Skills for Life

To Andy Hammond the experience he gained while selling Cutco Cutlery in college was priceless. In fact, when he went to apply for a job, his employer knew from Andy's experience that he was primed for success.

Now a financial representative with Northwest Mutual, he says his Cutco experience helped him develop interpersonal skills and self-confidence. It taught him how to motivate himself, set goals, present products and prospect for clients.

Andy also gained the satisfaction of knowing that the substantial income he achieved while working part time was earned through his own efforts. That, he said, helped him grow personally and professionally, and it changed his life.

Following college Andy was sure that having his Cutco experience on his resume would give him an edge in landing a job. But when he applied for a position with Northwest Mutual he wasn't certain they would see it that way. Turns out that they look for job candidates who've sold Cutco because the training and business cycles are similar to their own. They are confident that a new hire with Cutco sales experience will be successful.

Today his career success with Northwest Mutual is soaring. He's quick to say it all started when he spent more than three years selling Cutco while a student at the University of Indianapolis.

"Vector training was the pivotal information I learned in college," he said. "More important than any class I took and more important than any lecture or any test."

Initially, when he started selling Cutco, he was intrigued with the notion of finding a job with flexible hours. Andy scheduled Cutco demonstrations around his classes, sports activities and internship. He said he found it easy to do demos by following the step-by-step sales training he received. He respected his Cutco managers not only because they were accessible and coached him on the nuts and bolts of the business, but because he appreciated their obvious interest in seeing him succeed.

With his newfound sense of accomplishment his commitment to learning grew. That's when selling moved from just a job to a keystone in his education. As he mastered the basics he realized that what he was really doing was building his own business.

"For anyone who wants to go into business or sales, Cutco is the number one opportunity they can and should take advantage of," he said. "It puts you light years ahead of your peers. You are in a league of your own because it offers the opportunity to go well beyond a regular college job."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

"If he could do it, so could I," said Anthony Gonzales, about a friend who was successful selling Cutco. As a college junior Anthony saw the Vector opportunity as a way to make good money and still have time to concentrate on school and play football.

Deciding that he wanted more, Anthony asked his friend for "the number for that Cutco thing?" He laughed, "At first, my parents wanted to know if I was sure I wanted to quit my so-called stable job at $5 an hour working at a water slide park to go sell knives." Anthony began selling Cutco and within 10 months was a branch manager.

Running his first branch office was, "The best experience of my life – creating something and reaping the rewards. At 21 I went to a new place, didn't know anyone, started with nothing and had to build something up." His branch was in the top 10 for the Western zone.

"After that I felt like I could do anything." The next summer he ran another branch office that was in the top 10 nationwide.

Anthony did well selling and kept up with school. In fact, he won two of Vector's All American scholarships. "I'm so glad I could take advantage of it and I recommend that every college student at least try it," he said.

He has advice for new reps. "Don't give up. Put your best foot forward and jump in with both feet. You will go through trials and tough times, but work with the numbers – do a lot of appointments and set yourself up for success."

He always dreamed of being a teacher and left Vector to pursue that dream. After a couple of years, however, he decided teaching wasn't for him and began to set his sights on something different.

"With Vector I learned sales skills – one of the biggest things interviewers look for." He landed a great job as an account executive with a title company and continues to be successful and enthusiastic about life.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Certified financial planner Ashley Hodge said that while selling Cutco he gained skills he continues to use today - time management, presentation and relationship building. Discipline and perseverance were also a few qualities he picked up along the way, he said.

"In my first interview out of college with Merrill Lynch, a Fortune 500 company, I was told that if I could sell Cutco I could do well in financial sales," the former Sales Rep and manager said. "And that's where I ended up."

During his years at Vector Marketing he moved from Sales Rep to Branch Manager and then on to District Manager. Ashley said he gained managerial experience in training, recruiting and motivating others.

"The Vector experience is a microcosm of life. And all the hats you have to wear help you learn to manage your day," he said.

Little did Ashley know that as he was building his business he was building a great resume. A resume which got attention and landed him a job right out of school while many with MBAs were being overlooked because of their lack of sales experience.

Today Ashley runs a successful business in financial services. He reminisced about his days selling Cutco where he began the foundation for his career and developed relationships with other Sales Reps and managers that he described as, "high quality people who were committed to excellence in their lives."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Brendan Donohue, sales representative with 3M Company, said selling Cutco gave him the head start he needed to find the perfect job. What's more, his father recognized the opportunity Vector had to offer his son.

"The Vector opportunity is an outstanding experience that helped me develop many skills needed to be successful in any kind of business or career. There aren't many other things I could have been doing that would have helped me develop as quickly," Brendan said.

In the beginning, Brendan wasn't the only one who thought he should sell Cutco . A salesman himself, Brendan's father encouraged his son to take advantage of the Vector opportunity.

Brendan took the position.

Brendan said selling Cutco for two summers in the early 1990's was more than just a summer job. In fact, it was valuable on-the-job training.

He grew professionally as he trained and applied the mechanics of selling. He grew personally, building self-esteem and confidence as he learned to self-motivate and persevere. And to complete the package, sales presentations taught him to communicate with all kinds of people.

Brendan stood out in interviews because he was field-tested.

"My Vector experience enabled me to acquire the basic selling skills that I needed for the foundation of my sales career," Brendan said.

As an expert, Brendan's father was impressed with his son's thorough presentation. His father believed that the Vector training program was giving his son the skills needed to be a first-rate salesman.

Now, Brendan follows in his father's footsteps as a salesman. But, he knows that should he ever change careers the skills he learned with Vector will still apply.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Brian Beam, owner and president of The P.O.P. Shop, said it takes more than a college degree to make it in business, you need the real life experience employers are looking for - you need the Vector experience.

Not only did selling Cutco throughout his college career at Georgia Tech pay for Brian's schooling, but Vector readied him to run his own business.

"I worked with so many great people and learned how to run a business which allowed me to open my own business afterwards," he said.

Brian earned a degree in management but by selling Cutco he was able to put that classroom theory into practice.

"About 70 percent of what I needed to know (about business) came from my Vector experience," he said.

In fact Vector taught Brian to be a recruiter, trainer and manager. He was also able to hone his communication and marketing skills and learned to work smart and get results selling Cutco.

Brian credits Vector with giving him the flexibility to work around his school schedule, but more importantly with giving him the skills to create his own successful business. His advice to new reps is to view selling Cutco as more than just a summer job and see it as a chance to gain the skills necessary to be successful in any career.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Brian Daniel, a sales representative with Unisource - subsidiary of Georgia Pacific, gained more than a good-paying summer job selling Cutco. "You can make a lot of money. It's (Cutco) a great product," he said But as much as he enjoyed the money, he said the Vector Marketing experience offers a lot more.

"It (the Vector experience) taught me how to deal with people, handle objections and persuade people. And the confidence you gain by doing the job and managing your own business carries over to your own selfesteem," he explained.

Brian began his sales career selling Cutco the summer between his sophomore and junior year in college.

"I sold Cutco as my main summer job for two years," said Brian. He reached the FSM level and was recognized for a unique accomplishment at that time - selling at least $1,000.00 for eight weeks in a row.

