With over twenty-five years of successful experience as a salesperson, sales manager, training director, professional speaker and seminar leader, Richard Fenton is uniquely qualified to teach and motivate people to reach increased levels of performance.
Growing up in Chicago, Rich started his employment career in the restaurant industry, moving quickly from busboy to manager in just six months and eventually becoming the company trouble-shooter at only 18 years of age. "I would travel around the country as a 'turn-around expert' of sorts, sometimes having to replace entire management teams for lack of performance. I look back at what I was called on to do at that age and realize what an incredible experience that was."
Rich’s next job was working in the automotive industry. As an account executive in the fleet sales department for the largest Chevrolet dealer in the country, Rich learned to sell and serve from a true master who just happened to also be his father. After five years in the "car-biz" Rich moved to California where he quickly put his sales experience to work, landing a position with Walt Disney Productions in their film distribution division.
Eventually, Rich would make his way into the world of retail, starting as a clothing salesman for Saks Fifth Avenue and working his way up to the position of Director of Training & Development for Macy’s in Beverly Hills, California. Following that, Rich served as Training Director for clothing giant Hart, Shaffner & Marx, and LensCrafters, the world’s largest retailer of eyeglasses.
Realizing his greatest passion was speaking and training, Rich decided to go into business for himself. In late 1997, along with partner Andrea Waltz, he launched Accelerated Performance Training (now FentonWaltz) to design and deliver programs for America’s most prestigious retailers.
Rich is co-author of three books for retailers, "Unlocking the Secrets of Retail Magic," "The Run with the Lions Sales Safari” and most recently, “PLUCK! Providing Courageous Take-Charge Retail Service.” In addition, Rich is the author of a book that works for anyone who faces rejection (salesperson or not) called, "Go For No! The Ultimate Strategy for Failing Your Way to Success!"
Rich’s greatest compliment and the one that he hears over and over is that he connects with his audience. Rich's presentations are packed with stories, strategies and skill development techniques that he has personally practiced and perfected; he does not “preach” about success. He shares practical and hard-hitting ideas in a fun way that pay-off immediately when implemented.
