Face to Face Interview from Essentials Magazine

lessentials
NSSEA Essentials is published for the
School Market by the National School
Supply and Equipment Association.
Administrative Assistant
NADIA BAWA
~
N$EA
ext. 28
nbawa@nssea.org
Vice President of Operations
ext. 26
BILL DUFFY
bduffy@nssea,org
Meetings Coordinator
ext. 27
MONIQUEFERGUSONmferguson@nssea.org
President/C.E.O.
TIM HOLT
ext. 29
tholt@nssea.org
ext. 40
Membership Specialist I
FAYEHOMED
fhomed@nssea.org
Website/IT Manager
MICHAELFRIEND
NAME: Michael P. Ockrim
BORN: Hinsdale,
IL
HOME: Hinsdale,
IL
FAMILY: wife, Carey; son Nathan; and
BEST QUALITY:
dogies, Ty and Meeshu
EDUCATION:
Keller Graduate
of Management
(Chicago,
of Business Administration,
School
IL), Masters
Graduate
Certificate in Entrepreneurial
Studies,
Estudio Internacional Sampere
(Madrid, Spain), Certificate in Spanish
Language and Cultural Studies,
University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ),
Bachelor of Arts, Fenwick College
Preparatory High School (Oak Park, IL)
General course of studies
COMPANY:
Chicago
POSITION:
President
School Supply
CAR: Jeep Grand Cherokee
HOBBIES: Biking (fat tire), walking with
the fam, playing with Nathan, harassing my wife
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:
Confident
WORST QUALITY:
Impulsive
PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK I'M: Arrogant
THE ONE THING I CAN'T STAND:The
awful noise that people make when
they eat with their mouth open.
MY PERSONAL HEROS: are my mother, Debi, and my father, Roger.
FIRST CONVENTION:
remember
The first one I
was in Dallas. I was a wee-
lad. I'll never forget the peacocks strutting around the hotel pool, meeting
my first cartoon character--Mr. Frank
Schaffer, and dancing
in the aisles with
a new company that was promoting
their Multiplication
Rap--Rock 'n' Learn.
FAVORITE PART OF JOB: Seeing the
company grow and evolve.
National
School Supply and Equipment
Association,
Memb~r of the Board of
Directors-2006
Director-2006
Schools, Scholarship Committee and
Finals Judge History Fair-2004
to
2006; Scholarship Committee and
Finals Judge Science Fair-2003
to
2006
to 2009 and Regional
to 2009; Chicago Public
WORST PART OF JOB: Working with
non-business minded customers.
BOOK ON NIGHT STAND: I read dozens of magazines ... Men's Journal,
ext. 37
mfriend@nssea.org
Membership Specialist II
ext. 30
DINAHLOUISSAINT
dlouissaint@nssea.org
Director of Member Services
ext. 35
KARENPRINCE
kprince@nssea.org
Editor/Communications Manager
ext. 34
DESHUNASPENCER dspencer@nssea.org
Editorial Assistant
ext. 39
NATHANSPILLMAN nspillman@nssea.org
Foundation Program Coordinator
ext. 25
LORITHOMAS
Ithomas@nssea.org
Exhibits Manager
JOE TUCKER
314.994.9640
jtucker@expomanage.net
Vice President of Marketing & Comm. ext. 31
ADRIENNEWATIS
DAYTONawatts@nssea.org
Essentials
Editorial
Staff:
Editor: DESHUNA SPENCER
Editorial Assistant: NATHAN SPILLMAN
8380 Colesville Road, Suite 250
Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA
Phone: 301.495.0240
Tollfree Phone: 800.395.5550
Fax: 301.495.3330n362n386
Email: publications@nssea.org
Website: http://www.NSSEA.org
http:// essenti aIs.nssea.0rg
Please submit all mailing address and name
changes in writing.
Back issues: copies are $5 each. All back
issues are subject to availability.
Subscription rate: $149 per year.
©NSSEA - Reprint permission required.
ISSN 1521-4257
Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.
