Meet Marcus Neal of National Sales Network Phoenix Chapter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Neal.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Marcus. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Atlanta, GA. I wasn’t focused or sure about what I wanted to do. I graduated college from North Carolina A&T State Univ & graduate school from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. My studies were in Biology undergraduate and Biochemistry and Business in graduate school. In between undergraduate and graduate school, I worked at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. There I got a sense of the career choice of what I wanted to do to combine my science background with business. I never had mentors or direction regarding career choices or options.

During graduate school, I attended a Black MBA Conference that exposed me to many companies and successful African-Americans. I was amazed to see many professionals throughout various industries. From attending the conference two consecutive years I was able to attain a summer internship and eventually full-time employment with Johnson & Johnson upon graduating in New Jersey in 2000.

I transitioned out to the Valley with the company in 2004. Fast forward to 2016 I worked with J&J until February of that year when I was let go. Two weeks later I woke up in the ICU of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center with no recollection of how I got there. My wife tells me the story of how everything transpired because I have no memory of the events. She says I passed out at home and was rushed to the ER and then transferred to the ICU. While in the ICU the critical care physicians did not know what was going on. I came in with a hemoglobin that was non-detectable. The told my wife to go get my kids to say their goodbyes. It was a very traumatizing experience for my wife. A very good hematologist was able to diagnose my condition.

I was diagnosed with stage four mantle cell lymphoma which also caused cold agglutinin disease. Mantle cell lymphoma is rare and makes up only 5% of the lymphoma disorders that’s diagnosed. It has a poor prognosis and cold agglutinin disease makes your body’s immune system attack your red blood cells and destroy them.

The road to recovery was a long haul with over ten blood transfusions, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and ending with a stem cell transplant. During the period I interviewed and started working with Boston Scientific in the medical device space. The experience showed me that tomorrow was not promised.

After, my long recovery in 2016, I set out to make sure that if I took my last breath I would pour into other people. I’ve always talked about how there wasn’t a road map for me when I started my sales career and made sure I wanted to give others what I didn’t have. I’ve been part of the National Sales Network organization for many years. It’s an organization that helps diverse people in the area of sales and entrepreneurship. It focuses on giving people career opportunities and professional development. At the end of 2018, I was voted in as Chapter President and set to establish four pillars that focused on mentorship, networking, professional development, and career opportunities. My focus is to help people attain their dreams in Corporate America or in their Entrepreneur endeavors. The passion for me comes from my experience traversing through my career without guidance and the knowledge that we all need a hand in our life. If not you, then who. My motto, “Lifting As We Climb”, sums up that. We all have to take personal responsibility in given back to others that follow in our steps.

The Phoenix Chapter currently has 78 members with the goal of getting up to 100. We hold an event each month that focuses on one of those pillars. We try to be intentional about what we do to affect and change lives of sales professionals and entrepreneurs here in the Valley.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road with the Chapter has not been smooth. Some of the struggles are that the organization is a non-profit organization so events have a cost. We’ve been challenged along the way with getting company sponsorship. As we continue to build on the momentum of events companies see the value of a partnership with the organization.

Another struggle is the geographical challenge of the valley. With many members throughout the valley, we try and optimize time, location, and days so folks can attend the events.

We’d love to hear more about your organization.
National Sales Network Phoenix Chapter strives to be the premier sales networking organization in the Valley of The Sun.

National Sales Network (NSN) is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit membership organization whose objective is to meet the professional and developmental needs of sales and sales management professionals and individuals who want to improve their professional sales skills.

Chapters have been established nationwide and conduct a variety of skill development seminars on topics that include but are not limited to the following:

•Sales Skills

•Career Development

•Leadership Skills

•Personal Development

•Time Management

•Organization Skills

•Business Management

•Communication Skills

When you look back, what are you most proud of?
The proudest moment of my career has always been when I could help some attain employment, attain a promotion or point someone to the correct resources to help propel their career. Even though I’ve attained many sales awards over the years nothing compares to when you can assist someone else.

Pricing:

• Membership – $150/year

Contact Info:

• Website: www.salesnetwork.org/phoenix
• Phone: 480-662-6702
• Email: president@nsnphoenix.org
• Instagram: nsnphoenixchapter
• Other: www.linkedin.com/in/national-sales-network-phoenix-chapter-1b38b054/

 
Image Credit:
Kema Charles
www.lightscameradiscover.org

Suggest a story: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.