CenturyLink Awards First Million-Dollar Bonus

By Khali Henderson

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Master agency Telecom Brokerage Inc. became the first agent to earn a million-dollar bonus from CenturyLink Channel Alliance.

TBI CEO Geoff Shepstone accepted the award Thursday night during an awards dinner at the carrier’s partner summit, AllianceExpo, which was help Jan. 16-17 in Denver.

The Million-Dollar Bonus program was started in summer 2010 as a challenge from the Blake Wetzel, vice president of sales for CCA, when he was the new channel chief at Qwest. The program was carried over when Qwest was acquired by CenturyLink in spring 2011.

The program promises $1 million to any agent that grows their business with CenturyLink by $2 million a month during the five years beginning July 1, 2010. TBI accomplished the goal in half the time.

Wetzel said TBI has a record year in 2011, but “obliterated” that record in 2012. As examples, he said, that the master agency had six deals that were more than $100,000 per month in revenue. In addition, he said that TBI had sold the third largest and the largest deals in CCA/Qwest history last year.

TBI’s Shepstone and his key staff members accepted a ceremonial $1,000,000 check amidst a flurry of balloons. Shepstone said the award was an honor for TBI but also a “validation of this channel.” In the spirit of giving back, he also offered to mentor CenturyLink agents looking to grow their businesses.

TBI, a CenturyLink Premier Elite Partner, earned honors for Top Large Deal, Highest Revenue Growth and Highest Sales Attainment for 2012.