2017 marks the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery which has become the dominant wine producer in the State of Washington. Aric Keck has never visited Washington State but has noted their Merlots and Rieslings are some of the more spectacular wines from the region. What has been most remarkable about Ste Michelle is its half century commitment to producing world class wines. There has never been a compromise in quality at Ste Michelle and Aric Keck is a proud owner of several of these bottles. Perhaps one of the most impressive sights you will ever see is to walk into the main winery in Woodinville, Washington and to see the massive array of banners, each of which celebrates one of their wines that has achieved a 90 point rating or better from the mainstream wine press. Aric Keck will be attending a wine tasting at their kickoff in Minneapolis which will also feature a 90 Point Wine which is pretty amazing the diverstity of wines that will be tasted.
Beach Volley Ball by Aric Keck
Beach Volley ball gained it’s roots in the beaches of Southern California. Aric Keck has visited the Southern California coast multiple times with La Jolla outside of San Diego as being one of the most prominent zip codes in the area. There also is a restaurant in the area called Las Brisas which serves fantastic Mexican fare with amazing vistas. Aric Keck loves Mexican food and in particular authentic food with lots of character and spice. There are many places that serve good food but Aric Keck has visited El Paso and it’s neighbor to the south, Juarez a number of years ago.
MSU Spartans Struggled in 2016
Image: msuspartans.com
Before earning his MBA from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business, Aric Keck received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University (MSU). Aric Keck remains a fan of the MSU Spartans football team.
After making their first appearance in the Bowl Championship Series Playoffs last year, the Spartans had a disappointing season in 2016. Starting the season with a 2-0 record and ending a three-game losing streak to longtime rival Notre Dame, fans had reason to be optimistic. Despite some excellent efforts, however, the team found ways to lose its next seven games.
The Spartans finally achieved their only other win by beating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in November, but their fourth-quarter comeback against the highly ranked Ohio State Buckeyes fell just one point short. The 2016 season was a painful one for both the team and its fans, but the Spartans will have two outstanding quarterbacks returning for the 2017 season who are likely to take the team back to its former success. Brian Lewerke and Damion Terry showed promise last season, but both suffered injuries that kept them on the sidelines.
Certified Specialist of Wine Program Refines Enthusiasts’ Knowledge
Image: societyofwineeducators.org
Aric Keck has a proven record in marketing, sales management, and business development, drawing on that experience as a regional manager with Vectra Networks, a cybersecurity firm. In addition to his professional work, he is a member of the Society of Wine Educators (SWE), a nonprofit organization that provides education about wine and spirits to professionals as well as amateur wine enthusiasts. Through SWE, Aric Keck has completed three of the five levels of the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) program.
One of many certifications offered by the SWE, the CSW program certifies candidates’ knowledge of wine, wine production, and viticulture. Program participants are issued a CSW Study Guide, from which the certification exam’s 100 multiple-choice questions are sourced. Topics covered include etiquette and service, composition and chemistry, physiology of taste, and several more. In addition to the Study Guide, CSW provides free monthly webinars and a workbook that includes practice quizzes and other learning tools.
For its authority in wine industry practices and standards, the CSW program received the Quality Program designation from the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation. Various colleges, universities, culinary schools, and corporations use the Quality Program certification as an educational standard.
Three Must-Visit Vineyards in Georgia Wine Country
Image: boutierwinery.com
Since 2016, Aric Keck has served as regional manager for Vectra Networks in Georgia. A certified wine specialist, Aric Keck also donates to the Society of Wine Educators.
Home to a number of incredible wineries, Georgia has gained attention in recent years as the new Napa Valley. Some of the most celebrated wineries on the East Coast are located in the state.
A historic option for wine fans is Three Sisters Vineyards, which was the first winery to open in Lumpkin County after prohibition. Named the Best Winery in the South, Three Sisters also produces the Walasiyi and Chestatee brands. Guests can peruse Southern folk art or listen to local musicians while sipping the wine.
Boutier Winery has won both American and international awards for its French-American hybrids. Its most recognizable wines include the Chambourcin and the Peach Chardonnay.
Known for its red blend, Wolf Mountain Vineyards creates wines in the European style. Visitors will find a cottage tasting room and a restaurant that overlooks the vineyard hills. The vineyard tour highlights the winery’s old-world approach to wine making.
