Michael S. Griffin

208.960.1969 | E-Mail
LinkedIn | Instagram

Introduction

Effective and efficient relationship sales and customer success professional, leveraging “customer for life” approach to consistently maintain a near zero churn rate while achieving double and triple digit growth year-after-year. Proven track record developing pro-active customer relationships, listening to customers and developing creative solutions that solve today’s problems while building trust for tomorrow’s growth. Entrepreneurial background of start-up to established retail and service based businesses resonates with clients while diverse skillset, including sales, marketing, social media, imaging, retention, technology ensures ability to respond and adapt to a rapidly shifting economic climate.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Provided training and support to customers, ensuring full adoption of services and reducing down-time caused by customer error.
  • Grew start-up from dining room table to multi-million-dollar enterprise by developing customer acquisition and retention strategy to set company apart from competitors. Managed over 200 clients
  • Doubled sales at established retail franchise by delivering exceptional customer service, mastering the art of up-selling and consistently following through on promises.
  • Actively managed communication between internal and external stakeholders, proactively resolving incidents and building trust.

 

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

  • Managed relationships with numerous vendors, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery of contracted equipment, supplies and services.
  • Collaborated with internal teams in providing state of the art service and support.
  • Continually managed all aspects of day-to-day business operations for a succession of small businesses, negotiating profitable sales of business when appropriate.
  • Demonstrated commitment to life-long learning, acquiring strong technical background, hands-on expertise in desktop, server software and hardware.

Work Experience

CRUISE PLANNERS   |   Nampa, ID, Winchester, CA   |   2018 – Present 

Franchisee | Adventure Specialist

Cruise Planners is the largest travel advisor franchise in the United States.  We specialize in group, for-a-cause and individual cruise vacations.

  • Created a fundraising cruise network to help nonprofit organizations offer a vacation that gives back
  • Focus on customer relationship sales to build large groups and encourage repeat business.
  • Focus on customer service to provide an important resource for clients.

Training & Memberships

  • Princess Cruise Lines – Commodore Status
  • Holland America
  • Disney College of Disney Knowledge
  • CLIA Member 
  • Assisted wife with prior travel business under host agency for ~1 yr.
  • Royal Caribbean – Master of Adventure
  • Carnival Cruise Lines
  • Norwegian Cruise Lines – Master’s Degree
  • Celebrity Cruises Certified Travel Advisor
  • Cruise Planners – Training at Cruise Planners HQ and ongoing training updates.

CLEARLY ENTERPRISES, LLC   |   Nampa, ID, Winchester, CA, Fort Collins, CO  |   2016 – Present

Founder | CEO

Comprehensive business consulting firm focused on helping small to mid-sized businesses flourish based fostering Customer – Centric Experience. Clearly Enterprises has developed into a comprehensive organization that includes Clearly Giving (helping non-profit organizations with unique fundraising), Clearly Concepts (web design and hosting, as well as SEO marketing and SM), Clearly Consulting (imaging, customer service, etc.), Clearly Cruising (Cruise Planners franchise) and Clearly Photo freelance photography. 

  • Created plans to help client business owners improve customer retention, increase sales and develop an online presence.
  • Used experience to help plan / organize fundraising events.
  • Currently operates exclusively as parent company to Cruise Planners franchise and photography.

HANDY NETWORKS, LLC   |   San Diego, CA, Denver, CO   |   1997 – 2016

Co-Founder | COO

Multi-million-dollar enterprise offering reseller hosting, fully and self-managed dedicated servers, domain registration, server sales, consulting and colocation services. One of the first IaaS / SaaS providers, specializing in fully managed Windows hosting solutions and operating debt-free. Managed sales, customer success, marketing, social media, inventory management, server assembly / configuration / upgrades / repair, abuse management, helpdesk, vendor relationships, government / law enforcement relationships, datacenter management

  • Customer-facing role, managing relationships, including acquisition, on-boarding and upselling, utilizing “customer for life” approach to optimize revenue, achieve exceptional renewal rate with virtually zero churn, including many 20+ year clients.
  • Identified and promoted customer retention and growth opportunities by positioning as customer advocate and collaborative partner.
  • Managed vendor relationships including sourcing, contract negotiation and monitoring compliance, securing hardware and software equipment and services.
  • Spearheaded proactive communication and move of servers and infrastructure 5 times due to continued growth and datacenter vendor acquisitions without a single client lost.

