As many of you know, I end up being quoted quite a bit about VOIP, leading the life of a tech savvy road warrior and even sometimes about business travel in general. What you may not know is that I also get cited regularly on business and marketing related matters, and usually they are about others. Well in reflecting back it’s great to see all this third party advocacy work for others hasn’t gone unnoticed. A quick ego-search of Amazon for my name via their own Firefox add-on search engine shows I’ve been quoted or my work recognized in a few books, most of which are on the art of management and some new form of business or marketing communications:
Strategies and Tools for Corporate Blogging
Word of Mouth Advertising Online and Off
These four examples are a nice medley of my life. A life that has taken many twists and turns along the way. I’ve gone from junior high school student to sports team executive (1974-1988) literally overnight (okay so my first job was in the mail room stuffing envelopes with tickets and press releases) then to a role as a Marketing Director and Corporate Account Executive (1988), to Integrated Marketing Agency(1989-91) Account Manager, before jumping to the dark side of corporate branded sports marketing (1991-92) and then starting my own agency (1992-present.) In that time I’ve also run both a charity driven sports team and their related events, staged events, served on boards of directors, ran sport leagues (amateur), been named the registrar for a region of a national sports governing body at the tender age of 20 (still an unduplicated feat nearly 30 years later) served on local governmental commissions, run national sports development camps, organized statewide athletic competitions, and oh yes, I even flashmobbed/hijacked a property for my wedding in 2007 (ahh… the things we do for love.)
So it’s time to say thanks to those who made this possible in some sort of chronological order:
My parents, who brought me into this world, and left too soon.
Mrs. Friedman (my 9th grade journalism teacher and faculty sponsor of the Wilson Jr. High School newspaper) who provided me my first opportunity to publicly express my passions and gave me the opportunity to think beyond the walls of a school
Ed Tepper, John Perri, Dave Natale and Joey Primavera-all of whom helped give me my first real job in sports at the age of 14
Marcia Rossi who drove me home at the age of 14 so I could have that first job in sports (and of course my first “older woman” crush)
Sy Roseman (now deceased) who promoted me from the mail room to the PR department of the Philadelphia Wings and took over as my ride home, and then as my mentor in journalism and PR
Carm Collins, Larry Lloyd, John Grant, Jimmy Wasson, Bobby Allen, Jack Bionda, Ted Peters, John Linehan, Ron Ryan, Jimmy Hinkson and all of the Philadelphia Wings of 1974-75 who made up what we called our own “Boys of Summer.”
Rob Tannenbaum, Don McKee and Bill Fleishman for being the first three reporters to ever ask me questions, and to use my answers as background. It was you three who let me learn how to get quoted the right way.
Aaron Siegel, Ken Gesner (now deceased) and Jim Shute for having the idea to promote youth hockey which led to my being hired to work for the Philadelphia Flyers-Hockey Central
To all the people who touched my life in the 13 years with the Flyers and Hockey Central including Mary Shute, Joan Schofield, Leon Friedrich and the rest from the Flyers and Spectrum/Spectacor organizations. There are too many to mention, but the late Pat Shuck, Ernie Thompson, Steve Flynn, Terry McKinney, Linda Sorens, Lindy Snider, Craig Snider, Tina Snider, Ed Snider, Pat Croce, Ivan Schlictman, Ed Rubenstein, Robert Butera, Delores McDermott, Ileen Forcine, Bobby Clarke, Mike Keenan, the late Fred Shero, Joe and Jimmy Watson, Paul Holmgren, E.J. Maguire, Ted Sator, the late Peter Zezel, Steve Coates, and all the fantastic players, trainers and colleagues who made up such a great organization and always will. It was Keenan who drilled me in the art of perfect practice makes perfect, and in so many other ways. And it was Croce who was the living example of “no pain, no gain.”
Ron DeGregorio, who shared his concept of the Mini One on One and let me create something like it in Philadelphia, called the Pepsi Shootout. It was my first sponsorship and one that you helped make possible.
Scott “The Shot” Chamness (sadly deceased at too young an age) for your being the best “student” I ever had. You gave great quote and were deserving of every accolade you ever received.
Mike Richter like Scott you were an amazing student of getting quoted and working with the media as a high school athlete. Your poise on and off the ice was never duplicated. I only regret was that your dad, like mine, never got to see how nicely you grew up.
