Experience and Interests
Teaching
- Associate Lecturer, UW-Stevens Point (2022-present)
- Adjunct Instructor, Mid-State Technical College (2020-present)
Professional Experience
- President, CEO & Co-Founder, Arbre Technologies, Stevens Point, WI (2015-present)
- Raised over $2.3M of private investment capital
- Strategized and executed plans yielding YoY growth of 100% or more
- Manage a remote team serving customers in 25 states and 5 countries
- Patents:
- Meyers; Benjamin, Vollmer; Matthieu, Riebel; Michael J., Riebel; Milton J. Tag Assemblies. U.S. Patent 10,527,398, issued January 7, 2020.
Research Interests
- Sales Difficulty
- New Technology Adoption
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Accountability Culture
Publication
- Lilly, B.S., Stanley, Sarah M., and Vollmer, Matthieu T. (2015), “Perception of Sales Difficulty (Bundled versus Unbundled) in Correlation with Sunk Cost Effects and Sales Process Perception (SPP),” Target Journal: Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management.
Campus/Guest Lectures
- Business 331, UW-Stevens Point, Branding for Entrepreneurs, March 2022
- Bus. 480, UW-Stevens Point, Capstone Adviser, March 2022
- Business 300, UW-Stevens Point, The Art/Science of Writing Proposals, March 2016, 2017 and 2018
Involvement
Community
- Executive Director, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 2014-16
- Marketing Committee, United Way of Portage County, 2014-15
- Pro Bono Marketing Consultation, Jails to Jobs, 2012-16
Professional Memberships:
- Board Director, Wisconsin Startup Coalition (2021-present)
- Member, Executive Leadership Forum (2019-present)
- AmericanHort (2017-22)
National Speaking Engagements
- AmericanHort, Cultivate’19, Panelist, 2019: How Technology is Impacting the Landscape & Nursery Industry.
- AmericanHort, 2018, Automating and Innovating Tree Monitoring Techniques for the Nursery, Arborist, and Forester.
Fun Facts
Last book you read?
The Voltage Effect by John A. List
Best piece of advice you ever received?
Much of life, and career success, is hinged on our ability to manage conflict. In challenges, we must first seek to understand, and then clearly articulate the outcome we do want, and also the outcome we do not want, so we can find common ground and move challenging conversations forward. I learned about this critical bit of advice in a book that was given to me by an entrepreneur and mentor. The book is titled, “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High,” by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, et al.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be a U.S. Navy fighter pilot. I’ve always loved aviation and space exploration.
Favorite quote?
Stephen Covey shares incredible advice in his book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” He states that it is critical to, “seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
One thing about your school that you are most proud of?
I’m proud to be a product of this department. The growth and development of the School of Business and Economics at UWSP over the last 10 years has been incredible. I’m proud to be an alumnus of this organization. The accreditation of the program, and support of entrepreneurship, ranks high on my list as well.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I really enjoy connecting with students, especially first-generation college students and mentoring them in a way that allows them to make their own conclusions and arrive at their own decisions. I learn so much from the course material and the perspectives that students share. I love helping others apply new learnings to their current and future situation. Entrepreneurial students resonate well with me – if I can help them achieve their goals in even a small way, I view that as an accomplishment. I find it very fulfilling to help equip an individual to succeed at whatever they set out to do in life.
A piece of advice for students in your school?
At times, you may find certain content or course topics to be less than your favorite. Find joy in the journey and the learning process. You just don’t know when those bits of information may come in handy in the future. There is always something to gain from learning something new – find the opportunity in whatever it is you are learning and how you can best apply that to your life, even if the topic isn’t your favorite. Lastly, remember that the path to your definition of success is often not linear. Your path may be very different than others, and you may pivot several times. That is OK, and rather, likely more often the norm than the exception. Make the most of your journey and embrace it.