Brett Payne

Contender eSports

🏆 Established Contender eSports as a premier franchise, expanding to over 50 locations in the US and internationally within two years.
🖥️ Developed custom-built gaming stations, improving franchisee satisfaction by 35%.
🔗 Secured partnerships with top manufacturers, reducing equipment costs by 20%.
📈 Implemented membership programs and special events, increasing customer engagement and boosting revenue by $1.2M annually.

Founder

NextFran: AI-Driven Franchise Development Technology

🚀 Pioneered the creation and launch of NextFran, utilizing AI to revolutionize franchise sales, resulting in a 40% increase in lead generation efficiency.
💡 Developed the AI Brand Accelerator Program, reducing new franchisee time-to-market by 25%.
🤝 Formed strategic partnerships, enhancing operational support effectiveness by 30%.
👥 Led a cross-functional team of 20 experts, driving innovation in franchise consultancy and achieving a 50% growth in client acquisition.

Founder and Co-CEO 

Classic Rock Coffee Franchising

🌍 Expanded operations into 12 new international markets, increasing global presence and revenue by 60%.
📊 Directed operations, sales, marketing, and project management, enhancing operational efficiency by 50%.
📣 Executed strategic marketing campaigns, achieving a 40% growth in brand awareness and acquiring 10K new customers.

Director of US and International Franchise Operations

Kinetic 5

The Kinetic 5 helps entrepreneurs, businesses and nonprofits increase sales and profits through its CMS solution & creative marketing. In addition, their extensive work on both local and national political campaigns lends them as a smart solution and addition to existing management teams.

Endis, Inc.

🌐 Led a technology and creative company, growing the customer base to 600 clients and increasing annual revenue by 50%.
📈 Developed Political Insight and three other international brands, expanding the product portfolio and market reach by 70%.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Managed a team of 30 staff across three countries, improving project delivery timelines by 30% and reducing overhead costs by $500K annually.

International and US Based Companies

🎤 Restructured the Desperation conference, achieving a 330% increase in profit within one year.
📣 Launched a new marketing campaign, increasing event attendance by 50% and reducing marketing costs by 20%.
📞 Outsourced call campaigns to India, cutting operational costs by 25% and increasing campaign reach by 15K participants.


★ Ukraine: 1993-1998
★ US / Texas: 1998-2001 (included executive roles overseeing projects in Liberia and China).
★ US / Missouri-Colorado: 2001-2006

Non-Profits

Accomplished executive with 30 years of leadership experience in business development, financial management, and operational efficiency. Proven track record in founding and scaling companies, enhancing profitability, and driving strategic growth. Expertise in leading cross-functional teams, innovative technology integration, and franchise development. 

At Contender eSports, I established a premier franchise with over 50 locations sold globally, boosting customer engagement and revenue by $1.2M annually. Currently, I am a Board Member at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks, contributing my expertise to the community.

As the Founder and CEO of NextFran, I revolutionized franchise sales through AI-driven solutions, increasing lead generation efficiency by 40% and reducing new franchisee time-to-market by 25%.

Valpak

As General Manager at Valpak Clipp, I lead our sales and operations across the Nashville, Memphis, and Birmingham markets—helping local businesses grow through powerful print and digital advertising solutions. I’m focused on driving revenue, building high-performing sales teams, and delivering measurable ROI for our clients through data-driven strategies, targeted direct mail, and omnichannel campaigns.

I’m passionate about connecting brands with the communities they serve and creating opportunities for small businesses to stand out in a crowded market. From leadership development to creative marketing execution, my role is all about impact, innovation, and results.

General Manager

Social Link

- Increased client KPIs by 40%+ through integrated omnichannel strategies, including programmatic advertising, SEO, PPC, and social media
- Maintained a churn rate under 3% by using data-driven insights to deliver tailored strategies that drive long-term retention
- Drove a 20:1 ROAS from industry event participation by converting in-person engagements into qualified leads and long-term clients
- Launched new services including Direct Mail, CTV, and omnichannel campaigns, increasing client ROI by 30% and creating new upsell pathways

Vice President of Sales

AdPost

- Increased monthly recurring revenue (MRR) by $75K through targeted upsell strategies.
- Built and trained new sales and CX teams to support GTM efforts.
- Reduced churn by 3.5% by enhancing onboarding, communication, and CX touchpoints.
- Implemented a new conversion funnel that improved customer conversion by 95%.
- Deployed “Live Chat” support, enhancing response time and customer engagement.
- Facilitated cross-team collaboration to elevate product-market fit and reduce cancellations.

