Sales Xceleration®, a leader in providing fractional sales leadership, is excited to announce the addition of new Fractional Sales Leaders to its team. These seasoned experts are set to empower small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to overcome sales challenges, optimize performance, and accelerate growth. Each new leader brings extensive experience in driving sales efficiency, developing high-performing sales teams, and delivering proven strategies that will help businesses achieve remarkable growth.

Meet the New Fractional Sales Leaders

1. Rudy (Sales & Operations Executive)
   Location: Multi-location with P&L over $150M
   Expertise: Rudy has a successful track record of driving revenue growth and operational excellence across manufacturing and building product distribution. He has helped businesses improve EBITDA and sales, focusing on mentoring sales teams to exceed goals while aligning with strategic objectives.

2. Daniel Carlson (Sales, Marketing & Business Development)
   Location: Minneapolis/Saint Paul, MN
   Experience: With 25+ years in sales and business development, Daniel specializes in building top-performing teams, crafting strategies, and boosting revenue growth across industries. As a Fractional Sales Leader, he enhances performance and fosters lasting customer relationships.

3. Tony Franklin (Sales Infrastructure and Team Development)
   Location: Tri-State Area, CT
   Experience: With over 30 years in sales experience, Tony has worked with startups to billion-dollar organizations. He helps small to mid-sized companies create clear, actionable paths to increased sales and builds high-performance sales teams.

4. Gary Gagnon (Business Development & Sales Leadership)
   Location: Greater Charlotte, NC
   Experience: With 26+ years of experience, Gary specializes in driving sustainable revenue growth for SMBs. He is passionate about aligning personal and professional goals to create lasting impact and success.

5. Ryan LaGanke (Sales Team Development & Leadership)
   Location: Cleveland Metro, OH
   Experience: Ryan helps businesses build profitable, high-performing sales teams by focusing on servant leadership. He drives revenue growth and ensures salespeople deliver exceptional client outcomes.

6. Dominic Parsonson (Sales & Marketing Systems Implementation)
   Location: Greater Melbourne, VIC
   Experience: Dominic brings over 25 years of experience in business development, sales, and marketing across diverse industries like Chemical, Additive Manufacturing, and Defense. He specializes in building scalable, results-driven sales systems.

7. Brent Phillips (International Sales Leadership)
   Location: Detroit Metro, MI
   Experience: With 25+ years of international sales leadership experience, Brent empowers SMBs to maximize sales revenue. He implements best-in-class sales infrastructure, tools, and coaching to drive extraordinary results.

8. Lindsey Schradle (Sales Leadership & Strategy)
   Location: Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
   Experience: Lindsey has 20+ years of experience driving growth at a Fortune 200 company. She focuses on optimizing operations, building scalable systems, and empowering businesses for confident growth.

Why Sales Xceleration’s Fractional Sales Leaders Make a Difference

With a shared commitment to delivering exceptional sales growth, these new leaders bring diverse expertise to tackle the unique challenges faced by SMBs. Sales Xceleration is proud to offer strategic guidance through these experts who help businesses build high-performing teams, optimize sales processes, and accelerate revenue growth.

Historically, Sales Xceleration clients have seen an average of 32% growth within their first year, thanks to the powerful leadership and strategies implemented by their Fractional Sales Leaders.

By welcoming these experienced professionals, Sales Xceleration® continues its mission of helping small and mid-sized businesses unlock their full sales potential. Whether it’s through mentoring, optimizing operations, or driving revenue growth, the new Fractional Sales Leaders are ready to turn sales hurdles into sustainable success stories.

According to new Mintel research, social media influencers are playing an increasingly influential role in shaping consumers’ lives, with 41% of US consumers agreeing that influencers inspire them to make positive life changes. This represents a 24% increase from 2022 when only 33% of consumers felt similarly. The trend is even more prominent among younger generations, with 60% of Gen Z (ages 18-28) and Millennials (ages 29-45) acknowledging the influence of social media figures on their personal growth and decisions.

