About us
A sales team all about you.
Our Vision & History
Align Sales Group seeks to provide manufacturers with resources to build their brands through providing top-notch food brokerage consulting. We offer innovative solutions that drive brands by serving as a connector with leading distributors and retailers.
Our Story
The focus of the company
Not to sacrifice integrity under any circumstance.
Where it all starts.
Bryan & Amanda DranginOur mission
Align Sales Group is a sales and marketing organization that strives to increase manufacturers’ sales volume while achieving the greatest possible product distribution.
Strength
Personal care of our customers and employees
As visionaries in the food brokerage industry, we are committed to building synergistic relationships between our manufacturing clients and distribution and retail partners. Relying on valuable feedback from our clients, we’ve supported them in growing their brands statewide and regionally. We are beyond grateful for the dedicated contributions of our sales team members that continue to lead the charge by providing clear, hands-on communication, resources, and consultation to our clients with utmost integrity.
Meet our team.
Martin Lira
Regional Sales DirectorMartin has 30 years in the c-store industry with a focus on food and beverage. He is a true team player, all about lasting relationships, both personally and professional. He is married (28 years. woot!) with two boys. He like getting his hands dirty too, including building mechanical things and problem solving. He loves life and balances work with ocean fishing, golf and cars.
Scott Merrill
Regional Sales DirectorScott is a veteran in the convenience store industry. Some of which he has owned his own stores and as Regional VP of Sales at SAS, Inc. He has a degree from Wayne State University, is a husband of 46 years and a true outdoorsman enjoying golf, fishing and hunting.
Alicen Bell
Executive AssistantAlicen has been with Align Sales Group for almost 2 years as their Executive Assistant and have previously worked in finance. She has 3 sport-loving kids keeping her busy traveling across the country. Alicen enjoys reading a good book with her 2 French Bulldogs by her side.
Cheryl Smith
Regional Sales DirectorCheryl has over 35+ Years’ experience working within Fortune 100/500 companies in roles of Account Management, Account Executive Major Accounts, Strategic Accounts. Management roles as Territory, District, Region, Training and Organization, Development & Training Director roles. Has BS/Master’s degrees/Certifications: SHRM-CP & ServSafe. Thinks building strong relationships is the most important aspect of what we do today! Expertise in Retail, Wholesale along with working in Drug, Grocery, Big Box & C-Store Channels. Is a Wife, Mother & Grand Mother devoted to God, Family & Country. Enjoys Family time, being terrible at golf but loving it, cutting loose with the grandkids and being with friends.
Jim Dreste
Regional Sales DirectorJim has more than 22 years of experience as a sales leader and relationship builder within the convenience store industry. He has worked for Ronnoco Beverage Solutions & The Graphics Factory focused on numerous states in the Midwest. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two adult children. He also enjoys golfing, biking, hiking, listening to live music and watching sports, especially football (pro and college), St. Louis Blues hockey and St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
Joe Agosta
Regional Sales DirectorWith dedicated heartland ethics, Joe values relationships and customer service. His passion for helping customers is just as strong as it was over 30 years ago, when he started in the industry serving in a variety of Foodservice/Convenience & Retail Sales, Marketing, Operations and Logistics roles. Joe loves to be a part of the action getting to know his customers, finding solutions and helping them grow. He has been married for almost 25 years and has three children – two baseball players in College and one daughter in elementary school. They love their small acreage living where they entertain friends and family.
Jim Gerth
Regional Sales DirectorHaving worked on the wholesale side of distribution with a focus on business development and sales management, he oversaw a top producing regional sales team. He also has 20 years in direct and indirect consumer lending and as a wholesale mortgage executive. Jim studied Management at Ball State University with a minor in History. He and his wife Teresa are the parents of three and currently reside in the Indianapolis metro area.
Pat Quinn
Merchandising DirectorPat has worked in retail for forty years as G.M. of a 30 store convenient chain. He kept things in check as Quality Assurance Manager for 900+ 7-Eleven stores. And helped grow SAS Wholesale Company as Business manager for many years. He loves sports, family, and God.
Executive Leadership
Bryan Drangin
Chief Executive OfficerBryan started his career at a family-owned company, Uncle Ray’s Potato Chips, opening new wholesalers across the US. From there he moved to Farley’s & Sathers Candy Co. selling Brach’s, Now & Laters, Juju Fruits and many other nostalgic candies. He took a year away to work for his father-in-law’s defense contractor firm. There, he traveled the world to places like Jordan, Iraq, Israel, and Sierra Leon. Soon after, he joined CSM Sales as a Regional Sales Director, then VP of Sales. He took a leap of faith and bought the company in January 2017. He most recently made a strategic decision to rebrand in 2023, to better position the brand in the marketplace - Align Sales Group was born. Outside of work he likes to golf & ski, and coach his son’s football team. He enjoys shopping with his daughter and spending time with his wife & COO, Amanda.
Amanda Drangin
Chief Operating OfficerAmanda started working for CSM Sales in 2016 as a part time admin. She helped with the general paperwork needed for CSM, but her responsibilities continued to grow as CSM Sales was taking off. Once Bryan and her made the decision to purchase CSM Sales, learning how to operate a healthy and thriving business became the most important part of her day. The evolution of CSM Sales to what Align Sales Group is today, is nothing short of hard work, dedication, and the will to not give up. In her free time, Amanda loves spending time with her daughter, son, and husband Bryan. She also enjoys yoga, and the great outdoors.
"I truly believe that the strengths of the company are the personal aspects of the business with our customers and employees. Bryan and Amanda care about their employees both professionally and personally. They are supportive and understanding both in business and within the personal lives of our sales group. An old analogy, but true, is treating everyone like a family. Retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and employees."
- Scott Merrill, Regional Sales Director | Align Sales Group
