Chris Keune
Outdoor School Instructor · REI (Recreational Equipment Inc)
Scottsdale, AZ
In My Own Words
Over the years, I have had several opportunities to educate, inspire, and lead people to achieve goals in corporate business, outdoor recreation, and community service settings. One of my greatest skills is the ability to build strategic partnerships with clients, vendors, and professionals in complementary industries. My ultimate goal is to utilize my 23+ years of education, management, and business development skills in the outdoor recreation industry. My vision is to educate, inspire, and prepare people to recreate outdoors on a responsible and sustainable level thereby insuring this privilege for future generations.
Work Experience
Outdoor School Instructor
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc)2016 – Present
Responsible for educating participants on a wide variety of outdoor activities both in the classroom and the outdoors. Outdoor activities taught at the school include mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, GPS navigation, and wilderness survival. Instructors are also responsible for curriculum development, risk management, marketing, transport of customers, and gear maintenance. Helped launch a successful first year outdoor program in Phoenix market that exceeded corporate goals.
Sales Specialist
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc)2015 – Present
Cross trained to consult and outfit outdoor enthusiasts in all departments including biking, hiking, camping, backpacking, and kayaking. Responsibilities include customer service, in-store visual displays, inventory control, and new employee training. Creation and implementation of in- store class curriculum to customers. Acting liaison between retail store employees and Outdoor School Programming. Personal sales contributed to Paradise Valley REI achieving 120% of annual sales goal in 2016.
President Principal Broker
Rim 2 Rim Benefits2009 – 2016
Guided the agency through the numerous challenges presented by the implementation of healthcare reform. Clients benefited from agency’s utilization of innovative technology solutions and access to effective educational tools to help navigate product changes and dynamic legal requirements. Client base provided with a comprehensive analysis of their current products and alternative options as needed to help them strategically adjust their health plans to continue to meet their benefit and cost initiatives. Responsible for creation and implementation of a dynamic marketing plan which helped the agency sustain revenue from medical premium commissions while facing significant commission cuts from vendors. Adapted agency focus to generate additional revenue streams to exceed sales goals.
Independent Insurance Broker
Creative Benefit Concepts2005 – 2009
Built a client base that accounted for over 50% of the agency's total revenue within a three-year timeframe. Completely redesigned the agency’s marketing program to increase the market position and create consistency and efficiency in the message. Sales and marketing contributions enabled the agency to compete for large revenue employer groups
Small Business Sales Executive
Humana1997 – 2005
Successfully developed relationships with health insurance agents to educate and promote the sale of Humana’s products to employer groups. Successful track record starting in the National Sales Office in Madison, WI through supporting the agent community in other markets. Received opportunity as an outside sales representative in the Phoenix Market in 2001. Nationally recognized sales leader that performed in the top five percent of all sales representatives.