Social Media and Health: An Emerging Trust Source

Mintel’s data highlights a growing trend: 20% of consumers are now turning to social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok for credible health information. This signals a significant opportunity for brands to partner with health and wellness content creators, who have become increasingly trusted sources of advice.

This trend is especially strong among Gen Z, with 34% of them using social media as a trusted source for health advice. Moreover, nearly half (47%) of Gen Z consumers typically learn about personal wellness products through social media, further solidifying its role in influencing health-related purchasing decisions.

Social Media’s Impact on Beauty and Retail Decisions

Beyond health and wellness, social media continues to shape consumer behavior across various categories. For instance, in the beauty sector, 52% of US adults and 77% of Gen Z consider social media a trusted source for beauty and personal care information. This presents an opportunity for beauty brands to connect with consumers by leveraging influencers in these spaces.

In retail, social media platforms like Instagram also play a crucial role in personal style expression. 25% of consumers say Instagram has influenced their personal style, while 17% mention the same for YouTube. This demonstrates how influencers can effectively impact purchasing decisions and brand engagement.

The Growing Influence of Social Media Influencers

Jason Praw, Senior Director of Americas Tech, Gaming & Auto Reports at Mintel, commented:
"Social media influencers are reshaping how consumers manage their personal growth and development. As influencers continue to inspire positive life changes, they succeed in authentically engaging with their viewers by sharing relatable stories, offering readily accessible insights, and creating a strong sense of community. Influencers' ability to connect, inform, and inspire has become more impactful than ever. With more consumers relying on social media and content creators to inspire positive change in their lives, brands should focus on partnering with the right influencers for their target audiences to effectively build credibility, foster engagement, and drive meaningful connections."

Social media influencers are increasingly powerful in shaping consumer attitudes and decisions, particularly for Gen Z and Millennials. As the trust in social media as a source of credible advice grows—especially in health, wellness, beauty, and retail—brands must seize the opportunity to collaborate with influencers who resonate with their target audiences to create meaningful engagement and boost brand credibility.

The Diversity Action Alliance (DAA), in collaboration with the Institute for Public Relations (IPR), has released its fourth Race and Ethnicity in Public Relations and Communications Benchmark Annual Report. This year’s report reflects the diversity progress of over 16,000 employees from 99 companies, including Fortune 500 communications departments and top U.S. agencies. The report's findings, reported as of January 1, 2024, highlight advancements in representation and the work still needed to achieve a more equitable industry.

Findings: Racial Diversity on the Rise

The DAA’s 2023 report shows a six-point increase in overall racial diversity in the public relations and communications sector, rising from 22% in 2019 to 28% in 2023. This growth was largely driven by a three-point increase in Latino representation. Given that nearly 20% of the U.S. population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, the increased representation reflects an important step toward improving market reach. Spanish, the country’s most common non-English language, underscores the significance of these gains.

However, while progress has been made, the report stresses that disparities persist—particularly in leadership roles. People of color often remain the only or few in their organizations, highlighting the need for continued efforts toward structural change. With people of color projected to make up over 50% of the U.S. population by 2045, these disparities must be addressed to meet the demands of an increasingly diverse society.

Leadership Representation Shows Improvement

The report also highlights a significant shift in leadership diversity. In 2019, just 7% of top communications leaders (such as CCOs, agency CEOs, and executive directors) at DAA signatory organizations were racially or ethnically diverse. By the end of 2023, that figure had more than doubled to 18%. This surpasses the 13% racial and ethnic diversity seen among CEOs of Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies. There has also been a five-percentage point increase in diversity among communication executives over the last five years.

This progress is promising but signals that there is still much work to be done to create true equity at the top levels of the industry.

Promotion of Multicultural Employees Shows Significant Growth

Another key insight from the report is the rise in promotions for multicultural employees. The number of promotions for people of color has increased by 42% since 2019, with 27% of all promotions in 2023 going to employees of color, compared to just 19% in 2019.

