I learned over the last months that I really like being home and not constantly travelling. Wanting to spend more time with my young grandchildren and not miss watching them grow up. I am also looking forward to helping my wife, Jacqui, with her business as a Geiger salespartner, something I haven’t been able to do in the past.

Persistence and a commitment to relationship building have defined my career. I credit much of this success as a recruiter and mentor to my background in sales. I understand what salespeople want, what they need to do, what they’d prefer to avoid, and the heartbreak of losing a big order they thought was theirs.

I started with Geiger in 1994 by answering a job advertisement for a division manager at Martin Meyers Company, a Geiger-owned business in Pennsylvania. I wasn’t looking for a career, since prior to Geiger I never stayed in the same place for more than 5 years. The people and sense of community at Geiger and this industry, kept me coming back. I was “having too good a time” to go elsewhere.

When I first started, I had no experience with promotional products, but I knew how to sell. I had to work hard to acquire the necessary knowledge by taking the supplier catalogs home each night and memorizing the information in them. I became well-recognized by the salesforce for product knowledge and research speed. I didn’t share this secret – I also had an early copy of ESP!!!

I am very proud of recruiting quality people to the team and feel that building relationships is the key success in this wonderful industry. Others have agreed, honoring me with awards like being named to ASI’s People to Watch in the 2000s, PPB’s 2010 Best Bosses, President of PAPPA (SACDV at the time) several times, PAPPA 2014 Humanitarian of the Year and the PAPPA Hall of Fame. I am very grateful for being a part of founding of RAC and believe so strongly in the outstanding network of regional associations

This industry is so very special.  The nature of my position had me active with PAPPA, SAAGNY and NEPPA.  SAAGNY, in particular, invokes warm feelings of the early days at the Concord, to the excitement of the first End User Event in Manhattan.

One of my first ideas for Geiger in 1994 failed miserably. Gene Geiger called me about it not long after, mentioning that he’d heard that it didn’t go well but made me promise to keep the ideas coming. I think that particular speech, more than anything, kept me at Geiger and in the industry for the next 26 years.

Thank you to SAAGNY, it’s leaders and membership for all you have given me.  You are special!!