John Grosshandler

Current

Director of Virtual Events at Maritz

Past

Founder and Event Director at eComXpo
Virtual Event Evangelist at InXpo
National Account Manager at BEA Systems

National Account Manager at Recognition Systems
Business Unit Manager at SPSS
VAR Channel Manager at The SOFTA Group

see less...

3 more...

Recommended

16 people have recommended John

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Marketing and Advertising

John Grosshandler’s Summary

20 years experience selling, marketing, and building businesses around cutting edge technology solutions.

Software sales experience includes 8 years at BEA Systems becoming their number 1 sales rep out of 230 in North America for exceeding quota and number 1 sales rep out of 600 worldwide for customer satisfaction.

After BEA, started my own company and produced a 100% online, virtual trade show called eComXpo (www.ecomxpo.com). Grew this event into the world's largest, highest grossing, longest running virtual trade show (eComXpo achieved the #1 listing on Google, out of 6 million results, for the keywords -Virtual Trade Show- ). eComXpo pioneered the use of now familiar virtual event components including the networking lounge, prize center and "green screen" video introductions. Completed the first ever sale of a virtual trade show by successfully selling eComXpo to a physical event producer in NYC.

While still running eComXpo, hired by InXpo (eComXpo's technology provider; I was their first client) to develop and deliver sales and implementation best practices for corporations, publishers and associations. As their virtual event evangelist, I helped sell or implement dozens of customers including IBM, ATT, Monster.com, SAP, Procter & Gamble, Cisco, Ziff Davis, IDG, CMP, the Wall Street Journal, National Association of Realtors, HIMSS and the Hewlett Packard and SAP User Groups. While at InXpo, I authored the industry's first Best Practices Guide.

Currently working with Maritz (www.maritz.com) to complement their industry leading physical meeting and events business by overseeing their new and unique virtual event and engagement offerings.

I've enjoyed being a frequent speaker at industry conferences, am often featured in articles covering virtual events, have been a recurring guest on Entreprenuer Magazine's eBiz radio show and am on the advisory board of the VirtualEdge (www.virtualedge.org)

John Grosshandler’s Specialties:

Selling, marketing and team building around cutting-edge technology solutions, including virtual events, virtual engagement, Web 2.0, social media and other internet based business solutions.

John Grosshandler’s Experience

Director of Virtual Events

Maritz

(Privately Held; Marketing and Advertising industry)

March 2009 — Present (9 months)

Responsible for all aspects of Maritz entry into the virtual event space. Role includes overseeing a cross-functional team responsible for strategy, product management, marketing and sales for this multi-national firm that, among other things, produces 2,500 physical meetings and events per year for 28 of the 50 largest firms in the world. Maritz unique combination of leading technologies and best of breed event services provides corporations with virtual event and engagement solutions that are more effective, measurable, easier and safe.
Founder and Event Director

eComXpo

(Events Services industry)

January 2005 — March 2009 (4 years 3 months)

I started my adventure into "all things virtual" as the Founder and Event Director for eComXpo, the 100% online trade show for ecommerce marketers. In that role, I had overall responsibility for what has become the world's largest trade show for ecommerce marketers, with special focus on our sales and marketing efforts. More than 8,000 attendees and 100 exhibitors come together twice each year for this completely free to attend event. (eComXpo achieved the #1 listing on Google, out of 6 million results, for the keywords -Virtual Trade Show- ). I spearheaded the successful sale of eComXpo to Worldwide Business Research, a physical event producer in NYC, representing the first ever sale of a virtual event.
Virtual Event Evangelist

InXpo

(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)

July 2005 — December 2008 (3 years 6 months)

In addition to owning and running my own virtual trade show, I was contracted by the technology company that powers eComXpo to work with other companies to help them leverage virtual events for lead generation, partner or customer events and internal meetings. In this role, I've sold and/or helped implement virtual event solutions to Corporations (e.g. IBM, ATT, Monster.com, Procter & Gamble), Publishers (e.g. Ziff Davis, Wall Street Journal, IDG) and Associations (e.g. National Association of Realtors, HIMSS).
National Account Manager

BEA Systems

(Public Company; BEAS; Computer Software industry)

June 1997 — January 2005 (7 years 8 months)

Sold at BEA Systems before, during and after the tech bubble, seeing them grow from $57 million to over $1 billion in sales. Became their #1 rep in the Americas for exceeding quota (out of 230 reps) and their #1 rep in the world for customer satisfaction (out of 600 reps).
National Account Manager

Recognition Systems

(Computer Software industry)

1996 — 1997 (1 year )

Opened up the US office for this UK software developer of data mining software. Sold their largest deal ever.
Business Unit Manager

SPSS

(Public Company; SPSS; Computer Software industry)

1994 — 1996 (2 years )

Sales and marketing responsibility for the largest business unit in the company, comprised of 28 team members. Responsible for penetrating corporate America with our statistical analysis products and services. Exceeded quota both years, and instituted a new integrated marketing methodology and sales training program company wide.
VAR Channel Manager

The SOFTA Group

(Computer Software industry)

1987 — 1994 (7 years )

Fourth promotion during my tenure at this software developer focused on database and reporting tools for the real estate industry.