We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marsha Petrie Sue. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marsha Petrie below.
Alright, Marsha Petrie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers
Retiring from my corporate life, and being newly married, I was home for 2 weeks and my husband said, “Honey I Love you but please, get a job.” I did not know where I wanted the next chapter of my life to be, so I attended a seminar on ‘Being a Professional Speaker.’ I thought, I could do that, so I instantly became an entrepreneur and opened my own business, Communicating Results in 1992. I had business contacts and began tailoring lunch presentations for $200. Clients said, “is that all,” so raised my fee to $400. That lasted for 6 months because I kept hearing the same response and raised my prices again. Fast forward and would up charging $10,000 for a tailored keynote. Lesson – don’t be afraid of knowing your worth!
I was terrified the entire way having grown up with low self-esteem and self-confidence. Because of that early experience, that was my focus for self and leadership development. One of my five authored books is The CEO of YOU: Leading YOURSELF to Success in which I tell that story. Remembering always that if it’s meant to be it’s up to me.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
– Born and raised in Palos Verdes, SoCal.
– Graduated California State University at Long Beach
– Taught kindergarten – I truly admire anyone who stays in teaching
– Went to work in Sales and loved it and quickly became a trainer
– Promoted through the ranks to manager then executive management
– Relocated from SoCal to Atlanta GA as an Executive VP of Westinghouse Financial services working turnaround company projects.
– Transferred to Scottsdale Arizona. Met my husband through a match maker, married and retired in 1992
– Founded Communicating Results, Inc. in 1993 and took my corporate leadership skills to the platform.
o Conflict resolution
o Presentation skills
o Leadership Development
o Personal Responsibility
o Team Dynamics
o Certified for the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Behavioral assessment
o Developed and presented tailored workshops and keynotes.
o Provided Executive Coaching
– Appointments and Volunteer
o Commissioner Arizona Game and Fish Department appointed by the Arizona Governor
o Wildlife for Tomorrow Board of Directors
o Women’s Leadership Forum Executive Committee and Communications Chair
o Women’s Outdoor Media Association Past Chair
o She Never Quit Annual Event Chair
o Arizona Magic of Music and Dance Past Executive Director
o Arizona Antelope Foundation Lifetime Member
o She and her husband, Al Sue, work with many organizations such as the Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Deer Association, and others for the conservation of the 800+ species in Arizona modifying barbed wire fences and building water catchments. Their work also improves private and public access for outdoor enthusiasts. She also serves on the Arizona Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and on the Executive Committee of Women’s Outdoor Media Association. Marsha received the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award and the In Business, Women of Achievement recognition. She is an outdoorswoman and an avid fisherperson.
– Awards and recognition
o Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award
o In Business, Women of Achievement recognition
o Telly Award for Leadership audio programs
o Margie Herndon Conservationist of the Year – Mule Deer Association
o Sybil Ludington Women’s Freedom Award
o Women’s Outdoor Media Association Presidents Recognition Award
– Hobbies
o Fishing and Hunting for sustainability. Most of what we eat is what we take.
o Conservation projects with the Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Desert Big Horn Sheep Society and the Arizona Elk Foundation
o Decorating bird houses my husband makes
o Entertaining and cooking
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Upon my college graduation, I was a kindergarten teacher. Bad choice as I had made a life decision early to never have children (long story). God bless people who become teachers. I have no tolerance for managing noise abatement and crowd control. Six months later I quit teaching and was hired to be a ‘candy girl’ for a candy and gourmet food company handing out samples. I was selling more products than the salespeople and advanced into a full-blown sales position. I loved it! And loved my native home in Southern California.
I was hired away to a print advertising sales position and advanced quickly into management. Sales and marketing became my entire career. Another career move had me residing in Atlanta. Friends had bets that I would never leave Southern California, but I did!
Upon completion of the last project in Atlanta, I was transferred to my current home of Phoenix Arizona, and within 2 years was able to depart my corporate life. My next chapter was to remarry (yes, I had a practice husband) and joined the Professional Connection Match Maker. This was before the current online opportunities for dating!
I met and married Al Sue within the same year. We couldn’t be any different. He is an outdoor guy, and I’m a theater and ballet girl. But we made a deal: you do my stuff and I’ll do yours. After two weeks of married bliss, Al sat me down and said, “I love you truly but please get a job. You are driving me nuts.”
Enter entrepreneurship. Having had much experience speaking and media interviewing, I decided to become a professional speaker. I had no idea where to start. Going to work for a Speaking Company gave me the background on how to run the company from a business and organization perspective. That was over 30 years ago and thankfully I learned, applied the learning, and developed a successful speaking and executive coaching practice. I have also authored 5 books. I currently have one company I work with and one main client sharing leadership ideas with executives including presentation skills. Leading etiquette dinners for managers and leaders is also part of that agenda.
And my relationship with Al! I kept an open mind and learned how to be an outdoor woman and he attends my ‘fancy’ events. Two years ago, I was appointed by our Governor to be an Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner, and Al is my biggest supporter. And recently I was appointed to be on the Board of Directors for the 501c3, Wildlife for Tomorrow (WFT). Proudly my background adds an unusual dimension to the Commission and WFT. The lessons learned transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship are serving me well. There have been speed bumps, trials, and tribulations. But being resilient, confident, and a lifelong learner is the key.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
When I was in sales, I wanted to learn as much as I could about the marketplace, what the competition was planning, and how potential customers made decisions. Informing my leader of this, he said it was a waste of time. I took a chance and did it anyway. Planned meetings and coffees with competition. Met with potential customers others said was not a good use of my time. And researched everything I could about the marketplace. Because of this risk, I was selling the most and had the best customer retention. I got out of my own way!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marshapetriesuecom
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marshapetriesue
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsha-petrie-sue-010195/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarshaPetrieSue
- Other: Arizona Game and Fish Commission https://www.azgfd.com/about-arizona-game-fish/commission-public-information/about-the-commission/meet-the-commission/
Image Credits
Arizona Game and Fish Department George Andrejko