Faculty and Staff

All faculty members have excellent academic credentials and significant business experience in sales and marketing. At the present time, our instructors teach seven different classes in multiple sections to accommodate the programs rapid growth. The faculty has deep expertise in marketing, sales, finance, communications, sales technology, leadership, organization development, strategic planning, consulting and general management.

Faculty and Staff

Nour Abusaad

Instructor

Receiving his MBA from DePaul in 2018, coupled with 15 years of hands-on experience working in consumer product goods, Nour brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the classroom. His expertise encompasses all aspects within the beverage industry specializing in Category Management. His deep understanding of consumer behavior and market trends allows him to provide invaluable insights to students seeking to enter the dynamic and competitive world of consumer product goods. Nour currently serves as a Director of Category at Red Bull.

Charlie Drehmer

Executive in Residence and Director of Effective Business Communication

Charlie received his MBA from DePaul and completed his PhD in Experimental Psychology in 2021. Charlie has been an adjunct professor for DePaul since 2009 and joined the faculty full time in August 2017.

Kevin Kearns

Instructor

Kevin is an accomplished senior revenue leader who has led 4 separate companies to strategic exits. He has successfully scaled multiple companies up to $2B+ scale, including Grubhub, Huthwaite, 4C Insights, and ShopperTrak. Adept at accelerating all aspects of revenue generation through adoption of value-based sales motion, metrics-based analytics, sales automation technology including AI, cross-functional optimization, and the implementation of effective go-to-market processes. Kevin serves on multiple advisory boards and is the author of Escaping The Price-Driven Sale (McGraw-Hill).

Deirdre LaVerdiere

Associate Director

Deirdre brings over thirteen successful years in sales to her position. She has worked in the telecommunications industry in distribution and in marketing services. Her passion for sales and marketing brought her to the Center for Sales Leadership where her knowledge of the corporate world has helped shape her position.

Deirdre has her B.A. degree from DePaul University in International Business and Marketing and M.A. in Marketing Analytic's. Double Demon!

Contact Deirdre at deirdre.laverdiere@depaul.edu

Richard Rocco

Associate Professor, Executive Director Sales Leadership, and Executive Director Sales and Marketing Research Excellence

Business Experience: Healthcare/Medical Device, Consulting, B2B and B2C products. Dr. Rocco's Lecture Topics Include: Strategy, Sales Effectiveness, Sales Process, Sports Sales, Inside Sales, Communication, Coaching, and CRM/Sales Technology.

Clancy Ryan

CSL Co-Founder and Consultant

From entrepreneurial ventures to Fortune 500 companies, Clancy Ryan has earned the reputation as a leader and innovator in sales, finance and technology. Clancy currently serves as Vice President at The Washington Post . He was recently the Chief Revenue Officer for Punchkick Interactive after many years as the Vice President of Sales for the publicly traded firm Glu Mobile. During his career, he has managed sales teams and sales for The Discovery Channel, Penske Logistics & Leasing (Rollins), and Bank of America (Sky Financial). Clancy also founded 3D Wireless Games, which was eventually sold to Superscape Group PLC. He is an adjunct professor at DePaul University School of Business where he founded the Sales Leadership Center program and taught its first class. He holds an M.B.A. from the Kellstadt Graduate School at DePaul University.

Daniel Strunk

CSL Co-Founder and Instructor

Business Experience: P&G, Polaroid, Ocean Spray, Quaker Oats, Glendinning Consulting

Lecture Topics: CRM Effectiveness, Category Management, Consumer Motivation, Household Management.

D. Joel Whalen

CSL Co- Founder and Associate Professor

D. Joel Whalen is a long-standing member of DePaul Department of Marketing and a founding member of the Center for Sales Leadership. He specializes in effective Business Communication (MKT 276/576).

Applying psychological and neurobiological science, he and Tina M. Ricca have created new models of business communication. Based on these models, they have crafted dozens of skill-building demonstrations and exercises. Tina and Joel have taught their methods on five continents to corporations and universities

Joel has been presented multiple teaching and professional awards. He and Tina have written several books and produced over 100 instructional videos.

Lee Wrubel

Instructor

Lee has over 20 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies in roles such as Category Management, Shopper Insights, Shopper Marketing, and E-Commerce. These roles have been instrumental in providing real-life material to her students when teaching at DePaul University. Lee’s passion to teach is driven by watching her students grow and succeed!