Craig Wortmann is a Clinical Professor of Marketing at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and is the Founder & Academic Director of the Kellogg Sales Institute. Since joining Kellogg in 2017, Craig has been a top five finalist as nominated by students for the Lavengood Outstanding Professor of the Year award. From 2018 to 2023, Craig won the “Outstanding Professor” distinction awarded by Kellogg’s Executive MBA students. In 2020, Craig was also won the Sydney Levy Teaching Award.

Launched in 2019, his Mastering Sales: A Toolkit for Success online course is the highest rated course on the Emeritus platform, and Craig was recently called “the gold standard in remote learning” by Executive MBA students at Kellogg.

From 2008 to 2016, Craig was Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. He designed, developed and taught the award- winning Entrepreneurial Selling™ course, recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the “Top Ten” courses in the U.S. Craig was the recipient of the 2012 Faculty Excellence Award, given to the professor who has the greatest positive impact on the students. After joining Kellogg’s faculty in 2017, Craig designed and launched the MBA course called Selling Yourself & Your Ideas™, which quickly became one of the most popular courses at Kellogg.

Craig is the author of What’s Your Story™?, a book designed to equip you with the right story at the right time for the right reason. Craig has also designed and created multiple online courses that have reached over 100,000 people worldwide.

From selling tech for IBM early in his career, to financial services where he covered three-quarters of the United States, to consulting services, books and apps, Craig is an expert in sales across the B2B and B2C spectrum. He advises some of the world’s largest and most successful companies on developing and fine-tuning their sales talent, as well as guiding some of the fastest-growing entrepreneurial firms on how to design and build a powerful revenue engine. In just the past ten years, Craig has been fortunate to teach tens of thousands of people how to sell, how to lead sales teams and how to lead companies.

After earning his MBA in marketing and finance from Kellogg in 1995, Craig has been a three-time entrepreneur and CEO, beginning with his first software company in 2000. After selling that firm in 2008, Craig conducted a successful turnaround of a struggling digital marketing agency, selling it to a larger French company only 11 months after joining as its CEO.

In 2009 Craig founded Sales Engine Inc., a tools and services firm founded on the core belief that sales is about helping people make progress in their lives. As a global speaker and teacher, Craig helps people from every corner of the globe develop the knowledge, skill and discipline necessary to become magnetic and unstoppable sales people. In addition to growing his Sales Engine firm, Craig serves as Operating Partner for Pritzker Group Venture Capital where he helps grow the revenue engines of its portfolio companies.

Craig is also an active angel investor, solely focused on companies that help people develop healthy habits and empower people to be their best. His portfolio currently includes sleep and food companies, as well as those creating the next generation of female leaders.

Craig and his family split their time between Illinois and Wisconsin where they can be found reading, wake surfing and laughing.

Meet Jeff Lietz, Principal Partner at Sales Engine. As a three-time entrepreneur and with more than 30 years of sales expertise, Jeff brings vast knowledge and keen first-hand experience to the team having delivered and utilized the Sales Engine tools and methodologies in real-life as a former client.

Most recently as co-founder of Evive, Jeff served as Principal Partner and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer where he built a team of more than 28 individuals encompassing sales, marketing, and solution consultants. He presented and sold to no less than 275 of the Fortune 500 during his 12-year tenure and utilized Sales Engine’s tools and methodologies that helped grow the business’s revenue to over eight-figures. He currently serves as Emeritus Principal Partner at Evive.

In 1998 Jeff founded Healthy Pursuit, a company focused on providing outreach services to self-insured corporate and medical practice markets, including on-site biometric health screenings, health risk assessments, and health promotion programs ultimately referring individuals to local medical practices. In 2000 he merged Healthy Pursuit with HealthCalc Network, Inc., an Application Service Provider for business-to-business, health-specific applications, and later sold to Health Fitness Corporation.

Jeff’s first entrepreneurial endeavor was as the Co-founder and National Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Eagle Rehab Sports Medicine, a CMS/Horizon Healthcare nationwide healthcare provider with multiple outpatient and hospital divisions. He directed the national sales and marketing strategy within the Physician Practice Management & Physical Therapy Division which he grew from 0 to 165 centers bringing in annual sales of 122 million. He then sold CMS/Horizon to HealthSouth Corporation in 1997.

Jeff launched Midwest Orthopedic Network as Executive Director and Vice President of Marketing at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush where he orchestrated the initial formation, physician recruitment, launch and implementation of the Midwest Orthopedic Network which was the first independent orthopedic network owned and directed by 121 orthopedic physicians.

