Guest Authors

Brian Macias

Brian Macias is an experienced consultant dedicated to helping his clients increase client loyalty, referral and new business, and attract and retain team members.

As an independent speaker, coach, and consultant, Brian collaborates closely with his clients on both an organizational and individual level to create the culture and habits necessary to increase sales and revenue.

Using his energetic, dynamic, and engaging presentation style, Brian trains and coaches thousands of sales professionals and leaders on the mindset, communication skills, and habits necessary to be successful in acquiring and serving clients.

In his 6+ years at America’s #1 Online Lender, Brian successfully led both training and sales groups to increase revenue within the organization.  As Vice President of Banker Training, his 50 person team created and executed the first measurable, accountable, and behavior-based 52 week sales training program.  As the Vice President of Benefit Partnerships, his team acquired and maintained over 150 partnerships with some of America’s top companies to be their mortgage provider of choice for their employees.

Barry P. Hoffman

Barry retired January 1, 2008, as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and a member of the Board of Directors of Valassis Communications, Inc. (NYSE: VCI).  Valassis has over 7,500 employees with offices and plants located in the United States (28 States), Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and most recently, China. Valassis has been listed as one of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” for nine consecutive years.

Mr. Hoffman was with Valassis for over 25 years, where in addition to being General Counsel, he led the Corporate Human Resources division and the Valassis Communications Center. He also served as Chairperson of the Valassis Diversity Council.  Mr. Hoffman is recognized in the field of promotion law and served as Chairperson of the Promotion Marketing Association Annual Law Conference.

Mr. Hoffman played a key role in mergers and acquisitions and other legal matters as Valassis grew from a small, private company in 1982, with revenues of approximately $20 million, to today’s public company with revenues of approximately $2.5 billion.

Key transactions Mr. Hoffman was involved in as General Counsel included the 1986 sale of George F. Valassis & Company to Australian Consolidated Press for $365 million, the Initial Public Offering of the company in 1992, and the $1.4 billion acquisition of ADVO, Inc. in 2007.  Mr. Hoffman was a long-time participant in the efforts of Valassis to expand internationally. He worked on various business projects and acquisitions in Canada, Mexico, six countries in Europe, Brazil, Singapore, Australia and China.

Mr. Hoffman received his B.A. in history from the Pennsylvania State University in 1963 and his J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 1968.  While in law school he worked as an assistant in the office of United States Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon.  He is a member of the Michigan and Pennsylvania Bars.

Prior to coming to Valassis, Mr. Hoffman served as an officer in the United States Army.  After officer’s basic school at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he was a platoon leader with the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry, Camp Hovey, Korea and executive officer, Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Hoffman also served as a Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon graduation from the FBI Academy, he was assigned to various field offices with work primarily in criminal cases.

He was also an Assistant District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office where he worked his way up through the trial units to the Major Trials Unit, where as a Senior Trial Assistant he tried a number of high profile cases.

Mr. Hoffman enjoys teaching and being associated with students and academics.  He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, (the Nation’s oldest HBUC) for over ten years, where he has also given lectures. He recently spoke at the Law Careers Day at Penn State University.

As an Army Officer stationed in Korea, Mr. Hoffman taught English at the high school in the city of Tong du chon.   While in the FBI, he taught continuing education courses in various law enforcement subjects to police departments.

During his tenure with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, he lectured at Temple University and spoke at seminars presented by other Philadelphia area colleges and law schools.  He has also been a speaker at a number of seminars within the promotion marketing industry and its legal community.  He has also given presentations at the Ohio State University School of Business and at law firms.