Welcome to the 4th Annual Sales Summit

February 27th, 2025

Where Ambition

Meets Opportunity

Welcome to the Sales Summit. We invite you, to join us, on a journey of personal and professional growth. Our theme, "Where Ambition Meets Opportunity," reflects our commitment to empowering those around us to unlock their full potential and seize the opportunities that await them. We believe that every individual has a unique drive and determination waiting to be unleashed. Our purpose is to provide the tools, opportunities, and supportive community to help you turn your ambition into tangible success.

Throughout the summit, we aim to inspire and equip you to capitalize on new opportunities, build meaningful connections, and develop the skills and strategies necessary to achieve your aspirations. Whether you're pursuing a new career path, enhancing your skills, or exploring opportunities for personal development, our event is designed to be a catalyst for growth and transformation. Embark on this journey with us, and discover the power to turn your ambition into opportunity.

Meet the Speakers

Jenna Johnson

Chief Growth Officer - Northwestern Mutual

“The Ambition Blueprint: What I Wish I Knew Then”

Jenna has been with Northwestern Mutual for 12 years, starting as a Marketing Coordinator and progressing through various roles. She led their Internship Program for three years, recruiting, onboarding, and developing over 150 college students.

Her passion for growth, both personally and professionally, landed her in the role she is in today. As Chief Growth Officer, Jenna and her team strive to help over 140 Financial Advisors think BIG about their vision and help them take action toward their goals. They also support the launch of advisor’s practices, the evolution of their teams, and the growth of their enduring firm.

She is passionate about fostering an inclusive culture that supports diversity of thought and talent, as well as leading the firm’s philanthropic effort in the fight against childhood cancer and a $1M Pledge to M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital.

Bill Drazkowski

Executive Vice President Sales - Fastenal

“Embrace The Journey”

Bill has been with Fastenal for nearly 30 years, holding leadership roles including regional VP, district manager, and branch manager. Since July 2023, he has served as Executive Vice President of Contract and Industry Specialist Sales, leading teams that manage a contract portfolio representing 74% of the company’s business and developing supply chain agreements for multi-site and single-location customers.

Under Bill’s leadership, Fastenal’s strategic accounts programs have been a driving force of innovation in the marketplace. The sales and specialist teams consult with organizations to implement supply chain solutions that help them mitigate risk, increase visibility, reduce working capital, optimize labor resources, and gain organizational productivity. These teams work to drive customers’ organizational goals across multiple locations, balancing national or global consistency with flexible local service.

He is a magna cum laude graduate of Winona State University with degrees in economics and business administration, he serves on advisory boards at UMD, UW La Crosse, and Winona State. Actively involved in his community, Bill holds leadership roles in local sports organizations and lives in Onalaska, Wisconsin, with his wife and three children.

Lunch and Learn Panelist Speakers

Cooper Kapanke

Cooper graduated Summa Cum Laude from Winona State in 2023 with a Marketing degree and minors in Professional Selling, Finance, and Economics. After a top-performing internship at Gartner in Dallas, he advanced from Account Manager to Account Executive in under a year. Now, he mentors new hires, leads community initiatives, and serves as a Gartner Ambassador at the IT Symposium/Xpo Conference in Orlando.
Harley Ries

Harley, recently promoted to Sales Director at Taylor Corporation, leads the Taylor Sales Academy, developing the company’s future sales talent. With over seven years at Taylor, he has progressed through multiple sales roles since starting as an intern in 2017, including launching Taylor’s sales internship program in 2021. Passionate about mentorship and professional growth, Harley is dedicated to elevating the next generation of sales leaders.
Todd Thiewes

Todd Thiewes, Vice President of Sales at Sandler Minnesota, is a seasoned sales leader with over 30 years of experience. He holds a B.A. in Sales and Marketing from the University of Minnesota Duluth and has excelled in roles ranging from Independent Sales Representative to executive leadership. Throughout his career, he has trained top sales professionals using the Sandler Selling System and continues to do so today. Now, he partners with companies worldwide to implement these principles, driving productivity and sales growth.
Russell Tanner

Russel graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2023 with a degree in Psychology, where he also served as a Sales Club leader. With a background in Medical Device and SaaS sales, he is passionate about building trust, fostering human connections, and embracing genuine curiosity. He is currently an Account Executive at SPS Commerce in Minneapolis, leveraging his expertise to cultivate meaningful business relationships. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, snowboarding, and playing cribbage.
Johnny Peltz

As Sr. Director of Business Development at NetSPI, Johnny leads a team of 30+ sales development representatives and three managers, driving pipeline and qualified opportunities for account executives. He is passionate about teamwork and mentoring young professionals to grow their careers. Johnny’s sales journey began as an SDR at a high-growth tech startup in North Carolina. After relocating to Minneapolis, he launched an SDR office before joining NetSPI. Since then, he has expanded the SDR team from 14 to 34 representatives globally.