Next Issue:The JanuarylFebruary 2007 issue
of NSSEA Essentials will be the School Products
Expo Preview Issue.To advertise or place
"Industry News" in this issue, submit materials by December 1, 2006.An ad rate card and
news releaseguidelines are available - call:
800.395.5550,ext. 34, email publications@
nssea.org or visit: http://essentials.nssea.org.
Mike Ockrim's family (left to right): wife, Carey; son, Nathan; and mother, Debbie.
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NSSEAESSENTIALS
NOV/DEC
2006
/
I LOOK FORWARDTO
THE DAYWHEN
NATHAN
CAN DANCE INTHE
AISLES AND MEETTHE
LEAD THE WAY
A
MAJOR ROLE IN
NSSEA's PUBLICATION
PLAY
CHARACTERS OF OUR
GREAT ORGANIZATION!
THANKYOU
FOR BEING
A PART OF MY LIFE AND
HELPING ME GROW
BOTH PERSONALLY AND
PROFESSIONALLY; FOR
THA-r, IWILL ALWAYS BE
GRATEFUL.
Fast Company, Travel & Leisure, Inc.,
Parenting, Entrepreneur, Educational
Dealer, and of course, Essentials.
FAVORITE MEAL: Either my mom's
lasagna or her turkey and stuffing.
LAST GOOD MOVIE I SAW: CBS ran
a great documentary on 9/11.It really
change my perception of that day
and what it was like to experience the
chaos on the front lines.
FAVORITEACCOMPLISHMENT: My son,
Nathan. Man, I love that kid!
IF I COULD DO IT OVER: I would have
learned to work nicer with my mom.
WHY I LOVE MY JOB: Being able to
control my own destiny.
FAVORITESCHOOL ITEM: The girls!
FAVORITETOYSAS A CHILD: He-Man
MY PRIZED POSSESSION IS: Again,
Nate. Man, I love that kid!
FAVORITELISTENING MUSIC: Right
now I am really into techno/dance
music (I know Tom Merrifield is going
to harass me for that one), but in a
club, I love a Sapphire & tonic and listening to blues and jazz.
ROOTS FOR (SPORTSTEAM): My GoGo White Sox, Arizona Wildcats basketball, Da Bears.
HISTORY OF COMPANY: I worked
for my mother at her company, The
Education Depot, since I was 6. She
taught me everything I know, from
inventory, customer service, accounting and financing, sales, marketing,
and even scrubbing toilets! She raised
me to be self-reliant and courageous. I
have now taken those lessons and am
applying them to my own corporation,
which I recently founded this summer.
The goal is to cultivate the two company's core competencies and later
merge them into one.
MESSAGE TO NSSEA: I was fortunate enough to be raised in NSSEA.
Reflecting on my experiences, I am
able to truly say that the more things
change, the more they stay the same.
We are all part of a great conglomeration of people and businesses. It is
rare that an industry, as a whole, can
have a genuine family-feel. I hope that
everyone involved in NSSEA continues
to grow the industry with those same
values that have made it a warm and
inviting environment for its members.
I look forward to the day when Nathan
can dance in the aisles and meet the
characters of our great organization!
Thank you for being a part of my life
and helping me grow both personally and professionally; for that, I will
always be grateful.
NSSEA Essentials offers bountiful
opportunities for readers to play
a leading role in communicating
with fellow members.
We are looking for your feedback, opinions and insights on
articles featured in the magazine
as well as your observation of
the school market and its trends.
Share the innovative ways your
company solicits/retains customers. Disclose your marketing, management, leadership and business
strategies. If you have an idea for
an article or would like to test your
writing skills by submitting a story,
feel free to contact us.
Send comments to: DeShuna
Spencer, NSSEA Essentials Editor,
dspencer@nssea.org.
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----------------------~--
:
"AskThe Expert" is a new
NSSEA Essentials regular
column. Have you been struggling to make an important
business decision? Are you
confused about some of
NSSEA's policies or benefits
and would like clarification?
No matter what the question,
NSSEA Essentials staffers will
find the answer.
Send questions to: DeShuna
Spencer, NSSEA Essentials
Editor, AskThe Expert, Fax:
301.495.3330,or email: dspencer@nssea.org. Please include
your company's name and contact information.
NSSEA ESSENTIALS
WWW.NSSEA.ORG
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