Brain's family noticed the effect the Vector experience was having on their son . "My parents saw me developing professionally and personally. They saw me grow into an outgoing, energetic person who was motivated," he said.

Brian said he didn't know anything about sales before his Vector experience, and advises new reps, "If you work hard it will pay off. Just keep focused on doing the job – it works!"

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Former Cutco sales rep Cindy (Bauer) Gamrat said her former managers and top-notch training taught her time-management and goal-setting skills that have translated well into her professional and personal life today.

Selling Cutco for four years while studying at the University of Michigan gave Cindy the opportunity at a young age to gain confidence, business savvy, poise, financial planning know-how and communication skills that many people never see in a lifetime.

"You learn so much," said Cindy, a registered nurse now living in Indiana. "You are your own boss. It's invaluable, especially at that young age."

At the same time, selling Cutco fit in well with her college schedule. Cindy said she had the flexibility to set appointments around classes and activities. And, when it was time for summer break, she took her job with her and sold Cutco in her hometown. "It's a job you can carry around in your pocket," she said.

Besides being a character building experience, selling Cutco was also a wealth building experience for Cindy. With her level of sales, she was able to pay part of her college tuition.

In addition to making good money selling Cutco, more importantly she was taught how to manage her money. She had managers who coached her one-on-one about money management and she still refers to notes she took at the many workshops that offered training on saving for the future and avoiding credit card debt.

"If someone hadn't told me how to manage my money I would have probably just gone out and blown it," she said.

It took more than just wise money management to help Cindy make the bold choice of taking a hiatus from her nursing career to home school her children. She drew from her decade-old well of Cutco experiences to make the right choices that have ensured her success.

"Today, when I decide to do something, I go back to my Vector experience and think about how to break it down to reach my goal," she said.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Insurance agent Corey Lilburn believes his Vector Marketing experience gave him the tools to get from being a freshman in college to a professional working with a Fortune 100 company.

"It (Vector Marketing) provides life skills as much as job skills. We sell ourselves everyday, whether you're a construction worker or a doctor, everyone needs these skills," he said.

Corey listed perseverance and discipline as just a few of the benefits to be had by going through the experience of selling Cutco. Gaining self-confidence and fully developing presentation and communications skills were other key life skills he identified.

"Many of my clients are doctors and lawyers. If I didn't have communication skills they wouldn't give me the time of day," he said.

So how did Corey get from college to well-paid, well-respected professional? No surprise, he interviewed. Something he said most people don't do well. But for him it was his Vector experience that not only made him stand out from the pack of candidates, but offered him choice in the matter.

"A job recruiter sent me to a half dozen companies and they all offered me either a second interview or the position. Then I was able to choose the one I was most comfortable with," he said.

So how can you go from college to the career of your choice? Corey said take the Vector plunge and sell Cutco. He added that you may have to go it alone without full parental support and that you may even take some razzing from kids at school, but it's worth it. His advice.

"Show Cutco to everyone you know – the initial practice period is critically important."

And hang in there, Corey said, because he believes the Vector experience has so much to offer anyone. The beauty of Vector is that you don't have to start with experience. But, he added, important job experience is exactly what you will end up with.

Corey still uses the skills he gained with Vector today. Skills he expects will serve him for a lifetime.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Making money is nice, but when you can get a job that really teaches you something to carry into the future you're a real winner. Dan Deckard believes he scored big in that department when he became a Vector sales rep.

Today he works in the Information Technology (IT) Department for Volvo and Land Rover in Dearborn, Mich., but for three years in the late 1990s Dan worked as a sales rep and assistant manager for Vector Marketing.

Initially, he said, it was money that motivated him to answer a Vector classified ad when he was 19. But soon he realized that the rewards of the job were much bigger than the paycheck. He was excited that the skills he was learning were building him as person.

"At first, I wanted to earn as much money as I could," he said. "But then I saw that there was a lot more to it and now I would say that money is the least important as far as the values I got out of that job."

Gaining financial discipline, goal setting, time management and communication skills ended up being more valuable to him than the money he made. He said that he wouldn't be as organized, confident and grounded as he is today if it wasn't for his Vector experience.

In passing that wisdom along to new reps, he urges them to capitalize on the learning opportunities before them. More experienced reps and managers are a wealth of knowledge and are eager to guide newer reps along their path to success. The more you learn the better off you'll be.

"Money can be spent but nobody can ever take those skills away from you," he said. "What I learned are skills that I'll use for a lifetime."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Danny Seo, real estate entrepreneur, said everyone needs the Vector Marketing experience because selling Cutco teaches you the golden rule that can be applied to any career. What's the rule? Learn to sell.

"Everything in business is sales. If you're not selling a product directly you're selling indirectly. For example, doctors and lawyers sell their services and reputation. Even in interviewing sales experience is invaluable. Everything goes back to sales," he said.

Danny listed lots of examples of how we sell ourselves everyday no matter what we do. So surely as a finance major at Boston College he was taught something so basic to business. Actually, no.

"You can't teach sales. It takes real life experience," he said.

Experience he gained with Vector selling Cutco during summers while in college. Danny said not only does the Vector experience pay off in the long run, but there's a lot of instant gratification too.

"I liked selling Cutco because of the immediate financial gains. When you closed a sale you instantly knew the amount of your financial reward," he said.

So from making good money in the short term to learning sales skills that last a lifetime; Danny Seo is sold on the Vector Marketing experience!

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

David Assenheimer's experience with Vector was the cornerstone from which he built his successful banking career. Not a day goes by that he doesn't rely on the strong organizational and interpersonal skills he learned selling Cutco, he said.

Organization is a must for bankers. Presenting a calm, yet prompt and professional, atmosphere for clients sets the stage for business. Creating that kind of environment doesn't happen by accident. It takes attention to detail and the ability to orchestrate people's schedules and needs, he said.

David believes he excels in that arena because, as a Vector rep and later assistant branch manager, he learned to orchestrate his own schedule and prioritize the tasks before him. He started with Vector Marketing as a junior at Ohio State and stayed on for over two years.

Selling Cutco also proved to be a great training ground for cultivating his people skills. Banking is more than just business transactions; it's about people, too. Understanding and meeting clients' needs is the key to maintaining and gaining business.

"With Vector I acquired the ability to relate to so many kinds of people," he said.

David also learned early on that to be successful in any job requires commitment and a thirst for knowledge. As a rep he committed himself to the sales training, stayed true to the basics of the Vector program and realized the rewards.

"There are reps that have successfully sold Cutco for years and others who sold for a couple of weeks. The only difference between the two is those who stay have followed the training," he said.

While so many college grads continue to look for jobs well after leaving school, David landed a job in banking shortly after graduation. He believes his Vector experience set him apart from the rest and helped him get the job.

"I was the youngest at my bank, but I got the job because I had experience," he said.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Dr. Eric Patterson urges his students to become Cutco sales reps because he knows first hand the strength of the experience, no matter what your career path.

As an undergrad in the 1990's Eric sold Cutco. Today, a decade later, the assistant political science professor at Vanguard University said he learned skills as a sales rep and manager that helped him become successful today.