Sr Director of Customer Experience / Sr Sales Director

JumpCrew

- 120% to New Business quota in 2023 
- Improved lead contact rates and drove $250K+ in net new business.
- Managed a team of 5 Inside Sales managers and 50 account executives.
- Obtained 25% net new clients by increasing speed to contact on all marketing initiatives.
- Leader in implementation of new telephony and inbound sales call routing.
- Held regular meetings with sales & marketing leaders to strategize new campaigns that boosted the conversion rate by 5%.
- Assisted training leaders to successfully roll out new sales product sets which increased AVO by 30%.
- Helped in the transition from a digital media company to SaaS (AdPost)

Sales Director

Thryv

- Managed strategies for 160+ Business Advisors and 15 Sales Directors.
- Launched an AE/Phone handoff program, gaining 1,000+ SaaS clients and $400K MRR.
- Led marketing initiatives that drove 35% new customer growth and 316% YoY revenue increase.
- Developed training programs and sales playbooks that elevated organizational readiness.
- Delivered 20% lift in sales conversions through CRM optimization and new scripts.
- Boosted e-commerce SaaS revenue from $25M to $35M.
- Increased lead conversion from 3% to 9% and AOV by 400%.
- Piloted national inbound/outbound team alignment to raise call volume and win rates.
- Launched sales incentive programs that improved quota attainment across teams.
- Drove quarterly product training to support sales agility and speed to market.

Sr. Manager Sales, Strategy & Operations

AT&T

- Restructured Inside Sales Center, scaling headcount from 10 to 250 and generating $175M in revenue.
- Consistently ranked #1 in sales among 30 managers; won AT&T Winners Circle 3x.
- Led major national campaigns in partnership with ESPN, Google, and Facebook.
- Delivered 30% conversion on inbound calls through rapid contact and scripting.
- Spearheaded new hire onboarding programs and chaired AT&T training committee.
- Increased YoY sales revenue by 10% through campaign performance optimization.
- Played a key role in AT&T Leadership Academy to prepare top talent for executive roles.
- Managed inside sales operations across multiple cities including St. Louis, Birmingham, and Las Vegas.
- Drove strategic initiatives with vendors and media partners to expand customer acquisition.
- Achieved a 125% increase in inbound sales and maintained top rankings across multiple KPIs.

Area Sales Manager

Total Family Fitness

- Founded and scaled one of Southern Illinois’ top health and fitness centers, developing a 5-year strategic business plan and market positioning strategy.
- Surpassed first-year revenue goals by 250%, establishing a strong foundation for long-term growth.
- Designed and launched Southern Illinois’ largest youth fitness program, attracting hundreds of families and creating a lasting community impact.
- Secured 50+ corporate wellness accounts across Jefferson County, expanding the club’s footprint and revenue streams.
- Directed all aspects of business operations including A/R, A/P, marketing, membership sales, and customer service.
- Led integrated marketing campaigns across TV, radio, and print, driving consistent brand visibility and lead generation.
- Recognized as a top-performing fitness club in the region and ultimately acquired by the Mt. Vernon YMCA in 2006.
- Built a loyal member base through a high-touch service model, community partnerships, and innovative programming.

Owner/Personal Trainer

I’m a growth-focused Sales & Marketing Executive with 19+ years of experience building high-performing teams, scaling revenue operations, and driving results across local, regional, and national markets in SaaS, advertising, and digital/print media.

Currently serving as General Manager at Valpak Clipp, I lead go-to-market strategy and revenue growth across our Birmingham, Memphis, and Nashville markets. I’m focused on developing top-tier sales talent, optimizing multichannel campaigns, and expanding our footprint through strategic partnerships and local business engagement. Whether I’m launching new products, increasing cross-sell opportunities, or coaching the next generation of sellers, I lead with ownership, energy, and accountability.

Key Wins:
📈 Increased client KPIs by 40%+ through omnichannel and programmatic strategies
🎯 Scaled a Fortune 10 inside sales team from 10 to 250, producing $175M+ in new revenue
🔄 Maintained churn under 3% through tailored CX programs
📊 Drove a 20:1 ROAS from live events through relationship-based selling

I’m passionate about aligning strategy with execution, empowering teams, and helping businesses grow faster — and smarter. Let’s connect if you’re building a winning culture or looking to elevate your marketing and sales results.

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Brett Payne

Wesley Williams

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