John F. “Jeff” Tanner Jr. is professor of marketing at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business.  Dr. Tanner spent eight years in marketing and sales with Rockwell International and Xerox Corporation.  In 1988, Dr. Tanner earned his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and joined the faculty at Baylor University, where he serves as the Co-Director of the Center for Professional Selling and the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development.

Dr. Tanner has received several awards for teaching and research, including the Business Deans Association Innovative Achievement Award. He is author or co-author of thirteen books, including The Hard Truth About Soft Selling with George Dudley.  His books have been translated into several languages, and distributed in over 30 countries.  Dr. Tanner has published over 100 articles in trade publications such as Business Marketing, Marketing Management, and Exhibitor Times and over 70 research articles in academic journals such as the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, and others.  His research has won numerous awards, including "Best Paper of the Year, 2000" from the Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management.  

A founding partner in BPT Partners, Dr. Tanner is an active consultant. He helps fast-growing companies deploy sales strategies and quickly grow sales forces. In addition, he teaches marketing and sales to executives in France, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad, Colombia, Australia, and India.

Dr. Tanner and his wife have four children, and live on Jett Creek Farm, where they also raise Thoroughbred racehorses.