Michael J. Stevens joined Performance Methods, Inc. in early 2007, bringing more than three decades of Fortune 100 high-technology sales, marketing, business management, international and P&L experience. Michael spent most of his career with 3M, joining them in 1969 in the globally competitive area of data storage with increasing responsibility management positions both in the US and Japan. From 1996 – 1999 he was with a 3M spin-off company, Imation Corp., where he was General Manager for Optical Storage, and then General Manager for Enterprise Storage.

He rejoined 3M in 1999 in Austin, Texas, where he spent 8 years in the electronics industry. In this capacity, he held executive business management, business development and global strategic account management positions, dealing primarily with both strategy development and sales execution of leading technologies in the electronic components arena.

Michael’s last responsibilities at 3M were to structure and initiate a customer-centric approach to 3M Electronics’ largest global customers – a new go-to-market (customer-focused) strategy for the company. This new initiative was acknowledged within 3M and also outside the company as a “best practice” for launching a Global Strategic Account Management (SAM) program.

He has spoken on numerous occasions to audiences on this subject, including previous Strategic Account Management Association annual meetings and the 2006 Pan-European Conference. Recognizing his passion, experience and willingness to share and contribure best practice knowledge of strategic account management , Michael was elected to the Board of Directors of SAMA in 2006, where he continues to help guide and influence this topical subject of strategic customer focus and effective engagement.

Michael grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Georgia State University in Atlanta, and holds degrees in management and marketing. He has done graduate work at Georgia State University and also the Executive Advanced Management Program at Stanford. Michael and his wife, Cindy, reside in Austin, Texas. He can be contacted at mstevens@performancemethods.com or his mobile phone of 512-970-3830.