"Vector trained me in time management, personal motivation and goal setting. These skills have been instrumental as I have written books and articles as well as prepared reports and courses for the university," he said.

Eric said that Cutco continues to play a large role in his career as a college professor. At the same time, he sees how selling Cutco can benefit students with other career aspirations. He said the experience offers an opportunity to develop public speaking and referral generation skills and cultivates professionalism. What's more, if a person becomes a manager with Cutco they learn how to develop people.

"These abilities are public performance skills which are suitable not only to the salesperson but to the musician, minister, actor and business professional," he said.

Eric tells his students that selling Cutco is a unique opportunity to learn a multitude of skills that will benefit them in the future while having the chance to take total responsibility for their own success.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Dr. Jeff Auerbach credits his experience with Vector Marketing for providing him with skills that enabled him to be not only a successful psychologist, but an author, public speaker and consultant as well.

"I learned a lot from Vector Marketing – the ability to be an entrepreneurial psychologist and public speaker. That all comes directly from my Vector Marketing experience," said Dr. Auerbach, author of Irritating The Ones You Love – The Down And Dirty Guide To Better Relationships.

Dr. Auerbach joined Vector Marketing after seeing an advertisement in the library of Temple University where he was a freshman. Although he received a bit of resistance from his parents initially, they supported his decision to sell knives while in school because they thought the experience would be valuable.

"My mom thought it might be good experience for me to learn how to market myself," he said.

And market himself he did. Dr. Auerbach sold Cutco for six years, during which he rose from sales representative to district manager. He then became a psychologist and an expert in helping people build better relationships. His book on the subject caught the attention of the media and Dr. Auerbach was contacted by CBS television to be on The Early Show.

But even before he wrote the book, Dr. Auerbach was blazing his own trail as a psychological consultant, drawing on skills acquired from his Vector Marketing experience. "For anyone with an entrepreneurial streak, it's (Vector) irreplaceable," said Dr. Auerbach, who today is hired by companies to give seminars on irritation management that help their employees better deal with each other. "The ability to be outgoing and confident – no question – that came directly from my experience with Vector."

So what is the doctor's advice for new Vector representatives today?

"Work the program the way you are taught it and be as enthusiastic as possible. Perseverance is the key to success," Dr. Auerbach advised. "It might take a while to get the hang of it because you may do a fair amount of work before you see a breakthrough. It's like a water pump . . . you pump and pump and there's no water, then suddenly it starts to gush!"

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

For Dr. Terry Smith, an important part of learning to be a doctor was the education he received selling Cutco through Vector Marketing. In fact, it was the combination of medical school and the Vector experience that continues to help him achieve his life's mission of helping people.

Terry's inviting way allows patients to feel comfortable and open up to him from the first meeting.

"Selling Cutco taught me how to develop rapport with strangers and has helped me as a physician," he said.

Once patients feel comfortable, Terry builds trust and they, in turn, embrace his treatment plans. He learned those relationship-building skills selling knives. As a Vector rep he listened to customers' needs and concerns then explained how they would benefit from owning Cutco.

"I can tailor a patient's treatment plan to their needs and show them why they need it and how it will help," he said.

Being in the business of helping people is something Terry has always wanted to do. Today he does that as a doctor but he also realized it selling Cutco.

"I loved selling Cutco, especially the close because that's when I was making a difference in their lives by selling them something they would use for years and years," he said.

Terry said selling Cutco developed him inside because he learned the value of integrity and on the outside because he learned to listen and understand. In fact, his Vector experience when he was 19 continues to play a key role in his medical practice.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Playmore International CEO Elizabeth Rhodes is in control of her destiny. She said she learned how to take charge of her life and success through Vector.

"With Vector I learned that I have the ability to control the way that I think about what's happening to me. Rather than being a victim of circumstance, I realized the impact that I have on my life," she said.

Owner and operator of five fitness and weight-loss centers for women, Elizabeth plans to diversify with the addition of a new hair-color franchise. So did she ever question her ability to build an empire?

"I'm not sure I would have bought my first franchise if somewhere in my life I hadn't proved to myself (through the Vector Marketing experience) that I could do such a thing," she said.

Her Vector experience began in 1989 when she was 19 attending Illinois State University. She sold Cutco for three summers. And her suggestion to new reps starting in Vector is to look beyond the first week at the big picture.

"Approach it (Vector) as a career and ask yourself, ' if I were to become a division manager in five to 10 years what would I be doing today?'" she said.

That's the attitude Elizabeth took. She held herself accountable for learning, performance and results. And as she exercised this course of action with Vector she learned that she had the power to determine her fate. Empowerment she continues to use today to create success for tomorrow.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

As a financial planner for American Express, a world leader in financial services, Eric Zimmerman talks with people about one of the more intimate matters in life – personal finances. So it's easy to understand why the strong people skills he learned working for Vector Marketing are a must for him.

Eric believes it's crucial for him to make people feel comfortable, educate them about a product and help them reach important decisions about their finances. It's a job that sounds a lot like the work he did for Vector for eight years.

"I have to establish trust with a client as a financial advisor because we're talking about personal things," he said. "I credit Vector with giving me sales skills and the ability to read people. I can understand what they want and provide them with a service."

Selling Cutco was something that started off as a summer job for him but he ended up staying for eight years. In that time, the job carried him from Michigan to Australia.

Eric started with Vector as a sales rep in 1989 when he was an engineering major at Michigan State. He worked his way up to district manager in the Ann Arbor office and by 1996 he was packing his bags and heading overseas to help run the Parramatta office in Sydney, Australia.

He moved on to American Express after leaving Vector in 1998. Today he is a district manager with the company. Some of his responsibilities include training new reps and, again, he relies heavily on the skills he learned at Vector, like recruiting, and people and office management. And, as far as recruiting goes, he's on the lookout for potential reps with Vector experience.

"I think the ability to interact and be pretty comfortable with people has translated well to what I'm doing now," he said. "I've got to believe that the reason I'm doing what I'm doing today is because of Cutco."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

It's hard to comprehend that one small act can change the course of a person's life, but that's just how leadership coach Fi Mazanke feels about a phone call she made to a Cutco office in 1984.

It was that brief call and what happened next that helped her develop the strong groundwork she builds her life upon today, she said. As a Cutco sales rep and assistant office manager she set appointments, met with potential customers, generated referrals and ran an office. Those responsibilities helped her improve her communication skills, become a more confident woman and face the challenges that held success at bay.

"With Vector I saw so many skills and values that laid the foundation for my life," Fi said. "It was my experience with Cutco that gave me the opportunity to really face my fears that may have been a roadblock to creating success."

A 19-year-old dietetics major at Eastern Illinois University, Fi started as a sales rep for Brekmar Corp., a Cutco distributor that merged with the Vector Marketing Corp. in 1986. She was promoted to assistant office manager, district manager, then to sales promotion manager in the Central Region office. Lastly she was Vector's first leadership coach, a concept she introduced to the company in 1999.

Today a wife and mother of two, Fi has been a running her own coaching business, Finomenal Leadership in St. Charles, Ill., since 2002. As a coach she said she helps people live their dreams by teaching them to overcome the roadblocks preventing them from being successful.

