John Dennis
In the world of business there are two sides, consumer or producer. The consumer side spends the money, the producer side makes the money, working both sides is a must but first learn how to come out on top. Mr. Frank Rebel, Director of Sales and National Accounts for AT&T, can help make one a dangerous individual in the world of business. When asked for an interview he was more than happy to give the best advice he believes will help in the world of business. He stresses the importance of getting information out quick, why time management is important, and how teamwork can be key to make it or break it. May the following interview help all those on the way to becoming better communicators, employees, employers, and overall businessmen/women.
What is your professional history (include your timeline and roles)?
Frank Rebel: “In 2006 I was a market development manager for a company called BDS Marketing. I worked on imaging accounts and called on photo specialty locations in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. In 2007 I started my first position with DIRECTV as an area sales manager for the residential side. I was responsible for all aspects of developing and managing the indirect sales channel throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. I was promoted in October of 2012 to senior area sales manager of both residential and commercial. Additional responsibilities included the indirect commercial accounts in those same areas. March 2014 I became the senior key accounts manager which meant I was responsible for recruiting, developing and managing key accounts in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. 2015 I became senior manager broadband sales and strategy. I managed sales team responsible for the implementation and execution of the broadband strategy for the south east region, compromised of thirteen states. In 2016 I started with AT&T as senior manager of the residential and commercial sales. Manage the indirect sales channel in the Gulf States market, project planning, campaign management, formal sales training, and recruitment. February of 2018 I started the position I am in today as director of sales and national accounts. Manage an indirect sales organization to achieve sales results and quality metrics through identified national and regional events.”
What writing advice do you have for the professional communicators?
Frank Rebel:
B.L.U.F, Bottom Line Up Front.
“When talking to someone professional be up front with what the problem is. Below that put the details if needed.”
What is your one pet peeve when it comes to professional writing?
Frank Rebel: “Getting to the point, when you are all over the place and take forever to get to the bottom. Like I said with the last question, be up front from the beginning.”
What kind of business reports do you read and/or compose regularly?
Frank Rebel: “I have in my business, which is Telecommunication space, to read up on all the competitors first thing in the morning to see what moves they’re making. Wallstreet Journal every morning, owler, dealer scope. Just a handful of business reports. See if we need to change anything on our end.”
What are your writing suggestions to make those types or reports successful?
Frank Rebel: “Must be relevant! Wallstreet journal has a shitload of news but I don’t need all that. I have forty-five minutes a day so I need it as relevant as you can make it, to my industry. Don’t get to micro but make it relevant and good/accurate data.”
What speaking advice do you have for the professional communicators?
Frank Rebel: “A lot of the verbal communications that rub me the wrong way is when it is all about that person and/or that company.”
You must make your content not about you but how it pertains to the person you’re delivering too.
“Don’t make it a press conference or a monologue, make it somewhat of a dialogue, communicate in a way that engages.”
Name one thing you wish you would have known about business communication prior to your professional career?
Frank Rebel: “I’ve lived in many different areas and covered many geographic territories, when I started, I believed if I had the playbook in one market, I could just take it everywhere. One thing I wish I would have known is when I transferred the cultures, lifestyles, and everything is different. So, you need to adapt, there are all these different things, speaking mannerisms, writing styles, that you need to take into account when entering a new market.”
After assessing the burning glass list of baseline skills (2016), which skills not in the top 5 would you move into the top 5…and why?
Frank Rebel: “Communication skills I agree as number one, I believe time management should be in top five because if you cant manage your time efficiently then your days are just going to spin out of control. If you cant manage your time then nothing is going to get done. Teamwork as well, people aren’t being given less work at their jobs, they’re being given more and at the end of the day if you can’t work with a team to help you through those jobs then you are going to struggle.”
What team skills do you feel young professionals need the most?
Frank Rebel: “Those two I just moved up I would say go for this question as well. We are so distracted with challenges this day and age its just so easy to sit in front of a screen instead of fighting those challenges head on and helping others with their challenges.”
Key Take Aways
From the beginning of the interview it is easy to see that Mr. Frank Rebel has a great deal of experience in the business world. A world of constant promotions and moving around to get where he is in his career now. He would not have achieved so much progress so quickly if not for his communication skills in the work force. Frank stresses the importance of getting direct to the point instead of wasting time building up to it. He knows the importance of managing one’s time and making the best with the time that they have. In his profession he must keep up to date with everything going on in the telecommunication world and find ways to compete. If he cannot understandably express what he expects then there is no sure way that it will get done.
Frank clearly expressed how important teamwork is in today’s workforce. If someone has a problem working with a team or as a team then they more than likely are not going to go very far. Teamwork, mixed with time management, can make one a very dangerous person and sought after individual in the business world.
Frank Rebel Biography
Frank Rebel attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida through the years 2004-2008 to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in exercise science. During his Junior year at Florida State, Frank worked for BDS Marketing, LLC as a market development manager working on the Sony Digital Imaging account. Frank then went on to get a sales manager position with DirecTV for the remainder of his college career at FSU. Frank worked for DirecTV up to 2016 when he decided to further expand his education and pursue his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) at the Jack Welch Management Institute. While finishing his M.B.A, Frank became Director of National Accounts for AT&T and continues to hold that position today.
Frank Rebel LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-j-rebel-35a72a8/
J.P. Dennis is a first semester junior at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). He is pursuing a degree in business management through the Romain College of Business. He is employed full time by a locally owned and operated home goods store in Evansville, Indiana where he works in both sales and accounting. He plans to one day own and operate his own business one day. For LinkedIn click here.
