Elevate Names Mike Anderson Director Of Training & Development

Elevate, the division of SmithGeiger focused on helping regional companies and broadcasters accelerate revenue efforts, has appointed Mike Anderson director of training and development primarily for its Trailblazer Academy.

The Trailblazer Academy is a revenue acceleration program focused on helping sales teams identify, qualify and approach high-value prospects to advance new business efforts efficiently. In 2020, more than 100 sellers graduated from the program.

Anderson is no stranger to helping advance business and revenue conversations. He has been helping people notice, understand and take advantage of industry and consumer trends for nearly 30 years.

“Mike’s marketing strategies and messaging skills have helped thousands of business owners and media consultants over the years, and we are thrilled to have him help our clients do the same,” Elevate founder Nicole Bergen says. “He has a magical way of bringing out the best in others, helping sellers get in the door, arrive relevant, and solve their clients’ needs, which is what we are all about at Elevate.”

Anderson joins Elevate from Cox Media Group, where he spent six years as the director of consumer insights and analytics, and then director of sales enablement for the company’s impressive collection of radio and television stations.

Prior to CMG, he served for 13 years as director of communications and VP of consumer insights at the Center for Sales Strategy, a consulting firm that serves the media industry. In both roles, he authored and co-authored a variety of workshops and programs to help people upgrade their skills in marketing strategy, sales process, and overall business acumen.

He has served on the advisory board for New York-based Scarborough Research and spent two semesters as an associate instructor in mass communications at the University of North Dakota.