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Beyond the Resume
This page is intended to go beyond the resume and how these endeavors interconnect with it and enhance it.
The reasons and experiences of having traveled throughout most of the country by car, primarily for business travel (industry trade shows and related events), have left indelible marks that have shaped outlooks, viewpoints, and approaches. The endeavors listed on this page are varied but have common underlying characteristics; processes that use thought, planning & organization, technical creation, and the subsequent action to bring things to fruition.
Applying these varied "non-business" endeavors to a management position is beneficial to the business or organization because that diversity will allow me to view things from different planes and levels in order to act in a more insightful and effective fashion.
The belief that a long memory and knowing about 'back then' gives a person greater perspective is akin to one of Winston Churchill's famous quotes, " The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see. "
Business & Objective
To utilize my experience of independent sales & marketing from the automotive repair, natural stone, and commercial sound & video fields for a position of product management or rep management, outside sales or a marketing role. The mentioned industries or fields represent three fundamentally different products - finished product, raw material, and software.
A strong vibrant business not only needs quality products that can be delivered on time but a sales force that can build trust and solid business relationships with their customers.
In the commercial sound industry 16 sales awards in 16 years, 9 of which reflected 9%-28% annual sales growth per year. While in the natural stone industry as the company's first outside sales rep the number of qualified accounts increased from roughly 25 to 150 in the first six months. Most recently, in the automotive repair field the territory reached 133% of monthly quota (September 2023) and in October began process to sign a national account.
A manufacturer's national newsletter wrote "Givan and Associates have increased their numbers consistently over the last couple of years primarily through the efforts of Jay Givan. His first hand knowledge of use and applications in small club PA systems has given him a leg up."
Having had many national and regional sales managers has been beneficial because everyone brought unique methods and approaches based on their experiences.
Trade shows and affiliations include, but not limited to:
NAMM - North American Musical Merchants
InfoComm/ NSCA - National Sound Contractors Association
AES - Audio Engineering Society
ISC - International Security Conference
Givan Associates, Inc. also hosted its own show featuring manufacturers we represented at the time for our consultant, distributor, contractor, and retailer base.
Web Sites
Givan Associates Inc. was credited for being the first independent manufacturers rep firm in New England within the commercial sound industry for publishing its own website.
Designed with simplicity, easy navigation, and easy to find contact information as priorities, several websites and its respective artwork/ logos have been designed recently ranging from individuals/ non-party affiliated candidates to civic organizations and 501(c)3 organizations, most recently North East Lyme & Associated Diseases: www.nelad.org
The two photos are from different websites.
Media & Newspaper 2009-2020
Between February 2009 - September 2020 I was a blogger/ contributor for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, focusing on budget analysis, issues based on current events, and issues of interest, such as the idea of a Massachusetts Hall of Fame.
Two T&G highlights were having a blog read and used as the topic of the day (2013) on a regional talk radio show based in Boston (WTKK 96.9 FM) and the other in August 2019 by a national talk radio host who also has a top rated cable news show and is a NY Times best selling author posting in 2019 on his Facebook page.
ARRL / Ham Radio
The Spirit of Amateur Radio: Exam taken at the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) and certified and licensed by the FCC as amateur ham radio operator in October 2014
The exam consists of 35 questions of a pool of over 400 questions ranging from mathematical, technical, and federal regulations.
Music & Entertainment
As a lifelong musician, and fortunate enough to have had two giants in the music recording industry as teachers - Joe Porcaro and Ralph Humphrey, our band, Allison Engine, received its first airplay on KCLA 99.3 in Hollywood CA. Soon after, with our full self produced CD 'Critical Distance' - a term from the sound industry, we garnered airplay on both commercial and college radio stations in ME, MA, CT, and RI, including WHJY Providence and WPXC in Hyannis. We were also featured on the front page of New Hampshire's Sunday edition of the Union Leader weekend section.
In 2012, Ayla Brown posted a promotional blog I wrote for her on her website while writing for the Telegram & Gazette: https://www.aylabrown.com/telegramstowns-com-ayla-to-perform-in-west-bolyston-ma/
In 2014 appeared in the Lifetime movie 'The Assault', based on a true story. Movie clip below.
The crest with the initials JHG is in tribute to the many drummers who have styled their bass drums this way.
This section is mentioned for the creative skills needed to produce a product and organizational skills needed to stay on schedule and budget, as well as market the product to radio stations and retailers.