The promotion trends varied across sectors:

• Boutique agencies were leaders in promoting Black, Latino, and Multiracial employees.

• Asian employees saw more advancement within the nonprofit and professional services sectors.

The Need for Continued Action

While the DAA’s report reflects progress in racial diversity within the communications and public relations fields, it emphasizes the need for more focused efforts to foster leadership diversity and sustained growth in the representation of people of color. The data serves as a valuable business intelligence tool, enabling organizations to assess their progress, identify gaps, and ensure they are not inadvertently discriminating against any group.

Carmella Glover, DAA President, commented:
"Our signatories' data serves as a critical business intelligence tool, not a quota exercise. Strong data sets enable organizations to conduct self-assessment and thorough workforce analysis, mitigating risk by ensuring organizations are not discriminating against any group while fostering healthy peer benchmarking, which can be a powerful motivator."

The DAA remains committed to tracking these metrics and providing resources to drive measurable action for diversity and equity in the public relations industry.

Stagwell, a challenger network focused on transforming marketing, has announced the acquisition of JetFuel, an experiential marketing agency known for driving brand awareness through immersive experiences, content, and conversations. The acquisition, which will see JetFuel become a subsidiary of Stagwell's integrated experiential agency TEAM, marks another strategic move in the network’s goal to expand its marketing offerings and drive deeper consumer engagement.

JetFuel's Expertise and Growth

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in New York City, JetFuel has built a reputation as a leading independent agency specializing in live brand experiences, retail and shopper marketing, digital content, and sponsorship activations. Over the years, JetFuel has cultivated a diverse client base, partnering with brands like Walmart, Unilever, Kimberly Clark, and Feastables. The agency blends the innovative spirit of a startup with the solid foundation of traditional agency experience, which has fueled its remarkable growth and success.

Stagwell’s Strategic Move

This acquisition is a key step in Stagwell’s strategy to enhance its experiential marketing capabilities. According to Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, "JetFuel's award-winning experiential capabilities strengthen our commitment to delivering best-in-class experiences for our clients' customers." He added that the acquisition reflects Stagwell’s commitment to maintaining an agile, nimble size that allows the network to produce game-changing work for its clients.

The addition of JetFuel follows Stagwell's earlier acquisitions of Gold Rabbit Sports and ADK GLOBAL in 2024, expanding the network's ability to deliver diverse and impactful marketing solutions. With 11 acquisitions already this year, Stagwell continues to grow its portfolio, building a comprehensive suite of marketing services for its clients.

A New Chapter for JetFuel

Abe Sorcher, CEO of JetFuel, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "Joining forces with Stagwell marks the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for JetFuel. Together, we share a bold ambition to reinvent what live brand experiences can be — pushing boundaries, inspiring deeper connections, and setting new standards for innovation." By integrating JetFuel’s expertise with Stagwell’s high-level data insights and world-class creative resources, the collaboration aims to create transformative and highly effective experiences for brands and their audiences.

Expanding Experiential Marketing Capabilities

Dan Gregory, CEO of TEAM, further emphasized the significance of the acquisition, adding, "We’re excited to bring JetFuel into the network and continue to build out the experiential discipline at Stagwell. As clients continue to recognize the value of authentic live connections in a digital-first world, investing in this key offering and having a diverse roster of agencies who can deliver results-driven campaigns is a game changer."

The integration of JetFuel into Stagwell’s growing roster of agencies is set to revolutionize how brands engage with their customers, reinforcing the network’s commitment to innovation and authentic experiences.

ActiveCampaign, a leader in marketing automation, has named Simon Malkowski as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this pivotal role, Malkowski will spearhead efforts to enhance operational alignment, drive strategy execution, and ensure the company continues its global growth and product innovation.

A Strong Foundation for Growth

ActiveCampaign has been experiencing significant momentum, including its recent acquisition of WhatsApp automation platform Hilos. This acquisition aims to enhance the company’s ability to deliver the most advanced WhatsApp automation solutions to businesses worldwide. Jason VandeBoom, Founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign, praised Malkowski's leadership, noting that his experience in fast-moving environments and his ability to create clarity and momentum across complex organizations will be crucial as the company scales.