In 1988, Jeff began his sales career at Baxter/Caremark Orthopedic Services as Director of Business Development and he was ultimately promoted to Regional Marketing Manager, annually attaining the #1 Sales Director Award for new physician referrals and same clinic sales growth. During his tenure, he directed sales for 90 centers, and he built and initiated the division’s first venture into the Sports Medicine Outreach Program procuring Baxter/Caremark as the exclusive rehabilitation provider for the 1992 U.S. Olympic summer and winter teams.

A St. Charles, Illinois resident for more than 24 years, Jeff enjoys running, playing golf and hockey and spending time with his wife and three children.

Meet Sue. Sue leads Client Success at Sales Engine. Sue brings over 20 years of experience in Account Management and overall Client Success to the Sales Engine team. She has a background in health care with targeted experience in developing and implementing winning strategies and processes that effectively support client growth and success.

Most recently, Sue served as Chief Commercial Officer with Youturn Health, an organization providing a virtual solution that supports individuals struggling with mental health or substance misuse. Sue led the Client Success function, which included Strategy, Marketing, and Account Management across the various Youturn Health lines of business.

Prior to Youturn Health, Sue held leadership roles at the Validation Institute and ConsumerMedical, where she bolstered her experience within the healthcare ecosystem. There, she aimed to deliver better health value with valuable participant outcomes.

At Sales Engine, Sue will combine her more recent experience in healthcare with experience in logistics within the hospitality industry to coordinate and collaborate with colleagues and clients to provide an exceptional client experience.

As Business Manager, Jill is responsible for everything that happens under the Sales Engine hood including contracting, billing and operations. Previous to joining Sales Engine, Jill was the number one salesperson with the American Express Small Business Accounts team where she annually exceeded her sales goals during her five-year tenure and for more than 48 months exceeded her monthly target by 100%. For three years running she was the recipient of the “Most Outstanding Sales Representative” award.

With degrees from the University of Kansas School of Journalism (Minor in Marketing) and The Kellogg School of Management (MBA in Marketing and International Business), she has applied her skillset working on major brands including: AT&T Marketing Manager launching first-ever bundled phone services; Ameritech/SBC Communications marketing and PR planning for the merger; McDonald’s and Ronald McDonald House PR, Board of Directors scripting, and annual report writing; Blue Cross & Blue Shield consultant on branding initiatives; Sport & Social Clubs of the USA Marketing and Sponsorships Director securing annually renewing sponsorships with Gatorade, Ford and Anheuser-Busch.

Meet Manny Menendez, Partner at Sales Engine. As a two-time entrepreneur with more than 30 years of sales expertise, Manny brings vast knowledge and perspective on what the Sales Engine tool and methodologies can bring to an individual and organization. Most recently Manny served as the Chief Revenue Officer for ConsumerMedical, providing clinical advocacy, decision support, and expert second opinion programs to some of the nation’s top employers and health plans. Leading the Sales, Marketing, Strategy & Client Success functions within ConsumerMedical, Manny drove the growth imperative to the business and through focused efforts led four successive years of Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 40%+.

Manny’s first entrepreneurial endeavor was as a sales and strategy leader at Bloom Health, a Group Active Private exchange solution for Commercial employers. Prior to this role, Manny served as the Chicago Market P & L leader at Hewitt Associates (acquired by Aon in 2010), concentrating on the creation, execution and measurement of the Total Rewards strategy to Fortune 500 and Middle Market Clients, and laid the foundation of his sales career in client success and underwriting at CNA Insurance Companies.

“My goals of helping individuals remain consistent throughout my career. No matter my role, I’ve always said I’m just a people person. And really, I’m doing the same today at SalesEngine. Bringing my knowledge to the forefront and the skills and discipline I’ve learned the past 30+ years as a leader, teammate, and salesman. No fancy title here, just Manny.”

Katie is a senior business development leader, executive coach, and leadership development specialist with over 25 years of experience. Her career spans diverse industries, including healthcare, consumer goods, and senior leadership roles. Notably, she served as Global Leadership Development Director at KEEN and as SVP of Adecco’s U.S. Talent Development Practice. While running her own consulting and coaching firm, Katie worked with high-profile clients such as Nike, Google, and Warner Brothers Discovery. She is also the author of “Career Courage” (Harper Collins) and has delivered momentous speaking engagements at organizations like CNN, Wharton, and Bank of America.

