In this episode of Brainstorming with Bergeron, Stephen Bergeron, founder and advisor at Mountain Ties, explores the evolving role of trade show management in the modern sales ecosystem.

Stephen breaks down how conferences have shifted from product-centric events to strategic opportunities for relationship building, brand visibility, and long-term partnership development. He shares practical insights on preparing for a show, setting intentional goals, engaging with attendees, and understanding why the true “win” is not a closed deal on the show floor—but securing permission to reengage after the event.

Learn how effective booth planning, team alignment, pre-show outreach, and post-show follow-up can maximize ROI and strengthen your presence within your industry’s ecosystem. Whether you’re exhibiting or attending, this episode offers a modern framework for making trade shows more impactful and more meaningful.

💡 Next up: Further Expanding the Circle of Influence.

🔗 Learn more at mountainties.com or email Stephen at stephen@mountainties.com.

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube.

In this episode of Brainstorming with Bergeron, Stephen Bergeron, founder and advisor at Mountain Ties, concludes the five phases of the sales ecosystem by focusing on internal companywide communications—the foundation for keeping teams aligned, informed, and engaged.

Stephen discusses how consistent, transparent communication builds trust, breaks down departmental silos, and strengthens company culture. From weekly “huddle” meetings to monthly all-hands and deep-dive alignment sessions, he outlines practical ways to ensure every employee—from sales to engineering—stays connected to the company’s mission and momentum.

Discover how fostering open dialogue, recognizing shared successes, and even adding a little fun to your internal rhythm can boost morale, improve performance, and keep everyone moving in the same direction.

💡 Next up: The Circle of Influence.

🔗 Learn more at mountainties.com or email Stephen at stephen@mountainties.com.

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube.

In this episode of Brainstorming with Bergeron, Stephen Bergeron, founder and advisor at Mountain Ties, explores Phase Four of the sales ecosystem: the Joint Business Review (JBR) vs. the Quarterly Business Review (QBR).

Traditional QBRs are often one-sided and backward-looking—but the modern sales ecosystem demands collaboration, transparency, and forward thinking. Stephen explains how the JBR transforms routine check-ins into meaningful, shared conversations that strengthen trust, reinforce commitments, and keep both teams aligned toward mutual growth.

Learn how to build more engaging business reviews, improve attendance and executive buy-in, and address “the elephants in the room” before they become deal-breakers. Discover how making your reviews joint, honest, and future-focused can turn your customer relationships into lasting partnerships.

💡 Next up: Phase Five – Internal Communications.

🔗 Learn more at mountainties.com or email Stephen at stephen@mountainties.com.

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube.

In this episode of Brainstorming with Bergeron, Stephen Bergeron, founder and advisor at Mountain Ties, explores Phase Three of the sales ecosystem: Proposal vs. Quote.

Building on the story selling techniques from Episode 4, Stephen explains why a proposal should do more than outline pricing—it should reinforce trust, document discovery, and position your organization as the strategic partner. Learn how proposals extend the story you’ve been building with prospects, highlight your value through executive summaries, and showcase your brand’s professionalism.

You’ll also hear when a simple quote is the right tool for the job, and how to avoid commoditizing your solution by knowing the difference between the two. From creating tailored executive summaries to aligning sales and marketing for a stronger presentation, this episode gives you practical insights to elevate your proposals and close deals with confidence.

💡 Next up: Phase Four – The Joint Business Review (JBR).

🔗 Learn more at mountainties.com or email Stephen at stephen@mountainties.com

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube.

Episode 4 – Story Selling: Turning Conversations into Connections

In this episode of Brainstorming with Bergeron, Stephen Bergeron, founder and advisor at Mountain Ties, explores Phase Two of the sales ecosystem: Story Selling.

Building on the mind mapping process from Episode 3, Stephen shares how to take your unique selling propositions (USPs) and bring them to life through real-world stories that build trust, spark conversation, and uncover customer needs—without turning the meeting into an interrogation.

Learn how casual discovery, relatable examples, and a true team-selling approach can create deeper relationships and position your organization as the trusted solution. Plus, hear why involving subject matter experts (SMEs) in the sales process strengthens both internal trust and customer confidence.

💡 Next up: Phase Three – Proposal vs. Quote.

🔗 Learn more at mountainties.com or email Stephen at stephen@mountainties.com.

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube.

Episode 3 – Mind Mapping Core Competencies for Customer Alignment

In this episode of Brainstorming with Bergeron, Stephen Bergeron, founder and advisor at Mountain Ties, kicks off a deeper dive into the sales ecosystem by exploring Phase One: Mind Mapping.

Stephen explains how internal discovery and knowledge-sharing—often locked in the minds of founders or long-time employees—can be transformed into a collaborative, organization-wide exercise. Learn how identifying your unique selling propositions (USPs), involving cross-functional teams, and building conversational sales strategies can help your company stand out and scale effectively.

This 10-minute session is packed with insights to help align your team, clarify your value, and lay the groundwork for stronger customer relationships.

💡 Next up: Phase Two – Story Selling.

🔗 Learn more at mountainties.com or email Stephen directly at stephen@mountainties.com.

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube.

What exactly is a sales ecosystem—and why should you care? In this episode, Stephen Bergeron breaks down the interconnected parts that drive successful selling, from internal processes to external partnerships. He explores why treating sales as a standalone function limits growth, and how a systems-thinking approach can uncover new opportunities for alignment, efficiency, and impact.

Key takeaways include:

• The hidden players influencing your sales outcomes
• Why most sales strategies fall short of ecosystem thinking
• How to identify weak links in your process—and strengthen them

Want to dive deeper? Visit mountainties.com for more insights and practical tools.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of brainstorming with Bergeron. My name is Stephen Bergeron, founder and advisor at Mountain Ties, where our focus is channel sustainability through combining sales and marketing alignment with growth strategies for leadership. Each podcast will take a deeper look into one of Mountain Ties recent blogs.