Who I am

The short version:

I'm the Vice President/General Manager at Asher Agency, the Founder of Point Six Four Consulting and Training and an experienced speaker, trainer, writer, and marketing and communication strategist. I focus on a variety of topics, including communication, marketing, branding, productivity, and social media (with a specific focus on LinkedIn). I've taught at four colleges, served as a keynote speaker, presented at international conferences, delivered a TEDx presentation, completed five marathons, and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. I was born in Massachusetts and I live in northern Indiana. 

The long version: 

1969 - I'm born right between the moon landing and Woodstock in Winchester, Massachusetts.

1976 - I mishear the phrase "I never saw such a thing" as "I never sausage a thing,"  thereby launching into a lifelong fascination with communication. Also, the United States celebrates its bicentennial and I celebrate my 7th birthday. It was a big year. 

1987 - I graduate from high school and go on to "earn" a .64 GPA at Salem State College and determine that Accounting is not for me. 

1989 - I discover that I'm a decent writer. Thanks, Bruce Gilman, wherever you are.

1992 - I celebrate the 300th anniversary (you'd think that would be a tricennial, but they called it a "tercentenary") of the Salem Witch Trials as a resident of that very city and read A LOT of Hawthorne and Melville.

1993 - I finally finish a B.A. in English.

1994 - I move to Indiana.

1998 - I earn an M.A. in English and several of my elementary school teachers shake their fists at the sky. Shortly thereafter, Karen Mannes gives me a shot at my first job in marketing. Thanks, Karen.

1999 - My son Alex was born. Best kid ever. Thanks, Alex.

2003 - I begrudgingly complete an MBA, receive the College of Professional Studies Outstanding Graduate award, and become a lifelong fan of Indiana Tech. I start teaching there and learn that I love working with students but hate grading papers. I also complete my first marathon and jump out of a plane. It was a big year. 

2004 - I start working at Asher Agency. Best job ever. Thanks, Tim and Tom Borne.

2011 - I deliver a TEDx talk, Scariest/best 16 minutes ever.

2012 - In collaboration with a local university, I develop and deliver the region's first social media professional certificate course. It's still going strong, with more than 200 graduates to date.

2016 - I launch Point Six Four Consulting & Training. If you're paying attention, you know where the name comes from. I also begin serving on the Fort Wayne Trails board and learn how much I still have to learn about Trails.

2018 - Alex and I visit Australia. Best trip ever. I also visit Cuba. Alex also graduates high school and starts college.  I join the Indiana Tech Board of Trustees and learn how much I still have to learn about higher ed. I am named Indiana Tech's Alumni Volunteer of the Year. It was a big year.

2019 - I turn 50 and celebrate by throwing myself a Comedy-Central-style roast. I'm eviscerated and I'm still laughing. Thanks, everyone.

2020 - The global pandemic gives birth to a million podcasts and I contribute to the problem. I run/walk/bike all 120 miles of the Fort Wayne Trails system. It was a big year, albeit relatively quiet.

2021 - I provide customer service training for Revel Systems' Lithuania-based agents and learn that Lithuanians speak excellent English and love basketball.

2022 - I provide an 11-session customer service training series for Herff Jones, working with agents in Indiana, Illinois, and Rhode Island. I also provide training on branding, networking, and LinkedIn to Division I athletes and students from schools in California, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, and Oklahoma. 

2023 - I develop a leadership training series for a New York insurance company, working with its key supervisors on management fundamentals. I also develop and present as part of a nonprofit series designer to improve communication among board members and staff, and I present about communication to three different northeast Indiana leadership development groups.