Carl W. Zev has extensive experience working within the corporate environment as well as operating as a successful business owner. Over the course of his career, he has started, developed, and grown multiple businesses into multi-million-dollar companies. His hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and corporate leadership has provided him with a deep understanding of business strategy, team dynamics, negotiation, and performance-driven growth.

Recognizing early on that communication and mindset are critical factors in business success, Carl invested years in studying Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and advanced nonverbal communication. Through this training, he developed a strong ability to read body language, interpret behavioral cues, and understand how people think, respond, and make decisions in professional settings.

Carl has applied these skills to significantly enhance his negotiation, presentation, and listening abilities, allowing him to create stronger partnerships, resolve complex business challenges, and achieve better outcomes in high-level discussions. His expertise in reading nonverbal signals and understanding emotional dynamics has also enabled him to communicate more effectively with clients, partners, and teams.

Beyond his own business success, Carl is passionate about teaching these powerful skills to others. He has trained and mentored many sales professionals, executives, and small- to mid-size business owners, helping them develop stronger communication strategies, improve their negotiation effectiveness, and build greater confidence in their leadership roles.

A core element of Carl's work focuses on the power of mindset, focus, and motivation. He believes that sustainable success comes from combining practical business knowledge with the mental discipline required to stay focused, resilient, and purpose-driven. Through his coaching and training, Carl helps professionals unlock their potential, sharpen their communication skills, and develop the mindset necessary to achieve meaningful business and personal success.

Career Milestones
1986
Carl graduated from Upsala College with a BA in Marketing

1989
Founded CS Bread Distributors with only $500, sold for $45,000

1993
Built Virgin Springs into a multi-million dollar bottled water company

2003
Sold Virgin Springs water company to Culligan Water Company

1995
Negotiated a multi-million dollar bottled water contract with the 1996 Atlanta, Ga Summer Olympics

1999
Director of Sales for Poland Spring Water's largest distributor — grew sales 300%

2001
Founded Federal Surveillance Systems, a technology company

2005
Founded and sold Blue Mountain Spring Water

2021
Sold Federal Surveillance Systems to an investment firm in New Jersey

Present
Founder & CEO of Zev University and Zev High Performance Training LLC

Expertise
Expert in NLP, emotional intelligence (EQ), and advanced nonverbal communication, specializing in reading body language within business environments