Parting Words
Good Things Do Happen to Good People
I
’m still working on two articles for the magazine that I mentioned in the last issue. One is the advice Crash gave to Ebby, and how it is important in LP. Crash’s advice as some know is based on fear and arrogance. This is so prevalent in LP that I have more information than needed and am editing down the article. The other task is a new ongoing column called “Executive Files.” If anyone reading this column wants to write an article from the C-suite perspective, send me an email. You don’t have to have something written, just have a topic, and we will figure it out from there. And you don’t have to be a good writer; heck, I have been writing for years with a good editor. In the meantime, this is a special column for me. I have known since late fall that two of the industry’s best executives were retiring. These two gentlemen were executives on the vendor side who served the retail community for many years.
Jeff Bean You likely don’t know that Jeff Bean retired after 33 years with ADT. Very few of you would have ever met or known of Jeff. That was his style. However, those inside ADT knew him well, respected him, and were rewarded for his tenure at the company. Jeff had many positions over the years, but retired as the group VP of national accounts, North America. That means he was responsible for all sales and marketing that affected retail loss prevention. If your company has any ADT products, it fell under Jeff’s responsibility—a big job. I was privileged to know Jeff for many years. Here is some of what I learned of him. When playing golf with him, he was more interested in whether you and others were having a good time and less concerned with himself. When having dinner, the conversation was typically about LP executives—what made them tick, what were their priorities, what they appreciated and respected from a vendor. He really wanted to understand his customer. In a business meeting he was a good, analytical listener who turned to others on his team for opinions. He always made his customer feel comfortable. I asked Jeff for some of his favorite memories of his career. He described others like this: “A true gentleman.” “Very fair person who understands and gets it.” “A very sharp mind and to the point.” “A strong leader and kind man.”
66
January - February 2013
Jim Lee, LPC Executive Editor
When I asked about his life after ADT, he made it clear he was planning to stay busy. Those who know Jeff, know that he has been involved with several associations that help others not so fortunate. You can expect that’s where he will spend his time.
Larry Yeager Color outside the lines, don’t make customers jump through hoops, build a winning team, and show others you care. You likely have heard these blueprints for success before. Larry Yeager is one executive who lived by these principles. Larry recently decided to retire from his position as VP and general manager of the Alpha division of Checkpoint and go “hit golf balls off the beach.” To many Larry has been the face of Alpha, but did you know that he was a co-inventor and patent holder of Spider Wrap®. He built a reputation of being an innovator and creator. Something else you likely don’t know is he was a pilot in the Vietnam War as well as a race car driver; a little bit of a free spirit. When you talk to Larry about his career working with retailers, he focuses on relationships and the progress LP has made as a profession, not about himself or about his products. He really likes this business and the people in it. Apart from driving around the city of Charlotte in his Corvette, what’s in Larry’s future? I bet it will have something to do with helping others, community service, or even politics of some kind.
Thanks to You Both This business will miss both Larry and Jeff. I speak for the industry when I say, “Thanks to both of you for making it a better place.” We have many outstanding leaders on both sides of the aisle—practitioner and vendor. These two are examples of what Teddy Roosevelt is quoted as saying: “In the battle of life, it is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong stumbles or where the doer of a deed could have done better. The credit belongs to those who have actually been in the arena.” [Turn to page 61 for photos of these two engaged in activities they love.]
|
LPportal.com
