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Michael Ellis

Michael Ellis

Michael Ellis is the Director of Sales at Lessiter Media. He joined the Lessiter team in 2009 and was previously the publisher of Rural Lifestyle Dealer. Ellis has years of experience in publishing across various markets, focusing on both business-to-business and consumer publications, particularly in trade media for agriculture and landscaping. Michael graduated of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Contact: mellis@lessitermedia.com
Articles

ARTICLES

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Checking in on the Rural Lifestyle Market

By Michael Ellis posted on August 28, 2021 | Posted in Niche Equipment Markets

The rural customer and their unique equipment and service needs continues to be a key component of most successful ag dealerships. With that in mind, we’ll also continue to provide insight to that market digitally via RuralLifestyleDealer.com and now also with periodic dedicated Rural Lifestyle Dealer pages in Farm Equipment. 


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Conversations in Ag

The Future of Manufacturing: Retention, Consolidation & Collaboration in the Ag Market

Manufacturer executive Jim Wessing of Kondex Corp. sat down with Doug Griffin, former AGCO vice president and current principal of Context Network, a consulting firm that works with full-line manufacturers. They discussed the lack of experience and availability of skilled workers, knowledge voids, unique challenges of suppliers and manufacturers, and also offered advice for anyone entering the ag market.
By Michael Ellis posted on June 9, 2018 | Posted in Best Practices
Manufacturer executive Jim Wessing of Kondex Corp. sat down with Doug Griffin, former AGCO vice president and current principal of Context Network, a consulting firm that works with full-line manufacturers. They discussed the lack of experience and availability of skilled workers, knowledge voids, unique challenges of suppliers and manufacturers, and also offered advice for anyone entering the ag market.
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Michael Ellis

If It’s Everyone’s Job, It’s No One’s Job

A recent Rural Lifestyle Dealer poll hints that dealers may be failing when it comes to the critical first moments of customer service.
By Michael Ellis posted on September 18, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices
A recent poll Rural Lifestyle Dealer ran addressed the topic of greeting customers and, while there was a clear-cut winner, it actually raised more questions than answers for me.
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Dealership Minds

'Personally' Tackling the HR Challenges of a Growing Dealership

By Michael Ellis posted on February 6, 2014 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
Growing a dealership impacts every aspect of the business, but when your total number of employees nearly doubles in a short timeframe it presents some very specific challenges for the Human Resources Dept. It's imperative, as the administrative volume increases, that the human side of the equation stays in focus.
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Acquisition Growth Can be Done Without Seeking Additional Capital

Mike Hedge, President/CEO, Birkey’s Farm Store
By Michael Ellis posted on March 13, 2013 | Posted in Dealer Succession
There are innumerable ways to grow your dealership. And Mike Hedge's message that it can be done without resorting to outside influences or taking on extra debt was a welcome message. Seeking outside capital via a public offering or working with private equity groups are options, but they aren't for everyone says the Birkey's president and CEO.
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Dealership Minds

Communication Counts in HR

By Michael Ellis posted on February 7, 2011 | Posted in Department Management
There’s a card on Jaime Smith’s desk that reads, “With appreciation for everything you do to help people reach important goals. HR is about maintaining a healthy working atmosphere, but most of all it’s about helping people succeed, good times and bad.” These words summarize the daily mantra of Birkey’s Farm Store’s human resources manager.
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