Why did you join Red Ventures?
After 15 years in the textile industry, with the past five as VP of Sales for an Italian nylon company, it became very evident that the Titanic (also known as the textile industry) was slowly going down. I had known Ric for several years, and several serious conversations about joining Red Ventures, I saw it as a great opportunity to leave a very tough industry and start over with an exciting, growing company.

Why do you like working at Red Ventures?
The people and the atmosphere. We work hard and we play hard, and to be around such an energetic and growing company has been phenomenal. The philosophy is to carefully hire the best people at what they do, and turn them loose. Ideas can become businesses in a matter of weeks without the politics of corporate America. We accomplish in days what takes most companies months to do. It is rare that after working at a company for over two years, you still wake up everyday and can't wait to get back at it and observe your personal impact on the business every day.

What is the most interesting project you have worked on to date at Red Ventures?
It has definitely been taking over and growing the HSP Sales Program. With a very strong but small team, we have built sales programs for six DIRECTV installation companies with over 12,000 technicians, and motivated these technicians to drive thousands of sales through our DIRECTV sales engine. We have tested so many concepts in the past year, and the ones that end up making it fuel the sales in our business.

What part of your personal development while at Red Ventures are you most proud of?
Getting a great education and gaining experience in the analytical approach to Direct Marketing. I had a strong sales and business management background prior to joining, but much of the DM was new to me. Working around brilliant people in print marketing as well as online marketing has been a great education. Having spent years in a manufacturing industry, it has been amazing to understand how much business revolves around manufacturing nothing at all!

When is the last time you laughed out loud - really laughed - here at the office?
Oh man, this is a loaded question, and as much stuff as I instigate here in the office, the laughs are everywhere. Being on the road constantly, I am often afraid to come back, as you never know what practical joke has been played on you while you were gone. Heather and I laugh every day when we are both in the office, and between Ric giving me a hard time (and me harassing Thomas) there is never a shortage of laughs around here.