With a foundation in behavioral science and extensive experience in sales, operations, and broadcast media, Katie blends strategic insight with relational intelligence and practical leadership expertise. She is passionate about igniting leaders, teams, and organizations to achieve remarkable results by unlocking their potential through transformational coaching and development experiences.

Katie and her husband, Tom, live in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where they are raising their teenage daughters. Their weekends are filled with club soccer, softball, flag football games and farm walks with their beloved English cream retriever, Luna Waffles Kelley.

Bennie’s journey from the NFL to entrepreneurial excellence embodies his belief that knowledge, skill, and discipline are the pillars of peak performance and sustained success. An NFL veteran and member of the 2016 Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 Championship Team, Bennie’s illustrious eight-season football career began with the Denver Broncos and concluded with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.

Renowned for catching the final pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, Bennie’s athletic prowess is matched only by his professional acumen.

Transitioning seamlessly from sports to business, Bennie has over 12 years of experience with high-performing teams and guiding individuals toward achieving their potential. Since 2019, he has coached over 150 business owners and top executives, applying methodologies from top NFL coaches to cultivate strategic vision, team building, and transformative processes in various industries.

A certified coach from the Co-Active Training Institute, he developed the MVP (Mindset, Vision & Performance) coaching model, a testament to his belief in expecting and achieving success.

At Michael Best, Bennie excels in connecting companies, entrepreneurs, and investors, leveraging his unique blend of sporting and business insights for sustained growth and success.

From the trading pits to AI-powered manufacturing, Rich’s career has been shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and grit. He started in finance, trading volatility on the Board of Trade, where he discovered a love for coaching while teaching options theory to new hires. That passion led him to an MBA at Chicago Booth, where he balanced studies with long days.

He has sold enterprise software at IBM and Salesforce, finishing first in IBM’s Global Sales School. He helped Craig develop and deliver Kellogg’s Mastering Sales, the number one online Sales course. Now at Xometry, he is helping build a two-sided AI-driven manufacturing marketplace, connecting buyers and suppliers in new, more efficient ways.

His most important job is being husband to Dezi and dad to Dom and Arlo. You can find him in Scottsdale, most likely at a kids’ sporting event, but he tries to find time to play average tennis and golf as well.

Shawn is a seasoned sales and growth executive, entrepreneur, and trusted advisor with a proven track record of building durable revenue engines through long-term, executive-level relationships.

As a Vice President of Sales, he has led high-performing teams and driven sustained growth across emerging technology, financial services, healthcare, government, and nonprofit sectors—partnering with some of the largest organizations in the country. In 2024, Shawn served on the leadership team of a technology services company and participated in the sale of the business to private equity.

He earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia, where he studied philosophy, law, and business. He met his wife and fellow Wahoo in Charlottesville, and they now live in Baltimore with their two young children and dog.

Shawn has built successful sales and marketing teams from the ground up using bootstrapped resources. He is the co-founder of a virtual and augmented reality software studio that has delivered award-winning campaigns for brands including Disney, HBO, Marvel, NASA, Northrop Grumman, PayPal, and professional sports teams across the NBA, NHL, and NFL. He also co-founded the world’s first “water golf” company, producing interactive waterfront driving ranges using proprietary biodegradable golf balls and remote-controlled floating targets, with clients ranging from Bloomberg and Under Armour to Hilton Hotels and the PGA of America.

Jeremy brings 15 years of sales experience leading complex sales cycles with high-
profile clients. He is a multi-year recipient of the President’s Club award, has closed
marquee multi-million-dollar deals with Fortune 500 companies, and has managed key
accounts focused on sustaining long-term revenue growth. At LinkedIn, Jeremy is an
Account Director for Sales Solutions, partnering with clients to help them adopt social
selling methodologies.

Raised by a single mother in a working-class family, Jeremy learned early that success
is earned through adaptability, grit, and perseverance. Those experiences shaped his
deep belief that leading life with a growth mindset ultimately drives sustained success.
Jeremy was first introduced to Sales Engine eight years ago and brings firsthand
experience helping people make meaningful progress in their lives. He later completed
Craig’s Mastering Sales program at Kellogg and has since returned as a guest
contributor, where he discovered his passion for sales coaching.

Jeremy lives in Frankfort, Illinois, with his wife, Melissa, their son, Liam, and their
French bulldog, Reggie. Outside of work, he co-manages rental properties with his wife
and enjoys maintaining a growth mindset on the golf course.

