ABOUT US

JOHN PETERSEN, Owner

John started with Wellman Sports marketing in 1987. In his thirty-one year tenure, he has been vital in administration, sales planning, and binging in a high level of performance to Wellman Sports Marketing. While John’s sales roll has changed over the years, he still keeps a pulse on industry happenings by calling on Hannay’s Distributing. John has an excellent grasp of the customers, factories, and territorial needs and functions. Vendor communication with programs and marketing ideas, keeps John in routine travels. John has been recognized by Manufactures, and customers with several sales service awards.

SHANE TULOWITZKY, Account Rep

Shane works the specialty dealer business in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. Before joining the Wellman Sales force Shane spent 17 years in the specialty retail business. Shane brings with him retail sales skills along with retail buying skills. He knows how programs work and how to sell the program. Along with his retail background he has spent years as a canoe and kayak instructor and loves to spend his spare time in the outdoors with his wife and 6 kids.

CHAD RAU, Account Rep.

Chad has been representing outdoor manufacturer’s for over 15 years. Currently, he covers accounts in Northern Minnesota and North Dakota. Although new to Wellman Sports Marketing, he has been recognized by many factories with outstanding sales awards including most recently CLAM Outdoors 2014 Sales Rep of the Year, Seasonal Marketing/Caddis 2015 Sales Rep of the Year and Absolute Outdoor 2016 Sales Rep of the Year. Chad has a true passion for the outdoors and prides himself on product knowledge on both the product he sells as well as the competition.

MIKE GOTTHEARDT, Account Rep

Mike’s 30 years in the outdoor industry gives him a range of sales experience working with dealers, distributors and retailers. Many of the years were spent growing new business and managing a sales territory in excess of 12 million a year. Over the years, Mike has won a number of awards: Bulldog Award for Shakespeare, $5k Stearns Sales Contest, The Luhr-Jensen Award, and the Northland Tackle Lifetime Achievement Award. Mike’s account responsibilities include Mills Fleet Farm, Blain Supply, Robinson Wholesale, Menards, Shopko, and dealer business in Wisconsin.

KEVIN MCKINNEY, Account Rep

Kevin McKinney has been in the Outdoor Industry for 17 years, including four years at Retail as an Asst. Manager/Buyer at Harry’s Army/Navy (NJ) and the last 12 years as a Key & Dealer Account Manager and Sales Representative throughout the Northeastern States. Kevin has worked for factories such as; The Coleman Company, Thermos, Texsport, Coast Cutlery, Energizer and many others before being hired by Wellman Sports Marketing. Kevin has worked with major key accounts such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Modell’s and BJ’s Wholesale Club among others. In addition Kevin has worked with accounts like distributors and buying group members as well as specialty shops. Kevin is a outdoor industry specialist who is passionate about the outdoors, and about outdoor gear.

AARON OVERSTREET, Account Rep

Aaron has been with Wellman Sports Marketing since 2015, and has called on 3 different account territories. Although still somewhat new to the Wellman family, he grew up in the rep world as his father worked in the sporting goods business for over 30 years. Aaron started as a sporting goods retail employee at 22 years old in central Indiana. In 2014 Aaron joined the Wellman team and covers Indiana, southwestern Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri. His account responsibilities include Bass Pro Shops, Wholesale Bait Co, Honey Creek Tackle, A2O Boating Supplies, and Dixie Marine, along with many independent dealers throughout his territory. Over the three years Aaron has had experience in selling all types of fishing products, camping accessories, knives, hunting accessories, outerwear, marine products and more. Aaron is a passionate tournament and recreational fisherman, avid hunter, and also enjoys canoeing, paddle boarding, hiking, and snowboarding.

JEDD CULLER, Owner

Jedd started his manufactures representative career in 1999, and currently manages WSM sales for the Great Lakes, East, and New England territory. He also is the key contact for Dicks Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to his Key Account work, Jedd still maintains his grassroots relationships at the independent dealer level. Growing up in a family owned retailer, Jedd learned at an early age the value of product knowledge to maximize sales. Jedd has achieved many sales awards and recognitions for his hard work and dedication to the brands within the WSM portfolio.

TIM PETERSEN, Account Rep

Tim began his sales career 1978 with Joe’s Sporting Goods of St. Paul, MN. In 1985 Tim joined True Sales with account responsibility in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. He joined the Wellman Sports Marketing team in 2012, and his current responsibilities include Big Rock Sports, The Sportsman’s Guide, and SE MN. Tim has a passion for the outdoors, and the products he sells. During his 30 plus years as a sales rep, Tim has been recognized by numerous factories for his service and dedication including two time Normark rep of the year, Glenn Sims award from Plano Molding Co, and Plano rep of the year in 2011.

MARK PALINSKY, Account Rep

Mark is starting his 24th year in the rep business, focused on covering the Michigan & Ohio markets. Prior to joining the Wellman Sports Marketing Team in 2007, he owned and operated his own rep agency, specializing in Paddlesports and Outdoor Products. His specialized account responsibilities include Dunham's, Jay's Sporting Goods, Powers Outdoors, and Franks Great Outdoors. Mark’s previous eighteen years experience was the development and management of an outdoor specialty business that grossed over two million dollars per year. Throughout Mark's career he has been recognized by the manufacturers he represents for his focused efforts in sales which include Rep of the Year awards. Mark is an avid paddler, hunter, and clay target sports enthusiast.

