Grindstone Inc. is headquartered in Ellicott City, Maryland, USA and was founded by Brian Augustus Parnell in 2003. Brian’s vision was to quickly position the company as a highly professional, strategic business development company. The lack of integrity and professionalism within the B2B telemarketing industry paved the way for Grindstone Inc. to substantially raise the bar and set a new standard. This philosophy has driven the company from its inception. Grindstone is a leader in sales support and direct telesales services for the B2B market place. Services include Lead generation, Lead development and qualification, appointment setting, event promotion, and direct telesales.

Industry leader - Grindstone is a full service, outsourced Business Development Company providing professional sales support and complete sales outsourcing solutions to Domestic and International clients alike. Grindstone specializes in Business to Business programs including direct telesales, lead generation, database updating, customer retention, and appointment setting services. Grindstone recruits, manages, and maintains top level talent through a superior management infrastructure. Consistent communication, feedback, and strategy refinement are a core trait. Grindstone is an extension of each client’s business and operates at the highest levels of professionalism. Every client program starts with the goal of establishing a long term ongoing partnership.

Additionally, Grindstone provides services to all types of businesses including startup companies, small operations, companies that are in turnaround situations, as well as Fortune 500 companies. The company also assists International companies that are looking to penetrate into the United States market space. We are pleased to have serviced clients that include NASA, American Express, L3 Communications, Pitney Bowes, Securitas, Republic Financial and Panasonic. Grindstone is currently strategizing a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University/Software Engineering Institute.

Grindstone firmly believes in superior professionalism. All clients are treated the same regardless of their size and scope of program. Grindstone recognizes that all client programs are driven by results. The company has established proven operation models that ensure its clients receive top notch service. Additionally the focus is on its clients Return on investment. Grindstone is a process driven company that understands long term client relationships rely on consistency, quality performance, and professionalism. The company’s process flows have steps to make certain its clients receive direct and first hand communication from the entire staff. Additionally clients have complete access to real time performance reports via its proprietary web based contact management system. Clients are constantly aware of the progression of their calling campaigns.

Brian Augustus Parnell, CEO and Founder

Brian has over 23 years of sales experience. He is a natural entrepreneur and leader. He developed Grindstone Inc. with his extensive marketing, sales and call center management experience. Brian served as the Director of Marketing for one of the Largest Mortgage Brokers in the country. Under his management, his Business Development center produced record volumes of high quality leads, significantly expanding the company's reach into the market. Prior to that, Brian served as a Marketing and Operations Manager for the largest Debt Management service provider in the USA, where his creative strategies and entrepreneurial spirit helped to grow their business development center to over 600 counseling professionals. Brian has a natural desire and talent to help companies grow. He has effectively bridged the gap between sales and marketing divisions, redesigned processes and communication flows to maximize revenue opportunities. Brian is a Towson University of Maryland graduate with a Bachelors of Science degree. Brian resides in Maryland with his wife and two children.

Shannon Ashworth, Director of Operations

Shannon is a 16 – year business veteran with a strong background in sales and marketing.  Before coming to Grindstone, Shannon worked as a regional director for one of the largest real estate investment firms in the US and Mexico.  With Shannon’s ability to employ creative marketing strategies and to create powerful synergy for generating opportunities for clients, she and her team were able to grow the southwest region revenue by 63% within one year. After her nine year stint in the real estate industry, she was approached by the office coffee/vending service industry where she worked as a consultant to companies in the U.S. and Canada to implement her sales and marketing strategies.  As a consultant, she trained hundreds of sales representatives and sales managers in her practical but yet creative marketing and sales strategies.  During this time, she co-authored “The Vantage Point…strategies, techniques and procedures for the enterprising OCS Operator”. Shannon earned her BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she was in the honors program and the first ever recipient of the Friend of the Arts Scholarship. 

Lee Ann Rife, Program Manager

Lee Ann has over 11 years of telemarketing experience.  Prior to joining Grindstone she worked in both a virtual setting as well as a brick and mortar call center.  She trained for one of the largest telecomm service providers in the USA.  She also worked closely with clients to help develop successful strategies to increase their bottom line.  In her experience with working virtually she was asked to not only to develop first class training materials but also to help strategize and develop plans for a better work flow for new and existing agents.  She worked in all areas of the call center environment.  She also has a strong background in client relations and management.  Lee Ann has been working in the virtual call center industry since 2006.  She enjoys the challenges and rewards of working virtually. She is self taught and continues to learn and grow with our company.  Lee Ann lives in Masontown WV with her husband and two children.

Shira Callaway, Program Manager

Shira brings 14 years combined experience in B2B lead generation marketing, sales, professional fundraising and customer service, and the management of a major optical facility in Atlanta, GA. Shira has been a part of her children’s local PTA for years and has even spoke with Key decision makers to help implement the best profit for the schools by going to all state national conferences held on their behalf. As a Program Manager, Shira partners with her clients to understand their business needs and develop customized solutions to meet their business objectives. Shira has excellent communication skills and a "customer first" attitude which she instills in her project teams.

Nathan Lewis

Nathan joined Grindstone in 2004 and is responsible for top level business development. Nathan brings years of marketing, training, business development, management, and promotional skills to the company. He has trained and managed 90 plus marketing reps for a major financial company focusing on script development, customer service, and time management. He continued his experiences in the financial industry as a Senior Loan Analyst. Nathan developed his experience working in the Business Outsourcing genre as an Inside Sales Associate, Team Project Leader, and Business Development Consultant. Nathan is a strong believer of premier customer service, technology, and proper business ethics. These strong core beliefs have allowed Nathan to succeed at every level where a challenge presents itself.

Amy Andrews, Director of Business Development - Amy has several years experience in Human Resources and Call Center Operations. Has previously worked in corporate Human Resources for one of the largest retailers in New England, allowing her to gain experience on all levels of personnel functions, create new training courses for employee development, and implement successful employee recognition programs. Has also worked as a Director of Career Services preparing college graduates for their careers, coordinating job-search workshops, interview/resume writing workshops, and coordinating regional and virtual job fairs. Amy holds a degree in Business Administration from AIU and enjoys working in recruitment because it allows the opportunity to meet people of all backgrounds and assist in their career success.