It is with mixed emotions that I share the news that I will be winding down ThinkReps. When I started the company five years ago I thought that this would be the role I would have until I (hopefully) retired. I started the business during a recession, I am ending during a pandemic, and the time in between has been a pretty wild ride. There are a number of people I wish to thank because, without them, we would never have gotten off the ground.
First and foremost, Ivan Fried. When Ivan said he was willing to join ThinkReps and help me launch the business, it actually made the idea of ThinkReps a reality. He took the hits alongside me as we navigated gaining and losing lines, good commission months and bad, and dealing with all types of personalities that come with managing multiple product lines. His mentorship and experience were extremely helpful to me even if I did not always appreciate it at the moment. I wish that I could have built the company that we both could have retired from someday. I am happy he found a role with BLVS. They are lucky to have him. Our industry is generally not one that people aspire to. Teenagers don’t dream of the days that they can schlep around a trunk full of cameras. Most of us just ended up here. Because of that, finding people who are willing to do the work is very hard. Ivan is always willing to do the work. Thank you, Ivan. Harrison Baron, I met when he worked for one of our clients. He was (is) a very confident young guy with a positive attitude. He invited me to be on his podcast Brutally Honest with Harrison Baron. Harry was interviewing local entrepreneurs and business people and asked me if I would come on. It was a very interesting experience. Zero preparation. He told me to show up to the studio at 6 pm and after a quick soundcheck, we were recording. We did an hour that felt like 10 minutes and I knew immediately that Harry was someone I wanted to work with. I reached out to him a few months later when I heard he decided to start his own marketing firm. I offered him a job with ThinkReps. He declined, kind of. In a very millennial fashion, he did not want to be an employee, he wanted to be a contractor while still having the leeway to build his own business. We worked out a deal and he joined the team, bringing fresh energy and great technical and marketing knowledge to our team. I know Harry will be very successful in growing what is now multiple businesses and I will likely work for him someday. Thank you, Harrison. You can not have a rep firm without lines so I would like to name a few of the people who took a chance on a startup here. Each of these folks was very important in making ThinkReps a success. Rob Lydic (Isonas), Tom Cook (Hanwha), Jay Mele and Tom Chamard (Salient), Mike Stoll (Aeroturn), David Schulman and Jeremy Damato (KBC), Rick Caruthers and Ralph Jones (Galaxy). There are others but this core represented 95% of ThinkReps revenue over the past five years. I am thankful to each of you. You also can not have a successful company without customers. But there are too many customers to name. If you ever bought any of our products or even allowed us to demo a solution to you, I am very grateful and look forward to a continued relationship as I will be staying in touch with all of you. Last but not least I would like to thank Monique Merhige. Mo was the second person I called after I decided to start my own business. I told her I was going to need some help with public relations, but after we spoke we realized that ThinkReps and her firm Infusion Direct Marketing were selling to the same audience. We came to an agreement and Infusion was the first line under contract with ThinkReps. Mo has been a great friend and business partner. We have had many successes and a lot of fun while working together. We have acted as each other’s sounding board. When you own a business there is nobody to complain to when things are not going right. Or at least no one who really understands the struggle. I believe that we helped each other greatly in growing our businesses and staying relatively sane while doing so. Thank you, Monique. So what is next? This is the exciting part. I will be joining Qumulex as a Regional Sales Manager. Qumulex is a startup from the founders of Exacq Technologies, Integral Technologies, and others. I worked for Exacq for five years and I have told anyone who would listen it was the best job I ever had. (No offense to anyone else I worked for.) We had a great management team, a strong product, and a tremendous staff overall. I am thrilled that Tom, Dan, Dave, Jack, TJ, Jeff, Libby, and Nick have allowed me to rejoin them in this new venture. There is no group I could be more excited about joining to build the future together. I will send out all my new Qumulex contact information once I have it, but all the following will continue to work, so please, if you read this, stay in touch. All the Best, Adam adam@thinkreps.com 631-838-1127
21 Comments
Elisa
12/1/2020 07:11:30 am
Thinkreps may be shutting down but you, I’m sure, will forever be changed for the better because of this experience. You have a bright future, be it your own endeavor or sharing your leadership skills with an established team.
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AJM
12/1/2020 09:05:19 am
Thank you Elisa, I appreciate your kind words.
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Jason Glover
12/1/2020 07:58:58 am
Adam,
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AJM
12/1/2020 09:05:46 am
Thanks Jason, good to hear from you!
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Tom Cook
12/1/2020 08:08:24 am
Adam, respectfully I wish you the best in your career and look forward to partnering with you in the near future
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AJM
12/1/2020 09:06:49 am
Thank you, Tom! Hanwha was the engine that made ThinkReps run. Thank you for taking a chance on a startup.
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Nelson
12/1/2020 08:13:37 am
Adam, stand tall you did what others could not do or have the guts to do.... you made TR a successful venture by surrounding yourself with winners and your passion.... take the formula and go the next level...
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AJM
12/1/2020 09:07:53 am
Thank you, Nelson great to hear from you!
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Mark Eklund
12/1/2020 09:06:58 am
Thank you for the adventures in business and some social. You are a focused, dedicated person who will always find a way to succeed. This move is certainly a wise one as the world pivots to a new normal. I'm glad to hear you are feeding your passion by rejoining folks that made up a real successful team. I look forward to seeing you out there soon!
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AJM
12/1/2020 08:10:52 pm
Thank you, Mark. Hope all is well around your way.
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12/1/2020 10:57:01 am
Adam,
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AJM
12/1/2020 08:11:54 pm
It was always a pleasure teaming up with you, David.
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Jessica Messina
12/1/2020 04:33:32 pm
My Amazing Brother
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AJM
12/1/2020 08:12:30 pm
Love you sis!
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12/1/2020 06:04:22 pm
Adam,
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Antoinette
12/1/2020 07:33:00 pm
Wishing you the best in your next chapter. In life we build upon our experiences. This was a ride you got to take that many don't have the courage to even think about. Looking forward to seeing where this new adventure takes you!
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Michael portighese
12/1/2020 07:42:35 pm
Best of luck in your new endeavor! You will do great at whatever you do- thanks for all the help with our business. It is very much appreciated.
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AJM
12/1/2020 08:15:01 pm
Mike, you haven’t seen the last of me. As soon as I am trained I’ll be looking to give you a demo!
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12/2/2020 01:05:57 pm
Adam, You are like family to me and I would never be where I am in life and my business without all your support and friendship throughout the last 20 years. What a wild adventure the last five years have been together. Through thick and thin you have been by my side and I will never forget everything you have done for me. I'm so grateful for our friendship and know you will be a huge success in your next career endeavor!! Can't wait to see you in person hopefully in the new year and make a toast to your new chapter!
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Josh Logue
12/2/2020 04:58:45 pm
Adam, it has been a pleasure working with you and getting to know you in various capacities over the years. As a principal of a rep firm, I have tremendous respect for what you did going from the manufacturing world to launching Think Reps. Best of luck in this next chapter in your career!
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Presley DiVanna
12/10/2020 02:02:09 pm
Adam, I totally understand fist hand the mixed feelings that you must of had to make the decision you did. It is not easy to let go of something that you sacrificed and nurtured specially after 5 years.
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