About APCO
You may have never heard of APCO. Let us introduce ourselves! We are the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials and to our 40,000 members across the nation, we are the rockstars behind the most prestigious events in the emergency communications industry. Founded in 1935, APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals. Our members manage, operate, build and support public safety communications systems for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and other public safety agencies.
About the Team
Join a group of skilled event professionals who are committed to the events industry. Through innovation, communication, and collaboration we plan 3 to 4 annual events each year. Our annual conference & expo, APCO’s largest and most prominent event, brings together 6,000 professionals with 275-300 exhibiting companies.
You will join a supportive team that highly values life inside and outside of the organization. You’ll have a chance to travel occasionally, let your creativity shine and work within a dynamic team culture. We want YOU to join our team and are so excited to meet you!
About the Role
The Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales Manager will be responsible for selling exhibit space, advertising, sponsorships, and commercial memberships. APCO International is looking for a motivated individual who will help us expand our footprint in the emergency communications industry while continuing to provide excellent customer service to current exhibitors, advertisers, and sponsors. The Sales Manager will work closely with and report to the Director of Events & Corporate Partnerships. This position is an in-office position located in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The following are general descriptions of the essential job tasks of the position. Other related tasks may be assigned as necessary and appropriate.
Prospecting & Sales Strategy
- Prospects and identifies new business and sales targets
- Responds to incoming email and phone inquiries relative to assigned tradeshows/events
- Visits and monitors competitor and industry events to develop a systematic understanding of their strategies and practices
- Coordinates meetings with customers and prospects either in person or virtual to understand their goals, objectives, and requirements to appropriately make the sale
- Maintains market/industry knowledge, researches/gathers market and customer information, reads relevant industry publications, and understands trends to develop sales pitch appropriately
- Maintains and develops positive and professional relationships with existing customers and prospects
- Prior to conference, drafts first right of refusal sponsorships for the following year and meets with sponsors, exhibitors, and prospects to sell opportunities for the next annual conference
- Reaches out to existing accounts in a timely manner to process renewals and/or upgraded sponsorship level
- Obtains exhibitor feedback onsite and uses that information to improve the exhibit floor layout for following year
- In collaboration with the Director, analyzes effectiveness of sponsorship revenue streams and contributes to the development of new and innovative sponsorship opportunities
- Collaborate with marketing and event management teams to promote sponsorship and exhibit opportunities and maximize visibility for sponsors and exhibitors
- Evaluate the success of sponsorships and exhibit sales efforts through post-event analysis and reporting, including return on investment and participant feedback
- Meets or exceeds departmental sales targets across all events
Financial and Contracting
- Creates detailed written agreements and sends them to the customer in a timely manner
- Successfully challenges any objections and negotiates the terms of sales agreements and closes sales
- Assists in managing the sponsor/exhibitor order process, including requests for contractual language change, issuing invoices, tracking payment, and maintaining related records
- Ensures the timely and efficient collection of sponsor sales (i.e., payments received before if not within 30 days of event and larger sales paid by check or ACH vs. credit card, etc.)
- Collect any late/outstanding sales revenue
- Provides a weekly report of payment status
Data Management
- Develops documentation of sales process and customizes Salesforce platform to support that process
- Ensures individual and company contact records in Salesforce are valid and complete
- Documents sales orders and notable communications with members, sponsors, exhibitors, and prospects in Salesforce for forecasting and tracking revenue
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong account development, customer service orientation, and follow-up skills
- Demonstrated strategic, consultative, and analytical sales approach with focus on building prospect and customer partnerships
- Ability to represent APCO in group settings and demonstrate exemplary presentation skills
- Exceptional communication skills verbal and written
- Outstanding planning, organizational, and time management skills
- Demonstrated skill in assessing and managing many accounts simultaneously and employing an online Client Relationship Management (CRM) system; Salesforce experience a plus
Minimum Experience Requirements
- 3-5 years exhibit and sponsorship sales experience.
- Baccalaureate degree in a related field. CMP or CEM certification preferred
- Previous work in an association environment preferred
- Experience with Salesforce, Cadmium and Asana preferred
- Ability to work flexible hours
- Required travel (15% - 20% annually)