Corporate Sales & Marketing

Corporate Sales & Marketing

Sometime in the early 80s Ray and Earl decided that I should assume responsibility for the sales & Marketing of all the company’s products. 

The next ten years of my career required me to be away from my family frequently.  In addition to taking on all corporate sales, we also decided to begin to go global.  More about that in later chapters. 

It was during this period that our three girls were really beginning to establish themselves as both good high school students, and talented musicians.  I regret how much I missed being a more active part of their successes and failures.

Missy our oldest daughter decided she wanted to go to a high school for the deaf in Tennessee.  Reluctantly we agreed that it would be a good program for her and easier than her public school teachers having to be concerned about her ability to understand lectures and given special attention.  It worked out very well for her and she went on to Gallaudet University in DC and earned a bachelors and Masters degree.  She is now a very successful counselor in a girls school in Los Angeles and does great work for her church interpreting the bible and teaching sign language in Eastern Europe on a volunteer basis when she can.

Patti in addition to her studies became an accomplished drummer, softball player, and a better golfer than her father.  She was part of the highs school marching band and our local drum and bugle corp.  She went on to Bowling Green University became the lead drummer in their marching band, and got her BS degree.  After working in several positions she decided to go to Ashland University and got her Masters Degree in Divinity.  She is now a counselor at Ashland University.

Karen was also a good student and became an accomplished flutist.   She was also in the high school marching band.  She went on to the University of South Carolina.  Became active in a sorority, helped with the football-recruiting program as an on campus guide.  After graduation she became active in her sorority as a visiting representative of the sorority assigned to help with recruiting and local chapter reviews and training.  After that she began work in the insurance industry.  She also got her masters in marketing at Case Western Reserve.  She is now a vey successful executive at Progressive Insurance Company.

Unfortunately their mother Jan passed away before the girls had established their current successful careers.  I know she is a proud of them as I am.  She had a great deal more to do with their molding and mentoring than I did because of my travel and work commitments.  I hope I was able to help some.

Lessons learned:

1.  Your work and career are never more important than your family.

2.  When you are home give as much time as you can to helping your family further their desires and development.

3.  Cheer for your children whenever you can.

4.  Stay in contact with family even if you are on the other side of the world.