"ActiveCampaign has a strong foundation—built on deep customer relationships, a differentiated platform, and a growing global presence," said VandeBoom. "Simon's leadership will help us scale that foundation with greater precision."

Malkowski's Experience and Vision

Malkowski brings a wealth of experience to ActiveCampaign, having previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at Mailchimp. In that role, he was instrumental in designing and executing Mailchimp’s cross-functional growth strategy, leading to the company’s $12 billion acquisition by Intuit, marking the largest bootstrapped tech exit in history. Before his tenure at Mailchimp, Malkowski was a Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he advised Fortune 500 companies on growth acceleration and operational strategy.

In his new role, Malkowski emphasized the importance of alignment in high-growth environments: "In high-growth environments, speed matters—but alignment matters more," he said. "I've spent my career helping organizations turn ambitious strategies into real, measurable impact, and I'm excited to bring that mindset to ActiveCampaign."

Focus on Operational Excellence

Malkowski’s leadership will focus on aligning teams around clear priorities and fostering shared accountability to ensure the company moves swiftly on what matters most. His efforts will be integral to driving continued success and scalability for ActiveCampaign as it expands its platform and serves its growing global customer base.

Simon Malkowski

Malkowski holds a business engineering degree from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, along with a master’s degree in computer science and a PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Malkowski is poised to lead ActiveCampaign’s operations into the next phase of growth.

This appointment follows a series of strategic leadership additions, including C-suite hires in marketing, revenue, and strategy, as ActiveCampaign continues to expand its presence and capabilities in the global market.

In a competitive agency landscape, Epic Blue Marketing is quickly emerging as a powerhouse in digital strategy, public relations, and brand development. Founded in 2019 by Devon Bradley Roof, the agency has grown from a two-person freelance business to a respected partner for small businesses in Southern Michigan. With a commitment to excellence, Epic Blue has become a trusted guide for entrepreneurs seeking to elevate their visibility and impact.

A Foundation Built on Experience and Philosophy

Devon Bradley Roof, an industry veteran with over 15 years of experience across agency, non-profit, and corporate communications, established Epic Blue with a simple but powerful philosophy: excellence is the expectation. This mindset has propelled the agency’s success, setting it apart as a go-to partner for businesses looking to grow.

"What sets us apart isn’t just what we do, it’s who we are," Roof explains. Epic Blue was founded with the unique pairing of deep communication expertise and advanced technical capability, allowing them to offer high-level content strategy and custom website development without outsourcing. This ability to handle multiple facets of the creative process in-house has become a key differentiator for the agency.

A Full-Spectrum Creative Partnership

From its early days, Epic Blue has grown into a diverse team, now including graphic designers, social media managers, and app developers, offering a comprehensive creative partnership for clients. This enables the agency to provide a wide range of services under one roof, simplifying the process for businesses that would otherwise need to rely on different providers for each aspect of their marketing and branding needs.

Roof says, “Most businesses are forced to patch together support from different service providers just to cover the basics. We built Epic Blue to simplify that process, bringing top-tier expertise across multiple disciplines into one trusted team.”

A Consulting Approach That Drives Clarity and Results

What truly sets Epic Blue apart is its consulting approach, which focuses on removing overwhelm and providing clarity and direction for businesses. Whether launching a new initiative or evolving an existing brand, the agency works closely with clients to deliver actionable steps for growth.

"Our clients aren't just accounts—they're partners, and we treat their goals as if they were our own," Roof states. This personalized approach ensures that Epic Blue’s solutions are not only effective but also aligned with each client’s unique needs and values. The agency is committed to building lasting brands through consistency, integrity, and a genuine passion for its clients' success.

A Growing Influence in Michigan’s Creative Economy

As Epic Blue continues to expand its offerings, the agency remains focused on its mission: to help small businesses not just compete, but lead. With a growing reputation for delivering exceptional work, Epic Blue is quickly becoming a business to watch in Michigan's creative economy.

