Hal Becker

Hal Becker: Profile

At the age of 22, he became the #1 salesperson among a national sales force of 11,000, for the Xerox Corporation. Six years later in 1983, he survived terminal cancer only months after launching Direct Opinions, one of America's first customer service telephone survey marketing firms that facilitates more than two million calls per year with offices throughout the U.S.A. and Canada.

In 1990, Hal sold Direct Opinions to devote time for consulting and presenting lectures around the world.

Hal is the author of Can I have 5 Minutes Of Your Time? which is now in its 18th printing and is used by many corporations as their "Sales Bible." He has also authored two other best sellers Lip Service, one of the nations foremost books on customer service, and Get What You Want, a fun, upbeat and fresh approach to negotiating.

He has been featured in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Inc Magazine, Nations Business and hundreds of newspapers and Radio/TV stations around the world, and is currently syndicated in over 45 newspapers and magazines.

Hal has received the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award. He is one of only eight people in the world to be given this honor.

Inc. Magazine has voted Hal as one of the nation's top speakers in the Area of Sales and Customer Service. He is also a CSP, or Certified Speaking Professional, which is the highest earned designation presented by the National Speakers Association. The CSP award has been given less than 500 times in the past 25 years.

Hal's civic involvement is quite diverse. He is a past Chairman of his Chamber of Commerce, and has served as a trustee of the following organizations: The Better Business Bureau, March of Dimes, Council of Smaller Enterprises, University of Akron Business School, Cleveland Health Museum/Natural History Museum, Healthy Cities Ohio, and Montefiore Nursing Home.

After battling terminal cancer, Hal founded the Cancer Hotline, a non profit organization that provides support and assists cancer patients and their families. He donates proceeds of his books to this cause.