That sounds a lot like the education she received at Vector.

"The skills and foundation I laid with my Vector experiences have allowed me to stretch myself so that I can continue to grow today," she said. "I wouldn't trade those experiences for the world."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

At 19 the Vector Marketing experience taught Gus Brabham, now a partner in an insurance agency, how to determine his own success. Gus lists time management skills, people skills, and business skills as some of the things he learned from his time with Vector Marketing, but he believes Vector offers an experience that is as important as it is unique to find in a summer job.

"It (the Vector Marketing experience) teaches you how to know your market and figure out ways to get into that market. You learn how to qualify your prospects which is essential," he said.

Neither Gus nor his mom and dad had heard of Cutco when Gus began selling knives the summer before his sophomore year in college, but someone in Gus' family recognized the cutlery.

"My grandmother had purchased Cutco 30 years prior and it was comforting knowing it (Cutco) was a good product," he explained.

Gus had no problem recommending Cutco to customers. "It's a good product," he said. He feels the same way about Vector. "I recommend it (the Vector experience) to people. You'll gain sales experience. Also, you learn how to learn about a product, present the product and then discuss the product." Gus has advice for new Vector Marketing Reps.

"Have fun with it! View it as a game. Treat each demonstration as an opportunity to meet somebody new anjs/swiper.min.jsse of folks you've come in contact with. I sold Cutco to the person who is now my partner – that's how I ended up with this job."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

No matter what field you wind up in, the skills you gain selling Cutco will be an asset. In fact, attorney Hiram Sasser, Director of Litigation for Liberty Legal Institute, found that he has directly applied his Vector experience to his legal work today.

"Looking back I see how universal the principles I learned with Vector are. They teach you law in law school, not how to be a lawyer. I learned to be a lawyer selling Cutco," Hiram said.

Hiram said being a lawyer requires the communication skills he learned with Vector Marketing during his college years in the mid 1990s. In fact, he compared the courtroom to selling Cutco in the home.

First a lawyer presents a case much like a rep presents Cutco knives. Then a lawyer must quickly answer questions from experts as a rep similarly handles objections. Finally, a lawyer convinces judges and juries to rule in favor of their client which is not unlike a rep closing a sale.

What's more, Hiram is comfortable and can make his point talking to anyone, from a potential client to a government official. He learned this skill selling Cutco to people he'd never met before.

Hiram believes the communication skills he learned selling Cutco can help in any career and plans to have his son work for Vector regardless of career choice. "The skills you learn with Vector are portable for whatever area you go into."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Former Vector sales rep Jaime Nespor has a resume that's impressive at any age. Business savvy, sales skills and management experience all by the time she was 22 and all thanks to her two years selling Cutco Cutlery through Vector Marketing.

It was that resume and the sales experience behind it that helped her land a job she said is usually reserved for people older than her – account executive for Baltimore Smart CEO magazine.

But to her it's not just about a great-looking resume. Jaime said she places greater value in the skills she gained selling Cutco in the Baltimore area.

"It's not just about the resume, it's about what I learned," she said.

And what did she learn? Her list includes sales techniques, how to deal with people, team work, self confidence, independence, the power of a positive attitude, business savvy, poise and organizational skills.

"Before Vector I had no idea how to present myself or how to talk to people on a professional level," she said. "I learned skills they don't teach you in the classroom."

As a business major at Towson University in Baltimore, Md., Jaime took a job with Vector Marketing as a Cutco sales rep in 2001, the summer between her sophomore and junior years. During her time selling Cutco she worked her way up to Branch Manager her second summer on the job then on to Sales Manager in the Division Office.

She describes her foray into management as "the most amazing experience of my life."

As a Branch Manager of a small office in Salsibury, Md., she was required to find an office, negotiate a lease, hire a receptionist and train a sales staff. It was something she wouldn't have had the chance to do had she worked a typical summer job.

"I just took all the training I got with (Cutco) and went out there and started my own business from scratch," she said. "It was definitely a growing experience."

She reached the goals she set for herself and her office that summer and ranked fourth among branches in that division. That success propelled her into the division office as a Sales Manager.

Making Cutco an even better experience was the support she received from her parents.

"Even if this amazing opportunity didn't pay a cent, my father said the experience alone would still be worth it."

Where would she be today if she hadn't answered a Vector ad in a local Pennysaver? She can't really say, but she does know she wouldn't be as happy or successful.

"Selling Cutco I learned skills I need for life. I wouldn't be here without it, I can tell you that," she said.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

For James Arredondo, the road to becoming a successful businessman is paved with the people skills he learned selling Cutco Cutlery.

Before he became successful as an insurance and investment advisor with one of the top companies in the nation, he realized as a freshman at Bentley College that he had one skill to hone – people skills, he said. It was then the honors student heard some buzz on campus about selling Cutco through Vector Marketing. He was quick to jump on board, he said, recognizing a great opportunity to learn to talk to people.

Once a Sales Rep, James said he made the commitment to learn and follow the Cutco sales program.

"I practiced what my managers taught me," he said. "I memorized those approaches and got very good at different techniques."

Following the program helped him reap the rewards of his newfound skills. In fact, he became so good at presenting himself, quickly connecting with people and answering questions openly, that he sold a lot of Cutco.

Just as James' newfound people skills helped boost him to success as a Sales Rep, they also opened the door to the career he enjoys today, he said. While many of his friends were still looking for a job, with his Cutco sales experience on his resume James was noticed by employers before graduation.

In fact, he said his Cutco experience sold him to prospective employers. He had several job offers and was able to choose the company he wanted to work for most. He found that, "Instead of selling knives you are selling you."

Today, thanks in part to his Cutco sales experience, James enjoys professional and financial success. He also has a tip to help new reps strengthen customer relationships. "Send thank you notes to people when they buy from you – it sets you apart," he said.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Selling Cutco may not have been Jane Glucksman's first job, but it was her first career move. Now Jane manages relationships with major restaurants and entertainment companies on behalf of American Express. But it was the Vector Marketing experience that kicked off her career, offering what today's market demands.

"The market is so competitive; you need more than to be eager with a positive attitude. You need to show that you can organize, work with others and manage a project," Jane said.

A full package of business experience is what Vector Marketing offers. Jane said that the Vector experience teaches project management, communications, sales and administration skills.

"(With Vector Marketing) you are running your own mini-business," she said. Jane started running her Vector Marketing business in 1986 at the beginning of college.

So, what's important when you start running your Vector Marketing business?

Jane said a new Vector rep should "get out of your comfort zone." Cutco is a great product, you should feel confident talking to anyone about Cutco. The more people you show Cutco to the more people will buy Cutco. And as you work the business you'll find the value of the Vector Marketing experience - your first big career move.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Vector taught Jason Farrell, an equity options and ETF trader for Bluefin Trading, the business of business. And with that Jason's made the big time buying and selling on the American Stock Exchange in New York City.

"The Vector Marketing experience is really a great experience because it puts you in the mentality of having your own business. It teaches you how to be competitive in business and work hard. And whether you go on to own your own business or work for someone else it (Vector) gives you the practical business tools to be successful," he said.

