John Kratz

Hi, I'm John Kratz, Instructor of Marketing and student advisor at the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at UMD. I'm known by my students and clients as the "streetsmartprof." Welcome to my site!

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John Kratz teaches business students, salespeople, marketing managers and executives how to connect, inspire and influence others!   John believes people are best convinced by reasons they themselves discover. Influencing and inspiring others begins with facilitating this self-discovery in others.   John Kratz serves students of business by filling the "knowledge" gap between what they teach you in business school and the "real world."   He employs "streetsmart" lessons learned from having fought and survived the frontline trenches of national account sales and marketing, hence his moniker the "streetsmartprof."  John shares the "streetsmart" lessons taught to him by the many amazing mentors he's had over the last 30 years.   Prior to working in academia, John served time (15 years) in Corporate America as a revenue rainmaker in both Fortune 100 and successful early-stage entrepreneurial ventures.

Certified StoryLeader™ Trainer at Storyleaders LLC

April 2009 - Present | Duluth MN

I teach students, managers and executives how to connect, inspire and influence others. Lead workshops for organizations of all kinds looking to harness the power of story to increase sales, enhance their brand and social media content.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

1985 – 1992

MBA

University of Minnesota-Duluth

1976 – 1980

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Concentration: Communications

Using storytelling and listening to increase sales and marketing effectiveness, neuro-marketing, interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence, keynote speaking, career coaching, muskie fishing, upland bird hunting with his two small munsterlanders, playing blues harmonica, listening to jazz and cooking under cover with his Le Creuset cookware.