Don Anderson, Jack Hunt, Andy Richards and Jim Cunningham, four dedicated hockey volunteers who trusted me to deliver the Flyers Cup to them and for their leagues despite all their skeptical perspectives and doubts. I guess now almost 30 years later you know I was right. And to Ed Golden who first suggested the idea from your cave of an office in the soon to be departed Spectrum.
The Late Walter Yaciuk, who as Chief Coach of USA Hockey always looked for what made people tick, and taught me about the importance of transparency because he was always looking beneath what the surface for the obvious
Former Philadelphia Flyers President Jay Snider who had the confidence and vision to assign me special projects, and of course his then executive assistant, Eleanore Seeds who often times made sure Jay knew just what I was really up to.
Donn Patton, who rescued me from a life of only PR and got me involved in business management and operations while with the Flyers
John A. Gardner, Andi Poch, Armando Fitz and Carol Healy, who in 1987 heard a crazy idea to have a bunch of celebrities take the ice to play hockey against a bunch of retired heroes of hockey, and for helping me sell out the Spectrum in 1988. In those few years together Andi and John both taught me more about selling than I ever could have learned in any sales driven culture
Doug Scharfberg, Joe Mederos who were the first ad executive and copywriter I ever had the good fortune to learn from and work with.
Pete Silverman, Pete Huver, Mike Finnochiero and Mike Rubin, all TV veterans who taught me more about sponsored broadcast properties, TV production, broadcasting and even what not to do in front of the camera
Andy Beck and his late father, Sidney Shlenker, along with Walter Richards for all teaching me more in a year about the business of entertainment than one would could learn in a lifetime.
Tony Loiacono, his wife Lori and their four great children who have been family to me since 1987 and always will be. We became more than friends at the word, “hello.”
All the actors, hockey legends and Olympic greats who from 1987 to 1998 played and starred on the Celebrity All Star Hockey Team. Every game was a startup and we raised over $6 million for charity. Not a bad record for a team without a coach (unless you count “Frazier” as that)
Jim Shea, James Marra, Dr. Michael Jackson all professors and friends at Temple University for helping a 29 year old “drop in” return to school by making sure I finished my degree. Yes. I am still making up those cuts for Dr. Marra.
Jackie Lapin (and all her team at now shuttered Lapin East/West) who for me were the best agency I ever employed and how as a team we did amazing things over and over again. If I ever was to have a big sister, I’d want her to be you.
Jim Curl for being about the best event producer/creator I ever worked with and for being one of the best people I could ever drink wine with.
Doug Kaplan-for the introductions to some winemakers who have become real friends and for that dinner in 1990 at your parents house that led to meeting Jim Clendenen, which in turn led to Doug Margerum and Bob Lindquist becoming friends, whose bottles and wine now mark my 2007 wedding in a way that is very special.
Marshall Gobuty for believing me that some PR people really can do a good job for him (over and over again)
Ken Rutkowski, for taking me from pitch person to broadcast journalist and now 11 years later still being there with me.
Bob Cox-My first ever technology client
Sylvain Fadat, winemaker, wedding planner and all around extended family member. How can I every say thanks and merci enough times for letting then my wife to be and I take over your winery, vineyard, house and life for one more magical day in my life.
Rick Caras who has been like the big brother I’ve never had…and who has given me business wisdom that I always apply
David Abella, master chef, friend and in many ways, a living example of perfect practice makes perfect.
Ray McKewon who gave me the opportunity to make his company the IPO of the year in 2003 and for teaching me more about the concept of tuition in life.
Martin Geddes for the lead into Nokia in 2004 and to all the great folks there who trusted me to develop, guide and direct the Nokia Blogger Relations program
Om Malik, who still to this day epitomizes what a real blogging journalist should be.
To the staff of the hotel of my “wedding” hijack. Thanks for everything, and don’t change any of your work habits. They’re just truly perfect.
To all my former clients, current clients and past and present team (you all know who you are including those one who were never disclosed) for the time, insight and opportunity to serve and service, with some of the brightest minds around, and all of whom share the desire to be more today than they were yesterday.
And lastly, to my Wife, Helene, who gives me all the reason to want to be who I am and to continue to strive for all that I will be.
You see, lessons learned along the way, make it all possible for me to say, what I can today!
Never forget your friends, mentors and teachers. They are all what makes you who you are and why you can be so easily and regularly quoted.