Water Pro Development

We are dedicated to helping water professionals adapt, compete, grow, and thrive.

Water Pro Development is dedicated to making the water industry better by making the professionals in the business more effective and happier in their jobs. We train, consult, and coach water pros who are dedicated to getting better at their craft.

For too long much of the sales training in the water business has been dominated by high pressure and parlor tricks. All our training is professional, and is being done by some of the most effective people in the business.

Who Are These Guys?

Don Akers, Principal Trainer and Executive Coach

For over a decade Don Akers has consulted, coached, trained, and spoken for America’s businesses — from Fortune 100 companies to family-owned businesses, sales teams, CEOs, and Olympic athletes. His hands-on, values-based, keep-it-simple approach makes his strategies immediately useful to people at all levels of an organization.

Don Akers

He has trained and impressive list of sales and leadership teams. More importantly, seventeen years of studying applied psychology for business applications has allowed to him to distill the key patterns that make it possible for dedicated professionals to become fearless and confident, even when doing new things in changing times.

Don holds a BS in petroleum engineering. He spent fifteen years in corporate sales and leadership positions. He won a first-ever sole supplier agreement for Union Carbide with Texaco where he created effective sales models that are still being used around the world.

Today Don inspires people to be more fearless, more confident, and more resilient when life throws its punches.

Technical Advisors

Mike Schaefer, Owner, Schaefer Water Centers, Missouri

“We can compete with anyone.”
Mike Schaefer is a mechanical engineer and the owner and operator of Schaefer Water Centers, a full service water dealership with six stores in Missouri and Illinois. Mike leads a team of three technical salespeople who compete for and win industrial, medical, and commercial. He has five outside salespeople who handle their residential water business.

Brian Bayford, Vice President, Water Pro Marketing

“Outthink the competition, don’t outspend them,” is Brian Bayford’s unique, effective approach to business development.

Brian has twenty-six years of water treatment experience and is an expert at keeping his company name in front of his market. He has grown his company from a startup to full service with a bottling plant and water well drilling operations in only ten years.

Brian is the owner of Water Pro Marketing, a premier dealer in Gloucestser, VA

Matt Wirth, Regional Sales Manager, Hellenbrand

Matt Wirth is a recognized expert and trainer used by the American Water Quality Association for residential and commercial/industrial water treating applications.

Matt has thirty-one years in the water treatment business and experience as a dealer, sales rep, OEM rep, and owner.