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Mike Best
Vice President & GM Hand Held Products Division at MTD Products
Professional Background
Mike Best is an accomplished business leader with an impressive track record spanning several decades in senior management roles across diverse sectors, particularly in product management, marketing, and sales. Currently serving as the Vice President & General Manager of the Hand Held Products Division at MTD Products, Mike has honed his expertise in guiding teams to achieve exceptional business results. His leadership style emphasizes innovation, customer-centered strategies, and operational excellence, making him a respected figure in the industry.
Before his current role, Mike contributed significantly to BUNN as the Senior Vice President of Marketing and General Manager for Home Products, where he was instrumental in driving innovative marketing strategies that not only enhanced brand visibility but also increased market share. His prior experience also includes roles at ECHO Incorporated, where he served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, helping the company develop a strong market presence in outdoor power equipment.
Mike’s early career was marked by his contributions at Steelcase, one of the world's leading office furniture manufacturers, where he climbed the ranks from General Manager of Systems Furniture to Sales Director. His extensive background also includes managing flagship products at Rubbermaid Home Products as a Group Product Manager, as well as honing his brand management skills with LEGO Group, one of the most recognizable children's toy brands worldwide.
Education and Achievements
Mike Best is a proud alumnus of Marquette University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management. His commitment to lifelong learning led him to further his education with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Marketing from Michigan State University. This solid educational foundation has enabled Mike to navigate complex business challenges and create effective marketing and management strategies that drive company growth and innovation.
Throughout his career, Mike has received recognition for his exceptional contributions to the industries he has worked in. His strategic insights and ability to foster team collaboration have resulted in numerous successful product launches and marketing campaigns that resonate with customers. His adaptability and keen understanding of market dynamics position him as a thought leader in the realms of marketing and product development.
Achievements
Mike Best's career is decorated with numerous achievements that highlight his commitment to excellence. Some notable accomplishments include:
- Successfully launching innovative products in various categories that significantly contributed to the revenue growth of the companies he has worked for.
- Leading cross-functional teams to develop and implement comprehensive marketing strategies that resulted in enhanced brand recognition.
- Managing multi-million dollar budgets and achieving superior results in ROI and customer satisfaction.
- Spearheading brand positioning and strategy development that solidified BUNN’s leading role in the home products market.
- Cultivating relationships with key stakeholders and industry partners to drive collaborative growth initiatives.
In summary, Mike Best is a dynamic leader in business administration with extensive experience in product management and marketing. His educational background, combined with his diverse professional experiences, allows him to champion innovative solutions that propel businesses forward. With a clear vision for success and a focus on teamwork, Mike continues to make impactful contributions in his current role, shaping the future of MTD Products and the industry as a whole.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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