I’ve been kicked out of better places than this!

I’ve ways enjoyed that line, especially since it is totally consistent with my own “inflated sense of self-worth”. I’m not sure where my self confidence comes from but clearly it has been an asset as I travel through my life – most notably my career journey. 

Consider this list of setbacks. Presented here a purposely painted from the dark-side and without mention of extenuating circumstances.

St. Lukes’s – Acquainted with failure early. I flunked first grade. 

Cleveland Plain Dealer carrier – My job for 5 years all the way through High School. I wasn’t fired but in a sense I was as my customer attrition was significant. (Poaching by a fellow carrier accounts for some of the shrink.)

Morgan Studio – Dad was pretty good at getting me after school and Summer work at the business he founded as “Architects of the Printed Page” in 1951. I missed the boat, opting to work for the University of Miami and cash-in on a modest stipend, an American Express Card and tuition remission that got me an MBA. Meanwhile, I couldn’t sub-plant my two brothers (neither of which were the more obvious choice for future leadership of that enterprise)

Sir Speedy – The West Miami franchise was the most successful in the country and hired me to be key accounts representative (sales, basically). Johnathon Babbs the owner was not convinced that I right guy. My promotional piece (Forms. Forms. Forms. got national attention and was featured in Graphic Arts Monthly).

SSC&B:Lintas – I was hired to work in account management on the Heineken Account. My boss decided to fire me before I completed my first year.

Marsteller Inc. – I should have seen it coming. JVC consumer electronics account fired the agency. The agency fired me. 

J. Walter Thompson – The United Stated Marines account. I was restless and campaigned for transfer to Burger King account. Burger King fired JWT. JWT fired me.

Sawdon and Bess – I was “go to” guy on the Matchbox Toys account until agency merger resulted in the agency becoming AC&R/DHB and Bess. I was no longer a key guy on that key account (which was eventually acquired by Mattel). I was out. 

Tracy-Locke – This Dallas based agency hired me to be regional marketing specialist on Pepsi Cola account. Started with NY/NJ and PA territories. I was promoted to Account Supervisor in LA. My boss in LA wasn’t buying my act. I was out. But Mike Rawlings endorsed my consideration for Omnicom sister agency BBDO on the Pizza Hut account...

BBDO - “Casting is critical” was part of decision to terminate me. (Someone believed the client wasn’t a fan of mine). Mike Rawlings become mayor of Dallas and my Pizza Hut client became CEO of Yum! Brands. 

Sweeney & Partners – The agency president, Thomas Sweeney, offered me position as Group Vice President. I learned about pharmaceutical marketing and promoting Denture Adhesives to denture making dentists. When he fired me, he said that I reminded him of Joe Dimagio. People thought Joe wasn’t making an effort as a ball player because his uniform was never dirty.    

Rocket Burkhead Lewis & Winslow in Raleigh, NC hired me and eventually promoted me to Account Director on SkyBox. Skybox launched USA Basketball cards with Magic Johnson as spokesman. I also worked on Rich SeaPak and Campbell Soup (food service). I answered the call of a headhunter (Michael Palma) looking for an account guy for a hot agency in Miami.

Crispin & Porter  (in Miami) became Crispin Porter & Bogusky hired me to work on recent account win, GameTek. Account was less than expected and I became a sort of new business guy. A lot of fun pitching business. One notable win Mercedes-Benz South Florida Dealer Group. I was not “key” enough so I was out. 

Tinsley Advertising – hired me to manage Kramer Labs (Halprin and other brands). Easy enough getting another job in advertising in Miami after Crispin but I wanted more, Headhunter Mike Palma convinced me to move north to Saint Louis.

TBWA – (St. Louis) I was hired to be account director on Boatman’s Bank account. The account was falling away rapidly as Nation’s Bank acquired them before Bank of America acquired them and the agency merged to become TBWA/Chiat Day. I became a new business guy again but that's never a good deal unless you can land enough business. I was able to make a cross-town move. 

DMB&B – D’Arcy (St. Louis) hired me to be account guy on Southwestern Bell just as the baby bells were reversing their historic 1984 monopoly. I worked on Pacific Bell too but the account went to Texas. Last agency stop before I would became a client in 1998.

HBE – A 4 mile commute form my home in Town & Country appealed to me. The Creve Coeur based design-build firm and owner/operator of 24 Adam’s Mark hotel properties. I was hired, promoted and fired by HBE CEO Fred Kummer. (Twice) 

Clayco – CEO Bob Clark was shamelessly curious about how HBE built it’s business. I brought Clayco a bundle of tactics that helped promote a top contractor in America (according to Engineering News Record).

HBE - I was rehired after 3 years at Clayco and fired again.

Thermadyne – Hired me to head global marketing for this manufacturer of welding and cutting products. I was less than enthusiastic as this company positioned itself for growth. Thermadyne was acquired by ESAB (and move to Baltimore). 

Crossland – (Columbus, KS) This top contractor hired me to be director of communications. Big job. I was a bust when I could not embrace the culture (family business). I Lived in Joplin, MO in time for category 5 tornado. CEO Ivan Crossland fired me. Moved back to Saint Louis.

Neuwoehner High School – The Special School District hired me as a frequent special education substitute (usually at Neuwoehner High School and/or Litzinger – elementary middle). I was hired full time at Neuwoehner as a Paraeducator and worked 4+ years there. I got student loans and achieved a Masters in Teaching from Fontbonne University (I was 62 years old and certified in special ed, elementary ed and Art K-12). SSD did NOT hire me as a teacher right away.

Great Circle – (Webster Groves, MO) Newly certified I was hired pretty quickly in 2018 to work as teacher in a self-contained classroom as a special educator. I tested positive for Covid and taught from home a bit. The school ran into some legal issues and closed their residential services at the Webster Groves campus. I was terminated.

SSD – Special School District of Saint Louis hired me to work at their Riverview Gardens (partner district). I worked there for a year and a half before I resigned in part, because I found myself without my #1 supporter (my wife passed away in Feb of 2022). I wasn’t fired but they still made me pay them for not fulfilling my 2 year contract. Imagine that. 

Winfield Middle School – Suddenly a middle school in Lincoln County needed an immediate hire in art. I was thrilled to shift my focus to that content area (ART). But, two months into this assignment I grabbed two sixth graders and took them to the principal’s office. I offered my resignation on the spot rather than listen to the lecture about how I might have approached this situation differently. (For the record one 6th grade boy had the other in a trash can head first.)

Old North Academy campus of Confluence Academies charter school was looking for an art teacher. “We want to promote the pathway to the arts,” they said. I took the bait and was there 1 ½ years while I watched a revolving door of administration and several teachers departing, I found myself teaching 10 grade levels (383 students). I quit. 

If you are scoring at home that’s 12 advertising agencies, Four corporations and and four schools with four early setbacks that help set the precedent for “I get knocked down, I get up again.”