Hal Becker

Six years later in 1983, it was that same passion and energy that helped him survive terminal cancer only months after launching Direct Opinions, one of the first customer service telemarketing firms which now conducts over 2,000,000 calls per year with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1990 Hal sold Direct Opinions to devote time for presenting lectures and seminars around the world and to promote his national bestseller, Can I Have 5 Minutes of Your Time? which is now in its 14th printing and is used by many corporations as their "Sales Bible." He has also authored another run-away bestseller Lip Service, one of the nation's foremost books on customer service. He has been featured in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Success, Inc., Nations Business and hundreds of newspapers and Radio/TV stations around the world. Hal has received the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award. He is one of only eight people in the world to be given this honor. As an internationally known expert on sales and customer service, a best-selling author, and a dynamic and entertaining speaker, Hal Becker makes more than 120 presentations a year to organizations that include IBM, Disney, Blue Cross, AT&T, Nordstrom, New York Life, American Greetings, Continental Airlines, U.S. Post Office and hundreds of other companies and associations. Inc. Magazine has voted Hal as one of the nation's top speakers in the areas of sales and customer service. He is also a CSP, or Certified Speaking Professional, which is the highest earned designation presented by the National Speakers Association. Hal also founded the nonprofit Cancer Hotline of Cleveland, a telephone service that provides support and information for cancer patients and their families (He donates proceeds of his books to this cause).