 100% commission, often with little or no previous sales experience, & almost always no Solar Power System Lease experience.Sales benefited tremendously from utilizing my in-home Direct Sales techniques & methodology for selling Fixed Rate Residential Solar Power System Leases in this competitive CA market space. In 2014, we ranked No. 17 on the prestigious INC 5000 list - #1 in Solar Show less

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  Pivot Management Group, Inc.

  Jan 2012 - now

  Chief Executive Officer

  Green Home Improvement Consultant. Emphasis on Synthetic Lawns and Solar Power. Examples: * Contracted to run Sales Organization for a Regional CA-based Solar Power Company as VP of Sales. * Contracted to provide Account Acquisition and Account Management Services for PACE Funding LLC. Managing 50+ Contractors and 300+ Loan Originators; Training End Users and Borrowers on Loan Origination Software; Inter-phasing between Underwriting, Compliance, Contractors, and Originators; Managing The Loan Process from Application, to Clear to Close, to Funding. Managing Conflicts and Resolving Compliance Issues. Industry-Leading Performance Across All Metrics*Guiding Homeowners through their process of finally using their Solar Power Show less

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  RGS Energy

  Nov 2013 - Jun 2014

  Regional Sales Director, California

  Built a new Southern California sales force for the nation's Oldest and 4th largest residential Solar Power contractor in its vastly under-performing Southern California market. Achieved $1.25 mm/month sales in less than 6 months with an all-new sales team, with virtually no mature pipeline, and no company-provided leads. At the time I was recruited to another company, my team was leading the residential division of the company nationally across key metrics including self-generated sales, net sales margins, closing ratio, and project realization ratio.Developed Solar Sales Reps that are now top performers at other Leading National Solar Power Companies.Helped Launch the Mosaic Solar Power Loan to the residential market in So Cal as one of their very first accounts. Show less

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  Renovate America

  Jun 2014 - Jul 2017

  Channel Sales Manager

  I truly enjoyed my role in the finance of Energy and Water-Efficient Home Improvements.Company recruited me in its early stages to help develop & grow a team & develop new relationships with contractors in the So Cal Market with an emphasis on LA & the surrounding Counties of So Cal.I quickly became a Manager of Account Managers and enjoyed the work tremendously. I was the top-performing CAM in the company consistently developing salespeople & smaller accounts that were doing no business into top performers. I'm widely sought out by contractors & their salespeople for sales training not just with regard to finance, but with regard to the sales process. I have helped many small companies launch & grow.Throughout my career, I've taught my unique approach to Solar Power Sales to hundreds of Solar Power Professionals, Sales Managers, Sales Trainers & Sales Directors who now excel in their field.As a Channel Sales Manager, I leveraged the opportunity to be instrumental in shaping the sales culture & sales performance in virtually all of my accounts.I'm an industry-leading professional in the residential Solar Power industry with an extensive, successful background in developing Solar Power Sales Organizations. I've been the go-to guy to develop & manage Solar Power Sales Teams, develop Team Managers & Sales Directors, and open & grow new Sales Offices. I'm an executive leader in a box with experience that ranges from - selling in the home, on the phone, & in the store - to sales management & executive stakeholder responsibilities. I understand the sales & marketing pieces of the business top to bottom, & the front end to the back end. Since 2005 I've been driving massive growth by teaching Sales Consultants how to do more effective presentations to homeowners.I've grown a Residential Solar Power Company & an Artificial Grass Company from startup to top 20 Inc. 5,000 performance in just a few years. I'm one of the early innovators in both fields. Show less

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  Loan Factory

  Jan 2021 - now

  Senior Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #1844011

  People think that mortgages are just about rates & payments. At the end of the day - the day that escrow closes, title vests, a deed is recorded, and a loan funds – that is sort of true! But that is neither the beginning, NOR the end of the story. That’s one of the reasons I’ve allied myself with my Team at Loan Factory that does it all by the numbers AND by the book. But that’s just the very beginning of THAT story as well. 30+ Years into my Professional Career I feel like the very best years are still ahead of me! Whether you are looking to purchase your first home, a vacation or second home, an investment property, OR refinance your home for debt consolidation, or to access equity for improvements like an ADU, room addition, or other projects – my skilled team will leave no stone unturned to get you the product that best meets your needs.Whatever kind of loan you may need, we will fight to find the right way for you to get there. I’m licensed in CA. My Team can help you in every other State except NY and CT. We speak many languages – so feel free to reach out with special language needs. Conventional Loans – FHA – VA – Jumbo – USDA – Reverse - NonQM – Construction - Renovation (203k Loans) – Cash-Out & Rate Refinance – Hard Money – HELOC – HELOAN – Piggybacks – Fixed Rates – ARM’s – Investment - DSCRClick my link - our rates will be sent to your phone & email every day - and when you want to shop for a home - Click the link to fill out an application! Show less