Mike Sullivan

Mike Sullivan knows first-hand about the challenges that small business owners and entrepreneurs face. In fact, his career in entrepreneurship began when he started an import/export business while in college to help pay his tuition. After graduating, he held marketing and sales positions with several major corporations, before going on to his most significant business endeavor. Literally starting in his basement in 1970, Mike launched Marking Specialists/Polymer Technologies, Inc, which he successfully grew into a global manufacturing and distribution company, operating out a world -class building that he designed and built in 1994. From meager beginnings, his successful career in entrepreneurship is characterized by overcoming the many challenges that entrepreneurs face at every stage in their business life cycle. He shares his “been there and did it” experiences and is passionate about helping others grow their own organizations.

Drawing upon his business experience, he is able to support small business owners in the following areas:

• Identifying the correct criteria for hiring the right people for key positions
• Developing and executing customer-centric sales strategies
• Evaluating sale force effectiveness and structuring results-oriented sales training programs
• Employing guerilla marketing strategies to drive sales and build relationships
• Managing through high growth stages
• Trouble shooting the various challenges that small business owners face
• Developing effective communication strategies and techniques

A true entrepreneur, Mike was inducted into the State of Illinois’ Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, along with other well-known entrepreneurs such as Larry Levy of Levy Restaurants, Pat Ryan of Aon Corporation and, Gordon Segal of Crate and Barrel. He is also an award-winning speaker who gives workshops on guerilla marketing and gorilla selling.

As a volunteer, Mike counsels with the Chicago chapter of SCORE and is president of the board of ambassadors for OMNI Youth Services. Serving Chicago’s northwest suburbs, OMNI focuses on helping young people and their families in times of crisis.

Mike holds a Bachelors degree in English and Speech from DePaul University.