M.B.A.–The College of William and Mary
B.A.–Randolph–Macon

Ellen Cross is a multifaceted trainer¸ author¸ speaker and coach. She is the founder and President of The Rainmaker Group¸ a provider of integrated services including sales and business development. She is a certified trainer at the Dale Carnegie Institute and frequently conducts training for Fortune 500 companies in the areas of communication¸ motivation¸ customer service¸ high performing teams¸ and executive image. She also coaches several clients in career and life success.

Prior to founding The Rainmaker Group¸ Ellen served as Vice President of Business Development at Bennett Kuhn Varner (BKV) Advertising¸ a full service advertising agency in Atlanta. Client billings tripled during the seven years that she oversaw new business development¸ and BKV is now the largest full service direct response advertising agency in the Southeast.

She served as President of Direct Hit Productions¸ a television commercial production division of BKV¸ where she managed directors¸ producers¸ and film crews. Ellen also managed more than 100 employees during her tenure as President of a car rental franchise¸ which operated in six cities in the Southeast.

Ellen holds a B.A. degree from Randolph–Macon Woman’s College and spent her junior year at the Sorbonne in Paris. She received her MBA degree from The College of William and Mary in 1989. Ellen speaks fluent French and served as a volunteer interpreter during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She serves on the board of Cedar Hill Enrichment Center in Gainesville¸ Georgia. A three time 26 mile marathon runner¸ she now spends her spare time reading¸ playing the piano¸ swimming and practicing yoga.