Fleming has been involved in the direct selling channel of distribution, directly and indirectly, for more than 40 years. He is a former executive of Avon Products Inc., former Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Direct Selling News and current principal of Ideas & Design Group LLC. His ongoing work is focused on research, writing, selective consulting and speaking. His “voice” today is focused on supporting the gig economy conversation and those who have sought the flexibility, freedom and rewards associated with working in accordance to available hours, rather than the specific requirements of a specific job.
His recognition includes Direct Selling Association Hall of Fame, Direct Selling Education Foundation Circle of Honor and Direct Selling News Lifetime Achiever.
Meet the Author
Contributing Advisors
Robert A. Peterson, PhD.
John T. Stuart III Chair in Business Administration, University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Peterson is a professor at The University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the John T. Stuart III Chair in Business Administration. A gig worker, co-founder of four firms, consultant to scores of large and small businesses, and a former vice president of the university, he was recently honored by the government of Portugal when it named the first supercomputer in Portugal after him. (It’s called “BOB.”) He has authored nearly 200 books and scholarly articles. He has served vice president of the American Marketing Association and president of the Academy of Marketing Science. His government service includes membership on an advisory committee to the United States Census Bureau and representing the United States on the Poland-United States Innovation Program Council.
Kerry Tassopoulos
Founder The Tassopoulos Law Firm PLLC
Tassopoulos is the founder of The Tassopoulos Law Firm PLLC. His firm provides strategic legal, regulatory and compliance advice to clients who create, manufacture and market products regulated by various state, federal and international regulatory bodies, including the U.S. FDA and FTC.
For more than 30 years, he has served in key legal, business and government affairs roles at Mary Kay Inc., Excel Communications and Jani-King International. This experience, along with his involvement with the U.S. Direct Selling Association and Direct Selling Education Foundation, provides him with a strong understanding of the challenges facing the gig economy.
Greg W. Marshall, PhD.
Charles Harwood Professor of Marketing and Strategy, Crummer Graduate School of Business, Rollins College
Dr. Greg W. Marshall first shared this important perspective on the gig economy in the Ultimate Gig Special Report, published in 2019. Marshall is the Charles Harwood Professor of Marketing and Strategy in the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. In addition, he is a Visiting Professor of Marketing and Sales at Aston Business School, Birmingham, UK. He serves as editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Marketing, and is former editor of the Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice and the Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management. He is past president of the American Marketing Association Academic Council, a distinguished fellow and past president of the Academy of Marketing Science, and a distinguished fellow and past president of the Society for Marketing Advances. Marshall serves on the Academic Advisory Council of the Direct Selling Education Foundation, is a DSEF fellow, and is a member of the DSEF Circle of Honor.
Robert Cavitt
CEO
Jenkon
Cavitt’s career in software technologies for home-based business spans more than three decades. He has been the CEO of Jenkon Software for more than 20 years and serves as its Chairman of the Board. He also serves as a director for the Direct Selling Education Foundation, the world’s largest nonprofit organization educating the global marketplace on direct selling’s empowerment of micro-entrepreneurs, communities philanthropy, and strengthening of economies worldwide. He has also served multiple terms on the board of the U.S. Direct Selling Association.
Cavitt’s technical vision for micro-entrepreneurism drove Jenkon to deliver the first internet-based field tools, applications, and cloud-based platforms supporting home-based business in over 70 countries. His innovation leadership has resulted in Jenkon becoming the only technology solutions provider in the world to be honored with both Seldia’s Astra Award in Europe and the United States DSA Partner of the Year Award.
Kate Gardner
Business & Community Relations
GardnerCo
Gardner is Principal of GardnerCo and has 44 years of experience. She has co-founded two executive networking and support organizations for her direct selling colleagues: theJuice DFW & Salt Lake City and the Women’s Power Circle. Following many years in executive roles and direct selling company ownership, she now serves and supports the direct selling community with executive search and placement.
Simon T. Bailey
Strategist, speaker, author
Simon T. Bailey is internationally renown for his brilliance in speaking and communicating. His purpose is to “Spark” audiences to effectively lead in their countries, companies and communities. He has touched professionals in 100+ countries with his wisdom and expertise as a speaker, strategic coach, mentor and consultant who has impacted such global brands as SalesForce, T-Mobile, Stanford Health Care, General Mills and Hilton.
Bailey’s framework is based on his 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including serving as sales director for Disney Institute, based at Walt Disney World Resort. Today, he is a prolific author, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker and host of Spark You, the television show aired weekly on the Black News Channel. Cleary University, a 138-year-old institution in Holland, Michigan, honored him with a Doctorate of Science in Business Administration for his global impact.
He serves on several boards, collects rare stamps, roots for the Buffalo Bills and enjoys spending time with his family at his home in Windermere, Florida.
Ultimate Gig Core Team
The authors and collaborators all lead independent businesses. They are also available collaboratively for business assistance, advisory and consulting services in the field of sales and marketing.
Advocates
Mycyberman365 provides a one-stop solution to protect your most important business and personal communications tools by offering a full repair or replacement program for your devices. As a gig small business operator, your computer, smartphone, and internet are must-have tools. Should any of these systems go down, you are essentially out of business. In addition, Mycyberman365 provides the peace of mind knowing you and your family are protected from identity theft, social media monitoring along with a whole host of other features to protect you from threats that can damage your business devices and home network.
PayQuicker, an innovative fintech company, launched its revolutionary mass payout platform in 2007, allowing Direct Selling Organizations to offer secure and compliant instant global payouts to their distributors in local currency via secured bank accounts with prepaid debit cards and virtual cards, all through a single point of integration.
PayQuicker’s solutions allow businesses to make payouts locally, and around the globe. PayQuicker offers a fully customizable, client-branded experience with advanced technology that becomes the client’s competitive advantage.
Prescriptive Insights is an advanced analytics firm that helps companies institutionalize data-driven decision making. We identify drivers of consumer behavior by transforming structured (transactional) and unstructured (consumer conversations and feedback) data into insights and actions.
Our Direct Selling Analytical Framework consists of three major components – 1) Analysis & Insights 2) Strategy Validation and 3) Integrated Reporting. This framework enables companies to enhance their sales and marketing strategies and in turn, drive growth in sales and profit.
Strategic Choice Partners shapes today’s direct sales company to serve tomorrow’s consumer by offering a variety of services including marketing & communications, technology, training, event support, business development, financial support, online reputation management and more.
Their firm offers the most unique combination of industry experience and innovation to help direct sales companies rise above the status quo and emerge as leading, innovative brands that connect with today’s consumer.