So Jason realized that the skills he learned with Vector Marketing gave him a business edge and others saw that he had an edge too. Potential employers noticed that the Vector experience had given him practical business experience that set him apart from his peers.

"Coming out of college with my Vector Marketing experience I got the most job interviews in my class, about 30, and I got the most call backs for a second interview in my class," he said.

From classroom to real-life business. Jason started selling Cutco between his sophomore and junior year and continued selling for 2 ½ years. In that time he jumped from Assistant Manager to Branch Manager and then on to Sales Manager. He said that experience was irreplaceable.

So what was the secret to this whiz kid's success?

"All I did was follow to the letter what my managers told me and I worked hard – that's what I did," Jason said.

On the outside he was just following the plan, but on the inside something else was happening. The Vector experience helped Jason transform himself from shy to outgoing. He discovered that he enjoyed taking a great product into someone's home for a presentation. Personal interactions and success he is still reminded of today.

"Even now, seven years later, I still have people come up to me that I sold knives to my first summer that remark how good the knives are, how razor-sharp they are and they thank me."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Because of her Vector experience, Jenny Lee developed a skill set that has helped her create a successful career in finance and beyond. At each progression in her career she has been able to utilize the sales, managerial and entrepreneurial skills that she developed from her Vector experience.

The associate at Glocap said, "Because of my Vector experience I stood out as a candidate when I was interviewing for jobs my senior year of college. I was offered more job offers than most of my graduating classmates. Plus, the experience from Vector inspired me to continue being an entrepreneur. Apart from my regular job, I started and currently run a successful New York-based event planning company as a side job."

What set the Columbia University alumni apart was the fact that at 19 she was a Vector branch manager. That experience gave her the opportunity to build the kind of business and team, the likes of which, companies usually reserve for people twice her age.

Jenny said that becoming a Vector Marketing branch manager took everything she had. But she accomplished just as much.

"The Vector experience will challenge you out of your normal boundaries. It helped me to develop maturity, confidence and presentation skills, which I lacked prior to my Vector experience. I learned how to sell, negotiate leases, do public speaking, budgeting, interviewing, manage people and build teams. These are all skills that you will always use over the course of a lifetime. And most valuable to me was the mentorship of amazing managers," she explained.

Although it was the opportunity to make good money that got Jenny's attention when she began selling Cutco the summer of 1996 between her freshman and sophomore years, the Vector experience offered much more than a great paycheck. She said selling Cutco for 2 ½ years was a life-altering experience for her as she grew from sales rep to branch manager. Jenny's entire outlook changed.

"I approach everything so much more positively. I know that as long as I persevere and stick to a goal I can accomplish it," she said.

And that's a legacy Jenny wants to pass along. She plans to encourage her own children to sell Cutco so that they may realize their potential. She's living proof that the Vector experience can give you the advantage of unlimited opportunity.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Within every good entrepreneur lies discipline, a desire to succeed and a passion for the product. For Jim Novitsky learning those truths started when he sold Cutco Cutlery in college and living them continued through his successful ventures all the way into early retirement.

The 40-something former entrepreneur said that the goal-setting, discipline, time-management, budgeting and communication skills he learned during his time as a Cutco sales rep are critical in today's challenging business environment. As a sales rep, learning opportunities are found in everything from efficiently scheduling appointments to sitting down with people you don't know and presenting a product, he said.

"At a young age, sales reps learn skills to succeed and carry them through life," he said. "It determines who you are, what you do and how you do it."

Jim sold Cutco through Vector Marketing for 1½ years while a student at Michigan State laying the foundation for a career in sales. After leaving Cutco he continued his career in sales. He rose in the ranks from sales rep to National Sales Manager at which point he began his own sales and distribution company. Later he would sell his company opting for an unusually early retirement.

Now Jim enjoys his 40s void of the usual work-week routine. He lives a comfortable lifestyle with plenty of time to spend with his young children and wife. He believes that the skills he began to develop selling Cutco were the same skills that now allow him this financial freedom.

Having the opportunity to sell a product he believed in and learning the value of investing in a quality product like Cutco also contributed to his success, Jim said. He saw first hand that while the up-front cost of a quality product is greater the investment over time is cost effective. This knowledge played a key role in his success in sales.

"In sales if you have a great product for your customer it is your duty to help them make the right investment in that product," he said. "Otherwise, they will spend more money over time buying something else that doesn't meet their needs as well."

Today Jim still has his original Cutco in his kitchen, a reminder of how great skills and a great product can lead to a great life.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Former Sales Rep Jim Stein said that learning discipline, setting goals and developing his presentation skills are what made him successful selling Cutco when he was 21 and are what make him successful as an attorney today.

It may seem like a stretch for an aspiring attorney to jump into sales, but Jim said he had the advantage of his father's perspective. Jim's dad was a salesman and when his son asked him what he thought about an opportunity selling Cutco his dad looked at the program. He was impressed by the product, training program and incentive structure, Jim said.

Along with his father's approval came some advice that worked so well he'd give it to a new rep today. His dad's wise words? "Work the job and give yourself regular hours – discipline yourself," he said.

At 21, this would-be attorney sold Cutco through Vector Marketing for two summers. He said that the sense of accomplishment he felt after a successful sale was rewarding. "I liked having a goal and something to achieve – it's different than just punching a clock every day," he said.

Now that Jim is an attorney he said he realizes that his experience presenting Cutco to customers not only helped pay for law school, but helped him prepare to practice law.

He uses the listening skills he cultivated selling Cutco daily. Much like dealing with customers, today Jim focuses on his clients' needs and helps them meet their objective. And in front of a judge and jury in court Jim finds himself using the presentation skills he cultivated selling Cutco.

Not only does Jim see his Vector experience as a career asset, but he said his employers suspected that his background selling Cutco would help him be a successful attorney.

"My sales experience showed my employers that I had initiative and was a self-starter," he said.

Jim continues to enjoy his career as an attorney. However, he recently decided he'd like to sell Cutco on the side because he said, "I'm proud to sell Cutco. I think the fact that I still want to be involved selling Cutco when I already have a successful career is a testament to the program."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Joe Dominick said he got to where he is today because of the strong start he had in the business world selling Cutco Cutlery while a student at Western Maryland College.

Working as a Sales Rep, Branch Manager and a Sales Manager for three summers, the 22-year-old Baltimore, Md., man said he developed his business savvy, learned goal-setting and communication skills and, most importantly, gained the confidence it took to get in on a business that is expected to bring in $1.5 million in 2004 – its second year of operation.

"That's really the first, most important thing I learned. Confidence is key," he said. Being a successful Branch Manager (#2 in the division one summer) "gave me a lot of confidence."

So, when Joe's college friends came to him with the offer of getting involved in their corporation, Nustin Industries LLC, parent company of t-shirt broker Mr. Merch Graphics, he jumped on the offer. The "great start" Joe got selling Cutco through Vector Marketing helped him think big when thinking big was exactly what an upstart business like Mr. Merch Graphics needed.

"My friends had a great system set up for the business but they weren't thinking as big as I was," he said. A few great ideas and about a year later, Mr. Merch Graphics is the preferred t-shirt vendor for Virginia Tech and expects to bring in $1.5 million this year.