LivePURE, a global leader in health and wellness direct sales, is reshaping the future of network marketing with a bold, customer-centric compensation model. Founded in 2019 by Mr. Dae Geun Jung, the company designed an innovative approach that rewards not only team builders but also those focused on sharing quality products with retail and preferred customers. This groundbreaking strategy emphasizes customer retention while empowering individuals to generate significant income.

Empowering Everyone with the Customer Retention Bonus (CRB)

LivePURE’s Customer Retention Bonus (CRB) was introduced to break down the barriers preventing individuals from earning extra income. The CRB rewards individuals for consistent, customer-focused efforts—allowing everyone, from seasoned professionals to casual users, to earn income by helping others improve their health and well-being.

"Our goal is simple—to help as many people as possible make an extra $1,000 a month by sharing products they love and believe in," said Mr. Dae Geun Jung, the founder and CEO of LivePURE. This program simplifies the earning process and helps people thrive in network marketing without the complexity traditionally associated with the industry.

The Power of the CRB: Real Stories of Success

The CRB’s impact is best exemplified by an inspiring story of an Amish woman from Michigan. Despite having no access to modern technology, she earned over $100,000 in both 2023 and 2024 simply by sharing LivePURE products within her local community. This story underscores the accessibility and inclusiveness of LivePURE’s compensation plan, proving that significant income is achievable for anyone committed to connecting and serving others.

A Thoughtfully Designed Compensation Plan

According to Rick Redford, President of LivePURE, the company’s compensation plan is one of the most thoughtfully designed in the industry. It’s structured to reward the right behaviors, creating a balanced system where both affiliates and influencers can thrive, be recognized, and earn just rewards for their dedication and influence.

"The introduction of our enhanced customer experience combined with the CRB is redefining how to build a sustainable business in network marketing," said Redford. This combination of customer-focused incentives and business-building support creates an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

LivePURE’s Commitment to Integrity and Long-Term Success

Now in its 18th year, LivePURE continues to operate with a debt-free, cash-flow positive, and profitable model, driven by a vision grounded in innovation and integrity. As network marketing and e-commerce continue to evolve, LivePURE proves that putting people first isn’t just a noble goal—it’s the foundation of sustainable success in the modern marketplace.

The Cyphers Agency, a full-service creative marketing firm known for its expertise in strategy and brand development, continues to strengthen its team with the addition of Emily Singh as its new Digital Marketing Coordinator. In this role, Emily will oversee community engagement across social media platforms, manage editorial calendars, and develop original content for clients such as Emerald Financial Partners (EFP), the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), and SNAC International.

Emily Singh’s Role at Cyphers Agency

As Digital Marketing Coordinator, Emily will play a key role in managing and growing the agency's social media presence across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. She will also contribute to the agency's and client’s digital strategies by creating, editing, and publishing blog content, while engaging with online communities to foster deeper connections and brand awareness.

Cyphers Agency's Commitment to Quality Talent

“We are thrilled to have Emily join our team,” said Darren Easton, Vice President of The Cyphers Agency. “When bringing on team members, we look for forward-thinking, professionalism, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and a strong commitment to client care. Emily brings all these qualities, and we’re excited for the impact she’ll have on our clients.”

Emily’s Background and Expertise

A native of Bowie, Maryland, Emily earned dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and media & communications from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). While studying, she gained industry experience as a promotions assistant at iHeartMedia, where she also managed the company’s social media accounts.

"I have always had a passion for the digital space, especially social media," Emily shared. "I am grateful for the opportunity to grow my career while learning from the experienced, accomplished team here at The Cyphers Agency."

Looking Ahead

With Emily’s experience and enthusiasm for social media, The Cyphers Agency is poised to enhance its client engagement strategies and further establish its reputation as a leader in creative marketing. Her addition to the team reinforces the agency’s commitment to providing high-quality digital marketing solutions that drive results.