MATT EDWARDS, Account Rep

Matt has been in the Rep business for twenty-three years, and has had experience calling on accounts in six different territories throughout his tenure. He started as a rep in a family firm that his dad owned. In 1997 Matt joined the Wellman team and covers Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania. His account responsibilities include W.L. Baumler, Morgan Recreational, Triple S Sporting Supplies, and Combo Sports Distribution, along with many independent dealer throughout his territory, Fin Feather Fur Outfitters, Vance Outdoors, Great Lakes Supply, Consumer Direct Sports, and Fisherman’s Central. Over the twenty-three years Matt has had experience in selling all types of camping products, footwear, hunting accessories, outerwear, fishing and marine products, and more. Throughout Matt’s career he has been recognized by many manufacturers with outstanding sales awards including Normark Rep of the year, Shakespeare Rep of the year, TruTurn Rep of the year, 2004 Doc Wellman Award, and more recent The Johnson Outdoor Inc. Marine Electronics Group, Rep of the year 2006-2007.

JOHN BURGESS “JR” Field Coordinator, Sales Support, Account Rep

John Burgess joined our group in 2010, is a graduate from Hamline University, majoring in Business and Anthropology. As a part of his college experience he spent eight weeks camping in the Aniakchak Peninsula in Alaska as a part of an "archeological dig". In addition to his studies, John was a four-year letter winner and captain of the Hamline Swim Team, which led him into other water sports of kayaking and canoeing. Continuing his interest in athletics and the outdoors, and upon graduation from Hamline, John worked two years marketing Dick's Sporting Goods services and products. John also spent time working for Nelson Marine selling fishing and recreational boats and motors. John has great interest in the hunting world, which gives him excellent working knowledge of the products. John’s role at the main office includes managing distributor and consumer shows, establishing and maintaining a company website, assisting in POS reporting, co-manage pro staff, and directly calling on Northern Wholesale. In 2013 he was named Directors Choice for Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics Group.

ANDY PETERSEN, Owner

Andy officially joined the Wellman Sports Marketing team in 2002, and currently manages the Mid-west sales force, as well as, calling on key accounts across Minnesota. Andy is the point of contact for Gander Outdoors/Overtons, Key Independents such as Reeds Sporting Goods, and various OEM Accounts. Besides doing pro staff work for Wellman Sports Marketing, Andy also started his career in sporting goods working for Joe’s Sporting Goods out of St. Paul Mn.

DAVID MOORE, Account Rep

David came on board with Wellman Sports Marketing in June of 2007, and his experience as a sporting goods rep started 14 years prior to that. His success with his past employer was proven over those 14 years. During that time, Beretta and Sentry Safe Co. recognized David with multiple top sales awards. His key accounts include Scheel’s All Sports, Bill Hicks & Company, Runnings, L&M, and Pheasants Forever. David’s territory knowledge of the Dakotas and Minnesota, from a dealer standpoint, is unsurpassed. David understands and has developed special sales programs, private label programs, and special makes to fit the needs of his key accounts. David is also known for is “hands on” product seminars that prove to drive sales for all of his customers and represented brands.

ROB STORRAR, Account Rep

Rob began working for Wellman Sports Marketing in 2016 and covers independent dealers in MN, ND, and SD. He attended college at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and graduated with a Marketing degree in 2013. Rob has been a passionate deer hunter and fisherman since a young age, and sought a job in the outdoor industry to marry his passion with work. His industry experience includes working for Gander Mountain during his college years, working consumer show for WSM and other related fishing brands, and guiding for steelhead on the North Shore of Minnesota.

ROB ABERS, Account Rep

Rob joined Wellman Sports Marketing in 2007, and started his industry career in 1996. Many of those years were spent in retail buying and management of a large Sports Inc. buying group retail store called Harrys Army Navy. Through his tenure in retail, he organized merchandise sets and advertising schedules for the retailer along with maintaining the budget for buying and advertising. Rob will be covering Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Rob is an Avid Angler in his time off, and received the 2016 Doc Wellman Award.

KRISTINE HAGEL, Sales/Office Coordinator

You can be confident that when you reach Kris, you are going to be "in the know" and have a reliable person to assist you in several areas. Being with the company for twenty-nine years, Kris manages account rep data, as well as sales data and marketing correspondence with factories, sales reps, and distributor and dealer customers. Kris is very knowledgeable about the products we represent and is experienced in working at Distributor and Consumer Shows.

BRYAN PLENZLER, Account Rep

Bryan calls on the independent dealers in Michigan. Along with Bryan’s dealer work, he calls on Dunhams, Meijer, and Kroll International. Jann's Netcraft in Ohio is one of Bryan’s pets, as he was an employee there before coming to Wellman Sports Marketing. Bryan prides himself on having tremendous product knowledge, and has built strong relationships with all of his customers over the years through outstanding sales and service, and timely follow up. In 2005 and 2014 Bryan was named Rep of the Year for Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, and in 2009 he was the Doc Wellman Award recipient. Bryan is also an avid fisherman for many different species; both ice and open water, and competes in numerous bass tournaments each year. Because of his reputation as an angler and a sales rep, he has been able to develop relationships with various writers, and has been featured in local and national publications such as Bassmaster Magazine and the Toledo Blade.

JOE TERZO, Account Rep

Joe Terzo is new to Wellman Sports Marketing, starting full time in 2016. He covers our New York and Connecticut territories. Prior to joining the WSM team, he worked in several different facets that exposed him to selling all different kinds of outdoor products. Joe was on the Elite Archery pro staff, and has helped out at numerous trade shows within the industry. Joe has a Fish and Wildlife degree, and is a passionate Whitetail hunter.