Joe started selling Cutco after his freshman year at Western Maryland. Soon he'll be graduating from the University of Phoenix and has been accepted into Loyola's MBA program where he'll be a part-time student.

Joe believes that selling Cutco opened doors that would not have been open to him otherwise.

"I was getting job offers from places that listed qualifications I didn't have, but they decided to look past that because of my Cutco experience," he said. "Cutco opened up other opportunities that helped me grow as a sales person. It's a great a place to start."

While he's no longer selling Cutco, Joe still considers himself a Cutco guy. He "recruits" people for the job and recommends it to anyone looking to develop a strong personal and professional foundation.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

John Pepper believes the secret to his success today lies in the experiences he had selling Cutco as a Dartmouth College student in 1990.

Since then he's worked as a banker, a sales rep for Johnson & Johnson and is now at the helm of the popular Boston restaurant chain, The Wrap. John, the co-founder and CEO of the Stellar Restaurant Group, said he's done well along the way and believes that the sales skills he learned with Vector Marketing are the common denominator.

"Selling Cutco is one of the best business experiences you can get," he said.

At first glance it would appear that John is a "Jack" of all trades but he feels that's not the case at all. Sales is at the center of each job and as long as he believed in the product he was selling, like he believed in the quality of Cutco, he was bound to do well.

Today, John is a successful restaurateur in large part because he's selling. On one hand he sells his clientele on a quality experience, and on the other he sells employees on career opportunities with his company, he said.

Should those people have questions about what he's selling, John said he's not worried. It's natural for people who aren't familiar with a product to have questions and through his Vector experiences he learned how to lead them down the right path to understanding and appreciating the benefits of what he's selling

"I found that many times your hardest customer would turn out to be your best customer. When I was selling Cutco I put myself in a potential customer's shoes then I walked them over to my point of view," he said. "I learned to work with all kinds of people."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

The Cutco experience isn't only about selling – it's about developing leadership, dedication, confidence and so much more, according to former Field Sales Manager Jordan Lewis.

The 22-year-old public affairs officer at the Louisiana Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge can't say enough about the business skills he learned selling Cutco for Vector Marketing. He's convinced the experience he had running a branch office set his career on the fast track. In fact, he says he was able to win the job he has today based solely on those impressive business skills.

One thing Jordan developed early on was dedication. He admits he had a slow start selling Cutco, but he persevered and eventually his summer sales helped him pay for college. And, by the time he was 19, Jordan was running a branch office with 60 independent sales representatives working with him.

"By just doing it, being dedicated and listening to my manager I was able to improve," he said. "It's about how hard you work and learning from your mistakes."

Another key to Jordan's success has been the professionalism he developed while calling on his Cutco customers. "Acting professionally has been a big key in all my success since Cutco," he said.

Other skills he came away with include value-building, confidence and how to close a deal. For example, at the Culinary Institute when he's working with vendors he's had great success getting the best deal possible for his employer.

His influence at the school is paying off. In his first four months he cut spending by 50 percent and increased leads by 300 percent. He said that success is directly tied to the skills he learned selling Cutco.

The Cutco sales opportunity has great earning potential and a great learning potential. For Jordan, it's less about the money and more about the experience. "The money I earned is nothing compared to the business skills I developed," he said.

Today, still very early in his career, Jordan is worth six figures. He still sells Cutco whenever he can and is finishing up his final days of college.

In Jordan's words, "I am blessed."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Kerry (Ritchie) Oliver grew up thinking that she could only do one thing – she competed in sports on a national level. But when injury took that away it was the Vector experience that showed her that, after injury, there was only one thing she couldn't do – compete in sports on a national level.

"Most of my life was sports. That's what I succeeded in. Vector Marketing gave me the confidence that I could succeed in something else," Kerry said.

And Kerry did succeed selling Cutco. She made $18,000 in her first summer and by doing so began to regain confidence in herself.

Meanwhile, others in Vector gained confidence in her. They saw her as a leader. She assumed the role of teacher and began to coach others. Within a year she was a branch manager. And all the while she was learning new skills.

"What I learned with Vector Marketing is still helping me today. Vector Marketing gave me a skill set that opened up a lot of doors for me," Kerry said.

In fact, from Vector Kerry went directly to management with one of the world's largest oil companies. Ironic, because when she took the position with Vector she made the choice to sell Cutco over working at the local gas station. Choosing the Vector Marketing experience continued to catapult her career.

Once again, the 'teaching' skills Kerry learned with Vector would prove vital in her next move. She signed on for a job that required her to lead executive teams in new directions without the benefit of direct authority. And now?

Selling Cutco has come full circle for Kerry. She said she's "selling" ideas as Director of Purchasing and Logistics for Maple Leaf Foods.

Kerry has been racking up wins in the business world ever since her Vector days. But it was those days with Vector where she discovered something critical to the winning process – that she was, still, a winner.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Over the years many well-intentioned people tried to tell Laura Gregory what she could and couldn't do. But it was her Vector experience that convinced her she could do anything she wanted to do, whether that be working in advertising, losing weight or becoming a personal trainer.

"Because of my Vector experience I never had to take a job just to make money. I have been able to choose the job I wanted. Anything is possible; you just have to figure out how to do it. I got that confidence from my Vector experience," Laura said.

After university Laura dreamed of working at an ad agency, but everyone told her she didn't stand a chance without a business degree. What she did have, though, was the practical business experience she gained with Vector.

Laura built a resume around her Vector experience. Her skills included strategic planning, sales and time management, highlighted by national sales awards and honors.

In her interviews she used the presentation skills she learned selling Cutco to sell an ad agency on the idea that her real life business experience was just what they needed. They agreed and she got her dream job.

But dreams change.

Laura applied the goal-setting skills and perseverance she learned selling Cutco to the challenge of losing 60 pounds. Later, her healthier lifestyle inspired her to become a personal trainer.

Today, in addition to being a personal trainer, Laura is back in advertising as an account manager where she still relies on her Vector experience every day.

"In my job today I bring in new business. I build rapport, create interest, overcome objections, ask for the sale and then manage the account. It's like selling Cutco - same formula, different subject line," she said.

Laura is good at making her dreams come true with skills she said she learned at age 18 selling Cutco.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

For Mary Heim, selling Cutco Cutlery wasn't just a job, it was the experience that shaped her into a young professional.

The College of New Jersey graduate said that from day one, her life as a Cutco Sales Rep was a learning experience that taught her everything she uses in her job as a T-Mobile Account Executive today – from goal setting and dressing properly to building rapport with potential customers. She sold Cutco, as a Sales Rep and Branch Manager, from June 2000 to September 2002, in Cherry Hill, N.J.

"Everything. Absolutely everything I use in my business today I learned at Cutco," she said, exuding that trademark Cutco enthusiasm. "I learned how to carry myself as a young professional. They molded me into this great sales rep, and now I'm a top rep at T-Mobile and I'm doing great."

All of the skills she gained, she admits, certainly help her professionally but lend themselves to her personal life, as well.

"I think that selling Cutco teaches you the power of having a positive attitude and the building blocks you need to be successful at anything," she said. "It gives you invaluable life experiences."

