After 35 years in the CE industry its finally time to hang up the sales moniker and spend my time traveling, surfing, skiing, and just being “pops”. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I joined Audio Magazine as a Junior sales person in the 80’s right before CES. After a few late nights at the Ballys Bar listening to Ron Fone holding court and looking doe eyed at Lucette Nicoll I knew what industry my career would be in.

My first sale was to Wendell Diller at Magnepan whom I still call on. I cannot thank enough the manufacturers who took me under their wing and taught me so much about music and sound reproduction. I think my favorite part was being able to meet the founder/owner and chief bottlewasher of each company and hearing their stories. I love to talk about my first meeting with my good friend Gayle Sanders founder of Martin Logan and Eikon Loudspeakers in Lawrence Ks. He was so worried I was a slick NY salesperson that was going to take all his money that he refused to come out and meet with me and had is assistant take the call. Needless to say, a few years later we were skiing in France and sailing in the Caribbean together.

I was very lucky to have worked with great editors who each held their magazine to high standards and believe it or not never once broke the ad/edit rule…