Agents for Qwest Communications International Inc. told PHONE+ they are optimistic about recent changes to the leadership of the Qwest Business Partner Program.
The Denver-based telco informed agents Aug. 19 that QBPP’s longtime leaders Tom McGrath, senior vice president of alternate channel sales, and Sandy Spencer, regional vice president of sales for QBPP, would be leaving the company, and a new chief, Blake Wetzel, had been named to run the indirect sales channel as vice president of sales – QBPP, reporting directly to Teresa Taylor, executive vice president of the Business Markets Group.
Agents familiar with Wetzel, who previously headed up sales operations for BMG, including the channel, are enthusiastic about his appointment.
“I think they have put an absolutely excellent person over the channel,” said agent Ben Humphreys, president and CEO of agency Comtel Communications and vice chairman of the Agent Alliance, a buying consortium of 17 agencies. Humphreys also is manager of Agent Alliance Q, the consortium’s holding company that has had a contract with Qwest since 2002. “He did a brilliant job for us, I think. I am impressed with Blake, and I have been for two to three years.”
Incidentally, Wetzel is the younger brother to Chris Wetzel, general manager for Agent Alliance member NetGain Communications. But Humphreys said he wasn’t aware of the relationship until recently. Whether those family ties will work to agents’ favor remains to be seen. NetGain execs declined to comment for this article.
Ken Mercer, senior vice president for master agency Telecom Brokerage Inc. (TBI) also knows Wetzel from his oversight of Qwest’s order automation process. “He is very intelligent and process-based. Everything he has done to improve process for Qwest has worked really well,” he said.
Mercer added that “the shorter chain of command and streamlining of processes” will be beneficial to the program.
Jay Bradley, president of telecom services for master agency Intelisys Communications Inc., agreed. “We are optimistic that the change will result in more visibility for the QBPP program within Qwest,” Bradley said. “That was one of the stated objectives – by having Blake [Wetzel] be solely focused on the Business Partner Program and reporting directly to Teresa [Taylor], that will give Blake a voice with his direct-side peers. We are pleased about that.”
While agents’ reactions to the new reporting hierarchy and Wetzel’s appointment are positive, ranging from encouraged to elated, reviews are mixed for the outgoing team.
“We really appreciate what Sandy [Spencer] did for the program for all the years the he was in it. He was the glue and provided that continuity that enabled that program to become the leading program in the industry,” said Bradley.
TBI’s Mercer also praised Spencer, saying he “was always there for us when we needed him.”