Before Cutco, Mary spent her summers as a lifeguard. She admits she "hated" it. Then she received a letter inviting her to give Cutco sales a try. "I was fired up from day one. I was looking for something better. I definitely found it," she said. "Just anything and everything you need to know about sales I learned from Cutco."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

The essence of success as a Vector sales representative lies in hard work. The more you put into the job the more you'll get out of it.

Generating leads, making presentations and closing the sale means you – and only you – are accountable for the rewards you reap. That environment forces you to work harder, smarter and faster. In the end, said Matt Mish, you're better for the experience.

"It's one of the only experiences which, for better or worse, it's totally up to you. That helps instill a certain type of behavior, a go-for-it attitude, that you don't necessarily get if you go to a different type of job," he said. "For me, it was a great experience."

Today a financial analyst with Deutsche Bank in New York City, Matt left Vector as a District Manager in early 2001. He landed his current job with three years of sales and managerial experience on his resume thanks to his experiences selling Cutco for Vector Marketing in Michigan.

The young University of Michigan finance major was saved from a summer of low wages and dull work after responding to a Vector mailer. That was the summer after his freshman year. From then until early 2001 he worked as a sales rep, FSM, Branch Manager and District Manager.

What would he tell a new rep asking for advice today?

"I would tell them to work extremely hard the first few weeks no matter what. Make a commitment to yourself and come out of the gates flying," he said. He would also suggest turning to management and other top staff in the office to learn all you can about the business.

Matt was able to walk away from the business with skills that translate into success no matter what career you pursue. In Vector, Matt cultivated qualities like self-motivation and determination as well as time management, communication skills and the power of persuasion.

"The way you're brought up in Vector is that you're always trying to do more and think outside the box. It all fits pretty well wherever you end up."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

When Megan Silveus sold Cutco during her summers as a college student she didn't know she was preparing for the interview that would lead to her dream job.

Instead, she thought she was making enough money to pay for school and earning enough college internship credits to graduate a semester early. She covered those bases, and more.

Not only did she get an interview with a medical services company thanks to the Vector experience on her resume, but, she said, it was that experience from Vector Marketing that got her the job.

"My major in college was business management, but nothing could compare to the one-on-one sales experience I got selling Cutco. Without Cutco I would not have gotten the job," she said.

She made it through the interview with flying colors and is now a Premium Services Liaison. She said that everything she learned with Vector – from building rapport to sales – will play a role in her success with this new job.

Throughout school and into her professional life, Megan said it's her Vector experience that helps her every step of the way.

"If it wasn't for Vector I would not be the person I am today. I am a more motivated, outgoing sales woman for life," she said.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

A lot has happened since Michael Morley, a manager of real estate with Intellispace, responded to a Vector flyer he saw at Albright College in Reading, PA when he was 19. Michael is 28-years-old and is ahead of the game because of his Vector Marketing experience.

"I have the confidence to manage and work with people twice my age," he said. "When I graduated and interviewed I had the experience of someone who was five years ahead of me – I had run an office, trained and managed a team of 30, and developed advertising campaigns."

Michael added that he learned several main business skills from Vector Marketing that he still relies on.

"I learned two things with Vector Marketing that I still use every day – the objection cycle, which teaches you ways to handle and respond to people's objections, and lead generation, which in business development is key. And I learned it at a very young age," he explained.

Michael added that having solid experience to put on a resume was another benefit of his Vector Marketing experience.

"The first summer as a sales rep I was in it for the money," Michael admitted. "But my second summer, as an assistant manager, and my third summer, as a branch manager, I was after the resume experience."

And, would seeing Vector Marketing experience on a resume sway Michael today? "Absolutely," he said. "Especially if they were in management. I would know that they have a good work ethic, understand the business world, and were motivated and positive. If I have a son or daughter I hope they can get this experience at such a young age."

"I owe a lot of my experience to what I learned with Vector," Michael proclaimed. "You'll never find another company like Vector or boss like a Vector boss who will put so much time and effort into seeing that you succeed. Most companies figure if you don't do well they'll just find someone else."

And, on top of that, he said, "It's the only position at that age where whatever you put into it you get out of it."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Mike Meditz, a systems engineer with a communications company in California, believes much of his business success today stems from his experience selling Cutco cutlery as a college student.

Mike's experience began when he saw an advertisement. He inquired about the opportunity on the flyer and began selling knives in his first semester of college. At the time, Mike was a typical struggling college student, so the potential for earning income with Vector really caught his eye, but his parents "liked the fact that he was at least excited about something." As Mike's experience with Vector continued, his family began to share in his excitement. They went to conferences and, according to Mike, say that the Vector experience is, "The best thing he could have ever done for himself in college." Mike agrees.

Mike will tell you, "I was just an average sales guy that did seven appointments a weekend - I never worked during the week." But this "average sales guy" ran three branch offices that were in the national top 20 three summers in a row. Mike liked selling Cutco through Vector Marketing because he enjoyed being around people who were positive and excited about life.

Mike says his business experience with Vector helps him today. Public speaking and time management skills and the ability to approach strangers are big benefits he gained from his time with Vector. "And the people skills," Mike proclaims, "I learned a lot about building friendships and respect – people have to trust you and you need to know how to give them self-confidence." Currently Mike finds his customers need him to be responsive, hard-working and to follow through - all things he says he learned selling Cutco.

Moving on in the business world, Mike says he misses Vector's extraordinary management team. And Mike's advice to new Vector reps? "Listen to your managers . . . they actually do know what's best."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

When Paulette Tucciarone graduates medical school in 2004 it's her Vector Marketing experience that has fully prepared her to accept the responsibility of the doctors' Hippocratic oath.

"It (Vector Marketing) inspired me to consider ethics in my life, long-term goal planning, the power of positive thinking and the ability you have to impact and help others," Paulette said.

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences student said it's the Vector experience that will give her an edge as a doctor. She attributes her Vector Marketing experience with giving her the ability to talk with patients confidently and clearly and communicate her plan for their health care to their satisfaction.

"It's clear how it (Vector Marketing) has helped me – I think about that all the time," she said.

In addition to delivering on communication and customer service skills, Paulette also recognized that selling Cutco knives full-time for a year as a sophomore in college offered her a unique career opportunity. At 19 she worked side-by-side with bright polished professionals and she didn't have to wait until mid-life to "earn" that right.

"I have an edge because I've been there. I did it early," she said. Paulette said that not only were these professionals top-notch, but they were caring and encouraging. All ideals she plans to carry with her in her work as a doctor.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

The biggest lesson Ranjeet Pawar carried away from his time selling Cutco was to set goals, and set them high. He continues to draw from that lesson today, along with those in professionalism and ethics he learned as an independent sales representative.

Ranjeet, 30, founder, owner and art director of Monsoon Galleries in Bethlehem, Pa., said he was taught to set lofty goals as a sales rep in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.

"Cutco spent a lot of time teaching us to set our goals. Almost like a mantra," he said.

And, it's in setting goals that Ranjeet believes sales reps define their success. "The great ones learn early that it's not just setting attainable goals that make you great it's setting goals that are inconceivable that make you great."

