Meet Michael Plaksin | Vice President of Sales & Marketing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Plaksin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, do you have a budget?
Everyone has a budget. Even if they don’t realize it. Those who don’t realize they have a budget, find out quickly when they have maxed out their credit cards! I realized early in my career that the little amount of money I was making had to cover the standard living expenses that we all worry about. Rent, food. clothing and what’s left over – entertainment. I was lucky one day about 10 years into my career when a friend asked me if I am saving for retirement. I responded that I thought I would get a pension and then use social security for the balance. I’ll never forget how hard he laughed at me and told me that was a terrible plan. He said that I was responsible for my financial future and that I am already off to a late start. I even went to a friend who was a banker and they told me that although I have a nice salary, I don’t have any assets. They recommended that I speak to a financial planner. The financial planner wasn’t that good, but it was a start. It was then that I realized that there was a financial world out there pertaining to personal finances that I never even thought about. I made money, I spent money and didn’t really have much left over.
As I started to read about the market and investments, I educated myself and began a plan that I still recommend to anyone that asks me about it: 1.) Pay yourself first – make sure you write a check to yourself like a bill each month. 2.) Max out your 401K. It’s a good way to save and the money is taken out of your check before you even miss it. 3.) Buy and IRA – Yes, it’s not tax deductible, But as my accountant told me, the interest it earns over the years is…until you start taking it out. 4.) And finally – if you have any money left over, buy stock. I don’t pretend to understand the stock market, but I read a book where the author said: “If you don’t know the market, by stock that you know about and understand. I thought about that and bought McDonald’s, Microsoft and P&G many years ago. It helped to build a financial foundation that I continue to grow on a regular basis.
As a result of my savings, I make lifestyle choices that are within my financial bandwidth. I make spending decisions usually based on need. Sometimes based on fun and entertainment. It’s focused on plan from the time my friend laughed at my lack of financial acumen. I am hopeful to be able to retire in the future with the funds necessary to maintain the lifestyle I have today and be able to travel and enjoy many years of retirement!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Upon graduation from Syracuse University, I was luck enough to have been chosen by Saks Fifth Avenue to be one of less than a dozen trainees to be part of their buyer training program. This gave me the basis for my career from an understanding of retail, product, fashion, sales, marketing and finance. From introducing men’s European clothing to the market to running the second largest men’s furnishing and clothing department in the chain in Beverly Hills, I learned it all.

I wrote the training program on how to sell Atari Home Computers because of my retail background. I spent years as the Vice President of Sales for Packard Bell. Launching home computers into the mass market. Selling over 3 billion a year in computers and being the first person every to sell over $1 million dollars in an hour on QVC.

Working in the Flash & DRAM memory business, I was able to create new channels of business in the retail and OEM marketplace. Generating several billion in memory sales. Launched the Sesame Street Character Memory line (Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Kermit & Abby Cadabby) which included a full Sesame Street movie. The Tough Drive, best selling memory for the Army Airforce Exchange Services. Also created the “Susan G. Komen” Pink Petito drive and donated over $250K to the research to end breast cancer.

Was noted as the first person in Motorola to maintain the largest number of items with Best Buy on their retail floor, helping to generate over a billion in sales for the company. Created the most successful internal launch video for a new line modem product launch.

But perhaps the most exciting program and company that I have worked for is ALCHERA X. As the Vice President of Sales & Marketing, it is a honor and an opportunity to sell an artificial intelligent (AI) Saas (Software as a Service) that detects and protects property and lives by detecting fires and notifying first alert respondents anywhere from 20 minutes to over 2 hours before a 911 call or other notification.
Working with public utility companies and business that use our technology to help mitigate wildfires in a global basis is perhaps one of the most important positions that I have held. I have the chance on a daily basis to cooperate and work closely with people who are trying to save lives and property by mitigating fires before they burn hundreds or thousands of acres.

The company also is one of the top 10 developers of facial recognition software. We are planning safety and security programs that will provide lifestyle enhancements for millions of people here in the US and on a global basis over the next two years. Here at ALCHERA X, everyday is an opportunity for me to make the world a safer and better place to live!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve done this several times for my good friends that have come to visit from back East! You need to take them to Santa Monica Pier, the perfect tourist trap but a great place to visit. That leaves you the city of Santa Monica where you can stroll the shopping mall and take in all the sites as well as choose from a number of great places to eat. I can’t move inland without visiting Marina Del Rey. You see it on TV and the sites and places to eat are also a joy.

I have to take them to Beverly Hills not only for the shopping but also for the amazing restaurants. You need to walk Rodeo and at least a few stores on Wilshire.

Hollywood is a must not only because of the boulevard but also Universal Studios. You can’t visit without going there!

It’s a must to visit Orange County because of the shopping and eating at South Coast Plaza as well as the amazing beaches, hotels and variety of places to eat there as well. It’s a given that DisneyLand is a must drop by place!

As long as I’m heading South, San Diego is not only one of the best cities to live, you get to walk through Old Town and eat at one of the amazing steak and also fish restaurants.

Heading back North along PCH you really need to stop of at several locations but Malibu is also a must. Not only because everyone has heard about it but the views, the shopping and the food are beyond compare!

I will make you cut across to visit “The Valley” because although it’s not as exciting as the above listed areas, there are a number of great little local restaurants both there and also in Thousand Oaks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is dedicated to my family who through my entire life has show only love and support for me to know that there is no goal or objective I can’t reach if I try. To my friends that I am so blessed to have such a wealth of people that have always been there for me to listen to my ideas and help me to accomplish my goals. To teachers, from grade school through college, I have been so very fortunate to have had the true guidance and support of faculty members that saw in me the potential and helped me to develop my skills to achieve the success that I have been able to enjoy. In a way to give back, myself, my friends and even faculty members help create – “The Wyoming Valley West Educational Foundation”. A foundation for my high school that have provided technology, musical & support programs that are not offered by the school district. It’s my “pay it forward” program that has helped thousands of students over the past decade.

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelplaksin