Perfect Effort, Perfect Planning, Perfect Execution
Southwestern Advantage’s Great Leadership Summit of 2024 is an annual seminar that brings hundreds of new and experienced leaders together. College students, alumni, and leaders attended the three-day event in Tennessee, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Presentations were centered on personal and professional growth, leadership development, and team building. This year’s Great Leadership Summit (GLS) focused on the theme of perfect effort, perfect planning, and perfect execution.
College Students Learn From Notable Speakers
The meeting began on the evening of Friday, the 12th. The first night included training, recognition for top producers, and a guest presenter. The notable guest speaker was Dave Brown, a Southwestern Advantage Alumni, Founding Partner of Southwestern Consulting, Executive Level Coach, speaker, and new author. He shared about leadership and sales techniques from his recently released book, Servant Selling. You can purchase Dave Brown’s new book at: https://southwesternconsulting.com/servant-selling
Saturday morning started with a tradition, the Fun Walk/Run, a 5k around downtown Nashville. A group of over 50 students participated in the route, which celebrated Southwestern values like grit, perseverance, and determination. Meetings began with remarks from alumni and then attendees were split into breakout training sessions. During lunch, most students explored downtown Nashville, while a select group of leaders were invited to a marketing & PR working lunch.
Saturday evening concluded with guest speaker and former Southwestern Advantage President, Dan Moore. He presented on principles and strategies from his new book, Control, Influence, Accept (For Now), on how to prepare for and cope with an unpredictable future. The meeting attendees were enthralled by the wisdom he shared. You can purchase Dan Moore’s new book at: https://southwestern.com/ciafn-book/
Big Things Coming in the Future of Southwestern Advantage
Throughout the course of the three-day summit, there were many big announcements. Over 100 interns, preparing for their first summer in the program, attended the meetings and received sales training. Participants were also given an exclusive preview of the upcoming enhancements set to be released in the summer of 2024 for the Skwids and LEAD apps. Additionally, they were briefed on updates planned for the Southwestern Advantage Learning Library in the summer of 2025, marking the first time these improvements will be available for purchase by customers. Select students also had the opportunity to participate in a marketing & PR internship throughout the spring.
The 25th Annual Freddies Award Ceremony
The Freddies is a highly anticipated award’s ceremony held at the end of the Great Leadership Summit. Named in honor of J. Fred Landers, this year marked the 25th Annual Freddies Award Ceremony. First year participants, current students, Alumni, parents, host families, special guests from The Southwestern Family of Companies, and valued employees were invited to attend the event. This occasion was not just a night to recognize top performers; it was also a celebration, paying tribute to everyone who has been part of, or is actively participating in, the Southwestern Advantage Internship Program.
The awards presented during the weekend are detailed below. We extend our congratulations to the recipients of the awards, the nominees, and all individuals who have demonstrated growth throughout the year. We eagerly anticipate the opportunities and accomplishments that lie ahead in 2024!
2023 Service Awards for Southwestern Advantage:
Anna Kolarsky – 3 years
Rodrigo Sanchez-Codina – 3 years
Matthew Chesney, Jr. – 5 years
Brad Bernard – 10 years
Danny Gamboa – 10 years
Janet Sweet – 10 years
AJ Skalsky – 15 years
District Sales Leader of the Year Award:
Veiko Roos
Field Sales Leader of the Year Award:
Zachery Benavidez
Freddies Awards:
Top Campus – Worldwide:
TalTech – 141,627 Units
Top First Year – Sales:
Luke Larkin – 5,423 Units
Top Experienced – Sales:
Janis Strapcans – 17,438 Units
Top LEAD Revenue – First Year:
Barbara Chaul
Top LEAD Revenue – Experienced:
Jack Wheeler
Top OnlineSubscribers – First Year:
Michael Brown – 58
Top Online Subscribers – Experienced:
Vyvy Nguyen – 109
Top Team Leader – In-School:
Lexi Larkin – 9,426 Units
Top Team Leader – Full-Timer:
Zachery & Olivia Benavidez – 12,078 Units
Super B:
Antoni Michal Golab – 6,820 Units
Student Excellence Award:
Velislav Iliev
Record Breaker – Lifetime Units:
Emil Tsvetkov – 123,286
Chris Adams Vision Award:
Henry Bedford