For new Cutco sales reps Ranjeet has this advice. "Don't simply dare, dare to reach your full potential and beyond." He said it's about discipline and about how far you can take yourself. He is driven by accomplishment and feels that the experience allowed him to challenge himself, he said.

As his gallery gains more acclaim, Ranjeet said he stands true to the lessons he learned selling Cutco. Along with goal-setting, he learned to act professionally, gained confidence and learned the importance of ethics.

"Selling Cutco, I never felt like I was selling something my customers didn't want," he said. And he feels the same way today about the customers at his gallery. "If I get an inkling that a customer isn't happy, I don't force it."

According to Ranjeet, what he learned with Cutco and Vector Marketing is rooted deep inside and is not easy to pinpoint what helped lead to his success today – it's really a culmination of learning experiences. "(The Cutco experience) became a part of each layer and fiber of who I am," he said. "To not have gone through it, I would have been at a loss."

As a model of the entrepreneurial spirit, today Mr. Pawar is busy finding the right art and artists for his gallery, making sure the art is presented well, coordinating advertising and hosting art shows. All of that hard work is paying off. Monsoon Galleries was recently mentioned in the Escapes section of the New York Times as an anchor in the revitalized Southide section of the Bethlehem arts district.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Former Vector sales rep Sheryl Argila may hold a teaching degree but instead of being in the classroom she's opted for the financial freedom a job in sales offers.

Today, a sales rep for Cintas, the largest uniform company in the United States, Sheryl can remember a time in college when she faced a financial crisis.

Then a sophomore at Malone College, she spent every weekend working four jobs to support herself and pay for school. She was locked into wages barely above minimum and found herself unable to work enough hours to make ends meet.

But once she answered a Vector newspaper ad and became a sales rep a new way of living was on the horizon.

"Vector was transforming, I would be a much different person if it wasn't for Vector," she said.

Sheryl devoted her spring break to training with Vector. Once classes resumed she began her fifth job, scheduling Vector sales presentations around her classes and other jobs. With so much now on her plate, she turned to her Vector manager for advice.

Her manager helped her sort through the confusion. Sheryl learned to take control of her finances by setting financial goals. Then, with that manager's counsel she was able to formulate how many sales presentations she would need to achieve her goals.

Sheryl eventually gave up her string of "safe jobs" to focus on realizing the Vector opportunity. Once she whittled down her work commitment to Vector alone she began to take off.

Through Vector, Sheryl learned to enjoy the independence that comes with a job in sales – flexible hours, scheduling the number of presentations you choose, and pay relative to the amount of work you put in.

"It's an amazing freedom when you determine what your income is," she said.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

If you ask Stephen Jerome about his Cutco sales experience, the Merrill Lynch financial advisor will tell you that the benefits for him were twofold.

As a rep selling Cutco in the Atlanta, Ga., area he learned to be a self-starter, build rapport with people, get over his fear of public speaking and become comfortable asking customers for referrals.

As a manager for five years, he gained real-world business savvy renting office space, negotiating leases, paying staff and developing a team of sales reps.

Overall he said the rich, seven-year experience he had being part of the Cutco sales team opened up career options for him he likely wouldn't have considered otherwise.

"I never would have thought sales would be something I would like or be good at. It really taught me about myself and made me do things I don't know if I would have done," he said. "The experience of learning to sell really paid off for me."

Stephen started selling Cutco in 1996, the summer before his senior year at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. After graduation, he sold for another year and in the summer of 1998 ran a branch office. From 1998 until leaving the business in 2003, Stephen was a District Manager. He has $8 million in Cutco sales to his name and, as a manager, helped develop five people who are District Managers today.

"That was my favorite part of the management experience," Stephen said of developing people. As a District Manager he had 10 to 12 branch offices to manage. "In that situation you really get a chance to teach people something," he said.

All of the experience gained during his time selling Cutco translates well into the type of work he does today, Stephen said. The experience looked great on his resume.

"Once I left the business I found that Vector was identifiable in the real world. When you tell someone you sold $8 million worth of cutlery they want to know all about it," he said. "Having that broad, real-world experience was invaluable."

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

For Tony Chivari, selling Cutco wasn't just a summer job; it was the key to landing a job right out of college with Spiegel where he is currently Senior Vice President of Marketing and Internet.

Armed with sales experience from two summers of selling Cutco, Tony's resume contained evidence that he was fluent in the language of sales and that he had a clear understanding of business. That's why fresh out of graduation at the University of Chicago, his resume caught his employer's attention. What's more, during his job interview he applied the presentation skills he learned selling Cutco to sell himself and get the job.

"Selling Cutco is a unique opportunity to get truly valuable experience that's going to help you get that first job out of college. The training was outstanding – it's professional business-level sales training. To get that experience in school really gives you a head start on everyone else," Tony said.

He went on to say that the basics that he learned giving Cutco demos is still applicable in his work today. In fact, he explained that in his current position it's all about getting the right product to the right person at the right time with the right presentation, all know-how he gained presenting the Cutco product in homes.

But beyond gaining presentation skills, selling Cutco was were Tony began to see how business operates. He said he got to the point where he could make a certain amount of money by calculating how many demos he had to do. Because he understood that making a profit isn't a mystery it's math, he planned for success by taking the percentage of people who actually bought after a demo and multiplied that by his average sale.

"The process of doing sales presentations lays the ground-work for you to learn about return on investment because you start to manage the numbers. And you learn what levers to pull to increase sales," Tony said.

Selling Cutco was a money-maker for Tony and helped him with his college expenses. He also enjoyed the experience of selling a great product and said new reps should have faith in the product.

"I never had to worry selling the Cutco product. I always heard good stories from family and friends about how much they liked their Cutco and sometimes they wanted to buy something more," Tony said.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com

Trading in a successful corporate career for the unknown of starting your own business would scare many, but not Veronica Mollica. She says her Vector Marketing experience gave her the courage to found Indigo Staffing.

"I have confidence because (with Vector) I have worked on my own at 100% commission. Vector gives you all the tools to be successful," she said.

And successful she was. For five years she landed corporate jobs convincing employers that her Vector skills would apply in any job situation.

"It's (Vector experience) very transferable. People are people. You use all the same skills," she said.

Veronica's Vector skills served her well at corporation after corporation as she shattered sales records. She said it was her experience selling Cutco for five years beginning in 1992 between her junior and senior year at the University of Michigan that was the training ground where she learned discipline and how to set high standards.

"In 1994 I set a goal to break the all-time national (Vector) sales record and I did it. I broke it down into long term and short term goals. Broken into parts it didn't seem so overwhelming," she explained.

Recently Veronica set her sights on a new goal. Although she was very successful working business-to-business as a recruiter in information technologies, she realized that the corporate career path was set in its way.

"Selling Cutco spoiled me. You can set your own schedule and no limits are set on you," she said.

With a 'sky's the limit' attitude and the experience of already starting a successful business from scratch selling Cutco, she believed it was time to begin her own venture again. Because of her Vector experience she had the guts. Because of her Vector experience she expects the glory.

If you know a former Vector Representative who has gone on to great success and has a story to tell please e-mail Ronni Gronemeier, Cutco Public Relations Assistant, in Olean - rgronemeier@cutco.com