Marlin Woods

Marlin Woods, CPC is Chairman of BenefitsPLUS, a vendor management consulting practice identifying health & welfare benefits innovations, products, and services for procurement opportunities.

Marlin is the author of the book "Courting the Employ(H)er: A Business-To-Business Romance". His book debuted as a #1 Bestseller in the Insurance class on Amazon in 2015.

Marlin has over 25 years of sales leadership experience and is a nationally recognized public speaker on sales behavior and motivational messaging. Marlin occupies seats on several local and national boards as well as commissions, including the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association, and is Chair of the Board's Leadership Development Committee. He is President of the Advisory Board of the Workplace Benefits Association and Second Vice President of the Voluntary Benefits Association. Marlin has also been appointed Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Allegheny County Human Relations Commission in Pittsburgh. Marlin serves on the board of Governors of the Rivers Club, a storied, private athletic and executive club in Pittsburgh under the Invited Clubs parent company. Most recently, Marlin has been added to the Allegheny Health Network Hospitals Cancer Institute Advisory Council in Pittsburgh, the Imani Christian Academy Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of Youth Enrichment Services, the Community Advisory Board for housing study at Penn State University, and an Advisory Council Member for the Executive Leadership Curriculum of the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University.

Marlin is also a recent independent candidate for Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh in 2021’s election cycle. Marlin has a driving burden for mentorship and is Founder of the "Empower Me" Motivational Mentorship Academy where he influences personal development by coaching leadership-building, personal polish, and business relationship etiquette for men and women rising within professional environments.  Marlin is the founder and Certified Executive Coach of The Woods Plan LLC., where he coaches senior leaders and sales professionals in individual and group cohorts in transformational leadership approaches.