Today I had lunch with Boston PR legend, Jack Agnew, and Nancy McGee, a life-long friend I made when we both worked at Jack's PR agency: Agnew, Carter, McCarthy (ACM). We met 28 years ago. Jack, Lew Carter and Terry McCarthy (RIP) ran one of the marquee agencies in the region, representing brands such as Ocean Spray, Polaroid, Hasbro, The Boston Globe and its eponymous Jazz Festival, Gorton's (of Gloucester), Ronzoni (the Tri-State Area's favorite pasta once upon a time), Feld Entertainment / Ringling Brothers, and the Women's Tennis Association. Doors opened for Jack.
ACM was sold to MSL (Global) in 1998, when Jack was then a spry 58-years-old. He's now 88. NOTE: The beard is part of his preparation for appearances as Santa Claus at events this winter 🤷🏼♂️ I've never seen him unshaven before today.
Jack, Lew and Terry gave me two opportunities that set the course of my career and life: 1. A senior role managing PR for multiple Polaroid lines of business; 2. The chance to start a tech practice; then an emerging specialty. That was a risk for a consumer agency to take on a 20-something me. And I learned so much from them and the process of starting a technology PR practice. For that, I thank you, Messrs. Agnew and Carter.
Nancy and I bonded over a shared appreciation for the importance of punctual, accurate time sheets (she was the No. 2 in the Finance Department) - a homemade sign above my desk read "Billing is Being" - and jazz. Plus, we just gel. Long gaps go by when we don't see one another, sadly. But when we get together, it's as though we were never apart.
So...this post isn't about insight, innovation, market drivers and such. It's acknowledgement of good people who matter. Good, genuine people who more than make up for the scads of schmucks out there.
#publicrelations #pr #pragency #marketingcommunication #corporatecommunications #techmarketing #techpr #workfriends #mentoring #mentorship #mentor #agencylife #careergrowth #careerreflection #careerreflections #techmarketing #agencylife #bostonbusiness
Volunteer, Empower young women and I love golf!
1moCongratulations!