David Bergum & Associates 707.543.5878 office 707.543.5874 fax David Bergum - President | COO Tatami, Inc.
dbergum@ teamdba.com Donita Dennis - EVP, Marketing & Business Development
ddennis@ teamdba.com TATAMI Sales Team
Jeff Schwinden | jschwinden@ teamdba.com | 425.391.7332 NORTHWEST - Alaska, Washington, Oregon, NW Idaho N. California, Reno |
After spending years doing odd jobs in the stores his dad managed, Jeff used that knowledge to land a gig selling shoes during his high school years. His extensive background includes brands such as Brown Shoe Co., Osaga, Vans, 1803, and Rogue. Jeff credits the diversity of the people and experiences for fueling his passion for the shoe industry. "I've always enjoyed working with people across the spectrum, large accounts and small, family operations to major players." His responsiveness and trustworthiness are a result of his recognition that the selling and relationship building process "is a marathon not a sprint." Jeff moved frequently as a child and through all his travels decided the Pacific Northwest was the perfect place to raise his sons Matthew and Andrew with his wife Cindy.
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Andy Graham | agraham@ teamdba.com | 303.885.1819 ROCKIES - Southeast Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico Andy is a third generation shoe dog with 20 years of experience in both wholesale and retail sales with companies such as Nordstrom, Dr. Martens, and New Balance. Andy’s entreprenuerial spirit and keen read on the market led to a successful business venture when he persuaded his parents to invest in a water sports store called Crystal River in 2000 that he managed and sold for a profit in 2004. Andy’s honesty and persistence combined with his wealth of knowledge on "anything outdoors" will be a key asset in helping you achieve your goals. If he’s not on the road working with retailers, you’ll find him skiing, hiking, or fly fishing with his wife and 2 ½ year-old son at his home in Boulder, Colorado. 
Paul Bergum | pbergum@ teamdba.com | 920.217.1097 MIDWEST - North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois Paul doesn't just know shoes, he's also an expert on feet. As a certified pedorthist, he's been educating Birkenstock retailers and customers for the last six years. Paul's infamy grew when he was asked by a retailer to appear at his store for a customer event, then put him in the newspaper and radio ads promoting his appearance. The event set a sales record for the store and pulled customers from over 60 miles away to get a chance to talk to the "celebrity." Paul's in-depth knowledge of the brand, along with his commitment to customer service, follow through and strong communication will undoubtedly provide you with an outstanding selling experience. 
Bruce Otwell | botwell@ teamdba.com | 501.231.5025 SOUTH CENTRAL - Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Louisianna After several years as a retail sales person for Bo’s Birkenstock / J. Pruitt Shoes, Bruce is an expert on our brands. His personable selling style and enthusiasm for the product helped to create his most memorable selling moment -- a $7,200 sale to one happy lady (who must’ve had a very large trunk). It’s a good thing Bruce is a sales rep for Tatami, Inc., because the guy will never get hired for the Arkansas tourism board. When asked why he lives there, his response was, "If I tell, all of you will want to live here." The next time you have an appointment with Bruce, ask him to bring his guitar. He’ll play it "any time, any where there’s a gig." 
Kirk Schueller | kschueller@ teamdba.com | 330.499.3155 GREAT LAKES - Michigan, Indianapolis, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia Kirk's initial foray into the shoe business might have reflected a passion of a different sort. He made enough money as a sales person at Szabo Shoes to buy his future bride an engagement ring. Two kids and nine brands later (including Duck Head, Hotter, Berkemans, Footthrills, and Town & Country), he credits the challenges yet unlimited opportunity, and people within the shoe industry for his continued enthusiasm. You'll find Kirk to be reasonable and solution-oriented to provide you with the best sales experience possible. 
Stephanie Shankles | sshankles@ teamdba.com | 310.490.4074 SOUTHEAST - Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida When most people envision an industrial boot wholesale salesperson they don’t typically think of a petite gal from the South. Stephanie’s incredible relationship building skills and personable selling style not only landed her these jobs, but led to great success with Carolina Shoe Co. and Rocky Shoes & Boots. After a stint hitting the beaches and soaking up the sun as a personal assistant for a family in Bel-Air, Stephanie moved back to her roots and her current status as top salesperson within dba. She attributes her work ethic and positive outlook on life to her parents. She spends her personal time enjoying friends and family in Tennessee and is always on the search for the latest in fine dining. 
Chris Husby | chusby@ teamdba.com | 315.729.3870 NEW ENGLAND - Maine, New Hampshire, Massachussetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Upper New York Though Chris is probably our most outwardly enthusiastic rep, he claims his favorite selling moment had nothing to do with shoes, but was when his wife accepted his proposal for marriage. After coming to the realization that surfing didn't pay well, he spent over 25 years in retail management for Kinney Shoes, Wohl Shoe Company, Bonwit Teller and Brown Shoe Company. On the wholesaling end, he's worked for brands such as Easy Spirit, Naturalizers, Soft Spots, Maxine Boots, and Nine West, as well as high end fashion brands Stewart Weisman, Feragamo, Donald Pliner, and Cole Hahn. If you already know Chris, you know he's hard to miss -- just look for the outgoing guy with unlimited energy (can you say Energizer Bunny?) who is eager to create a long-term, loyal working relationship. 
Cecilia Francis | cfrancis@ teamdba.com | 646.717.5200 MANHATTAN / BROOKLYN
Cecilia will use her broad sales background to work with retailers in Manhattan, as well as marketing and public relations efforts with our Tatami, Inc. partner. As a transplanted and very enthusiastic New Yorker, Cecilia loves the exciting atmosphere and unique mix of people. “You never know what is around the corner -- anything can happen at any given time.” Out of the office, she spends her time with her 5-year-old son, Donoven who speaks both Swedish and English fluently and is also learning German, resulting in about 100 questions a day in various languages. |
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