Spencer’s Biography

“Inspiring excellence, through a passion for people”
is at the heart of Spencer Penhart’s mission both in and outside of work.

Through leadership training workshops, keynotes, and consulting, Spencer helps senior staff and managers improve their leadership effectiveness, and develop the awareness, knowledge and skills they need to elicit maximum performance from their direct reports and greater organization.  Through his sales effectiveness engagements, Spencer also helps sales organizations develop the cutting-edge messages and selling skills necessary to win in the “New Economy” selling environment.  After working with Spencer, team-members report feeling more energized and confident, with a concrete action plan full of new ideas.

Prior to forming Penhart Performance Group LLC, Spencer was a leadership development and sales effectiveness manager at Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie.  He was responsible for providing internal consulting, leadership development and training programs for two sales organizations totaling $4 billion in sales, as well as a 225-person Operations department.  Spencer’s highlights include helping one sales organization over-deliver on their annual plan by over $200 million despite uncertainty over an impending downsizing, leading several national development programs for various levels of the organization, and consulting on Humira, then the #1 pharmaceutical brand in the world in terms of global revenue.  Prior to his leadership development career, Spencer was a top-ranked sales manager leading a $38 million sales district with five separate geographies and 14 employees.  He was also a national sales trainer for a $2 billion product portfolio, as well as an award-winning sales representative.  He began his career in the financial services industry before moving into the pharmaceutical sector.  This diverse and real-world experience enables Spencer to take the best academic research and make it simple, relevant, and actionable.  Spencer has enjoyed high-achievement throughout his resume, and takes pride in helping others do the same.

Spencer earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Communications from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL.  He attended the prestigious Choate Rosemary Hall prep school in Wallingford, CT, where he was a goaltender on the Varsity Ice Hockey team.  He lives in the Seattle area with his best friend (his wife) and his two dreams come true (his children).  Spencer donates 10% of every Penhart Performance Group engagement fee to the charity of the client’s choosing.