It takes a community ... Part 1

Just as the old saying goes, It takes a village to raise a child, I contend that it takes a community to make a business professional.  Over the past 43 years, I have been blessed to have many great influences in my career as a business professional.  I would like to acknowledge some of my mentors and coworkers in that community that spans the whole 43 years.  I will mention some of them in the coming posts.

First, I acknowledge the late Michael Nassif who hired me to work on Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine in 1977.  Not only did he hire me but he took me under his wing immediately and looked after me for the next 8 years.  Mike saw the potential in me to be a successful sales rep for H&P and despite my resistance, he finally convinced me to give it a try in 1984 with a small sales territory.

I know that I thanked Mike over the years for his confidence in me and his mentoring but I probably never thanked him enough.  He was the biggest influence in my career as sales rep, marketing manager, production manager, and Publisher of H&P.  I thank him now for helping to make my career possible!

Paul Rolnick was an Executive Vice President at Penton Publishing in 1977 and he referred me to Mike as a possible new employee.  Paul was the kindest, most sincere, most professional individual that I have ever encountered in the business world.  He too mentored me for many years before his retirement and kept in touch even after.  Not only was Paul a great business executive but he was a great man and a wonderful role model to me.  I thank the late Paul Rolnick for all that he did for me as a business professional and as a person!

Tobi Goldoftas was a giant in the fluid power industry and he was the Editor of Hydraulics & Pneumatics when I started there.  Tobi's passion for fluid power rubbed off on me and has stayed alive over the past 43 years.  I often think of Tobi when considering any technical aspect of fluid power.  He taught me a lot about the technology, but more importantly, he taught me to love the technology and for that I am grateful.  I thank Tobi for being a great Editor, great person, great friend, and big influence in my career!

More to come.