Aric Keck – a successful Atlanta Sales Professional
Aric Keck – a Successful Atlanta Sales Executive
A sales leader with decades of experience in the technology industry, Aric Keck works for an Atlanta provider of network security solutions. Mr. Keck is especially adept at identifying prospective customers for early-stage projects, helping to ensure that new projects produce revenue from the start. Aric Keck’s track record of consistent sales success includes the Intel Corporation’s services division, where he served as sales director and exceeded his quota five years running, making him the division’s top performer.
In preparation for his career in the technology sector, Mr. Keck enrolled at Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. While an undergraduate, he joined both the American Production and Inventory Control Society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Later, he secured his MBA in marketing from Duke University.
For recreation, Mr. Keck enjoys international travel and plays tennis and golf. He also follows several football and basketball teams, including the Duke University Blue Devils and the Michigan State Spartans.
Aric Keck – Sales Biography
Aric Keck, Experienced in Sales
Aric Keck, an executive well-versed in both sales and business development, recently joined Vectra Networks, Inc., as regional manager. In the lead up to his present role, Aric Keck worked several years as sales director for the Intel Corporation in Atlanta.
At Intel, Mr. Keck succeeded in growing the customer base for the company’s enterprise software solutions. In 2014 and 2015, he achieved top global enterprise sales in Intel’s software division.
Before becoming an Intel sales director, Mr. Keck provided business development leadership at Exostar, LLC, a provider of cloud-based subscription services for business clients. Mr. Keck’s background in sales also includes a period as regional sales manager at Aladdin Knowledge Systems and as national accounts manager at Trend Micro, Inc.
Aric Keck secured his MBA in marketing from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where he served on the executive committee of the Marketing Club. He previously earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Atlanta Area Sales and Business Development Professional – Aric Keck
Atlanta-Area Sales and Business Development Professional Aric Keck
A regional manager with Vectra Networks in the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna, Georgia, Aric Keck builds upon nearly three decades of professional experience in the high-tech industry. He holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Michigan State University in East Lansing and a master of business administration from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Aric Keck embarked on his first business venture while enrolled at Duke, becoming the owner and proprietor of the Hideaway Graduate Student Lounge.
Mr. Keck went on to serve as a senior marketing manager of Internet solutions with MCI Telecommunications in Atlanta, Georgia, and an original equipment manufacturer sales manager with Diamond Multimedia Systems in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ultimately settling in the greater Atlanta area, he directed business development with Exostar and oversaw sales in the services division of the Intel Corporation. Aric Keck’s current areas of expertise range from lead generation and account management to go-to-market strategies and independent software vendor relations.
Aric Keck – Software Sales experience
Aric Keck, Experienced Software Salesperson
A sales executive with decades of experience, Aric Keck helps lead Vectra Networks in his capacity as a regional manager. The firm delivers security solutions that allow organizations to identify cyber attacks. Aric Keck’s history in software sales includes five years with the Intel Corporation as well, where he oversaw sales initiatives for its cloud and application programming interface products. During his tenure at Intel, he achieved impressive sales numbers that beat expectations by as much as 83 percent.
Early in his career, Aric Keck honed his technology skills as a software support engineer with the NCR Corporation. Later, he moved on to Conner Peripherals, where he served as original equipment manufacturer sales manager. Mr. Keck would go on to secure senior sales and marketing positions with MCI Telecommunications, Diamond Multimedia Systems, and Jetstream Communications.
For recreation, Mr. Keck enjoys playing golf and tennis and listening to a wide variety of music. In terms of professional sports, he follows the athletic exploits of Detroit’s Tigers and Red Wings.
Aric Keck – experienced sales leadership
Aric Keck, Experienced in Sales Leadership
A high-performing sales leader focused on hardware and software, Aric Keck recently became regional manager at Vectra Networks, an Atlanta based network security solutions firm. In preparation for his career, Mr. Keck studied at Michigan State University, where he completed his bachelor of science in electrical engineering. He followed up on his undergraduate degree by entering graduate school at Duke University, where he secured his master of business administration in marketing.
Following his time at Duke, Aric Keck became OEM sales manager with Conner Peripherals, where he helped boost hard-disk-drive sales. He left Conner to become senior marketing manager of internet solutions at MCI Telecommunications. While there, the company recognized him as a Top 15% Sales Performer for its southeast region.
In addition, Aric Keck worked with Trend Micro, Inc., as national accounts manager for its Very Large Enterprise division. In honor of his achievements, he was named the #1 Sales Performer for Trend’s national team. In recent years, Mr. Keck served as a top sales executive for Intel Corporation.
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