Skills

Relationship Sales | Customer Service | Customer Success | Customer Loyalty / Retention | Client Advocacy | Helpdesk | Inventory Management | Computer / Server Assembly | Server Configuration | Server Deployment | Server Repair | Technical Support | Social Media | Marketing | Abuse Management | Photography | Problem Solving / Prevention | Vendor Relationships | Software Licensing | Datacenter Management | Computer Lab | Project Management | Logistics | Partnerships

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Purchased an existing, established Mail Boxes Etc. franchise in the San Francisco Bay Area (now known as The UPS Store) while in college.  More than doubled sales, with continued yearly sales growth prior to selling the business to an area franchisee.  Assisted and mentored new franchisees, including on-site operating assistance.  Assisted two additional Mail Boxes Etc. franchisees.

  • Specialized in custom packing of fragile items, custom built boxes
  • Notary Public
  • Was the first and likely only franchise providing high-volume, full-service duplicating
 

Simultaneously owned and operated a growing design and communications company providing desktop publishing, web site design and various communications services.  

Technical Skills

DESKTOP: Microsoft Windows & Apple OSX desktop operating systems, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite

SERVER: Windows Server, Exchange Server, Hyper-V, CentOS, Red Hat Linux, Ubuntu, Debian, QuoteWerks, Ubersmith, helpdesk applications, WordPress and associated plugins, WordPress page builders, cPanel, DirectAdmin, Windows hosting control panels

HARDWARE: Configuration, sourcing, assemblage and configuration of rackmount & tower servers and desktop computers (1,000+), NAS, WiFi, RAID, KVM-over-IP, firewalls

Community Involvement

Freelance photography largely focusing on aerial firefighting and human interest related events including nonprofit events and first responder memorials / processions.

Volunteer (personal, corporate & family)

  • Children’s Diabetes Foundation | Denver, CO
    • Founding child advocate 
    • Model 
    • Office support
    • Volunteer at numerous fundraising events
      • Spring Brass Ring luncheon & fashion show
      • EPIC Diabetes Conference
      • Carousel Ball – Denver, CO (biennial)
      • Carousel of Hope Ball – Beverly Hills, CA (biennial)
      • Tied to a Cure Las Vegas Golf Fly-Away
    • Fundraising partner / recipient of 1 Sweet Cruise
  • Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) | Denver, CO / Southern California / Pacific Northwest
    • Office support
    • 2012 – 2015 Denver Gala & Auction Organizing Committees 
    • Corporate Gala Sponsor – Denver
    • 2006 – 2015 One Walk team- Denver
    • 2022 One Night Extravaganza Gala/Auction Committees – Southern California 
    • 2023, 2024, 2025 Treasure Valley One Walk – Meridian, ID (photographer / volunteers)
  • Make-A-Wish | Denver, Colorado / Southern California
    • “Wish Kid” for Rock Canyon High School “wish week” fundraising event which raised $67k
      • Supported multiple additional area high school wish weeks
    • Outreach volunteers in Southern California
    • United “Fantasy Flight to the North Pole”
    • Holiday Wish Store at Children’s Hospital Aurora
  • Shining Stars Foundation | Winter Park, CO
  • Missing Children Assistance | Martinez, CA
    • Services provided through my Mail Boxes Etc. center free or at cost
      • Polly Klaas Foundation
      • Local family abductions
  • City of Commerce City | Commerce City, CO
    • Member, Citizen Comprehensive Plan Review Committee
    • Member, Hiring Committee for Economic Development Manager
  • The Adoption Exchange
    • Corporate Gala Sponsor 
  • Family participation in events held by Avs’ Better Halves | Hockey Fights Cancer | Camp Wapiyapi | Girl Scouts of America (San Diego / Denver) | The Seany Foundation / Oncology for Kids | Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children Foundation | American Diabetes Association | PTSA

Education

Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill, CA – Business & Technology