Claire Walker is an Enterprise Account Director at LinkedIn, where she works with clients to attract, hire, and develop world-class talent. She tells every one of her clients that she believes it is her job “to ensure that LinkedIn is holding its end of the bargain.”

Before LinkedIn, Claire spent 11 years at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where she learned how to tackle unprecedented problems and show up as a trusted, strategic partner.
Born in Southern California, educated in Texas, Claire now considers herself a true Midwesterner after 15+ Chicago winters. She lives in Evanston, Illinois with her husband, Richard, and two children.

Brad Nations is a proven revenue driver and growth strategist with a 25-year track record of accelerating business expansion, increasing market penetration, and leading successful exits in the healthcare industry. He has played a critical role in high-impact outcomes, including successful exits at Extend Health and ConsumerMedical, while also spearheading rapid growth at Castlight Health and FOLX Health.

As a trusted consultant and advisor, Brad has helped organizations like H-E-B Wellness Primary Care, Virta, Rock Health Advisory, Peloton, Virta, Evive and more scale their businesses, optimize operations, and forge high-value partnerships. His expertise spans C-suite leadership, sales, business development, operations, client success, product strategy, and marketing, making him a dynamic force in driving revenue and long-term success.

With an M.S. in Health Care Transformation from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in Speech Communications from Texas State University, Brad brings a unique combination of academic rigor and real-world experience.

Erin Craw, Ph.D., earned her doctorate in communication from Chapman University in Southern California. Craw has over seven years of college-level teaching experience, developing and teaching courses in communication, especially in regard to organizational and health communication. Her work focuses on the intersection of health, interpersonal, and organizational communication, with particular attention to support seeking, social support, stigma, access to care, and resilience. Much of her work centers on translational research, bridging academic research and scholarship with real-world practice to improve how organizations communicate, both internally and externally.

Craw regularly collaborates with public-sector organizations and first-responder agencies across the United States, translating research into evidence-based recommendations, trainings, and communication strategies that improve access to mental health support and encourage more effective and authentic conversations around well-being in high-stress professions. She also consults with organizations to improve communication practices across a variety of sectors, applying research-based insights to strengthen internal communication, enhance support systems, and better serve the community.

From the front lines of marine mammal training to the cutting edge of digital marketing, Hunter Wortmann’s career has been fueled by a deep love for the ocean and a sharp eye for strategy. She kicked off her journey at California Polytechnic State University, earning a degree in marine science with a minor in entrepreneurship. That unique combo led her to a dream role as a marine mammal trainer, where she spent years building trust and communication with dolphins and killer whales, proving that if you can coordinate with a five-ton killer whale, you can handle just about anything in the business world.

Now, she is bringing that same adaptability to her role as the digital marketing manager for Sales Engine. While she helps brands navigate the digital landscape, she is also expanding her own horizons by pursuing an MBA at Bond University in Australia. She manages to balance her high-level corporate studies with early mornings on the water, leading eco-tours off the Gold Coast where she guides guests on swims with turtles and humpback whales. When she isn’t analyzing marketing data or finishing up an MBA module, you can still find her near the surf. Whether she’s exploring the vibrant marine life of the Gold Coast or sharing her passion for conservation with others, Hunter lives for the intersection of adventure, science, and business

Omar brings over 30 years of experience in the IT and marketing industries to his role as a Vision Facilitator and Strategist at Sales Engine. His unique blend of technical expertise and creative problem-solving has allowed him to excel in various positions throughout his career, including MLS Coordinator, Systems Analyst, and Marketing Coach.

At Sales Engine, Omar played a crucial role in bringing the company’s vision to life by developing their online MasterCourse™ center website. He continues supporting the team by contributing to client success, product development, and technical needs, ensuring a seamless experience for the Sales Engine team and their clients.

Before joining Sales Engine, Omar specialized in helping B2B professional service providers bring their visions to life as an entrepreneur. He worked closely with founders, decision-makers, and their marketing teams to develop powerful strategies, achieve seamless operations, and craft frictionless messaging that drives results.

In addition to his business acumen, Omar is a passionate advocate for mental health and resilience. Through his MoxieGrit speaking engagements, he shares his inspiring stories and practical strategies with youth, college students, and beyond, empowering them to overcome adversity and develop mental strength.

At Sales Engine, Omar combines his extensive experience in the IT and marketing industries with his entrepreneurial background to collaborate with colleagues and clients. He ensures exceptional client experiences and drives success through strategic vision and execution.