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After graduating from The University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee, Gene learned how to negotiate - the Hard way. Miss Poss, personnel manager for Gimbels asked him how much he needed in salary. To which he stated after careful consideration $110.00 per week. This amount was based upon current rent, bills, food, and other expenses to care for his new wife and baby. Some of you may figure what year this was from this information. Others will think, how lame. Well, she agreed and reality struck two weeks later. Gene finally learned what the phrase $89.50 meant. It was used in many films of that era. That was what was left over after taxes, making my negotiation short by $20.50. It was a good thing I was in the Army Reserve on weekends where I earned $28.60 minus $3.92 withholding giving me $24.38 against my request for $440 or $382.68 per month. Wife Sandra contributed from her job at Kohl's Food Store where she assisted, now, Senator Herby Kohl, in his dad's produce department. Assignments at Bendix included allocating department promotion budgets, audting compliance for coop funds, and coordinating television and newspaper ads for maximizing visual impact of products and quality of merchandise. Lesson was learned and his next move was to Vice of President of Marking for Omni Lab, company that created and installed first bank of 500 dial access ionformation retrievers for recording spy communications at NSA. They're still there in that original building, he was told. That company sold for $750,000 after several months relocating it from extremely cold weather in Hayward, Wisconsin to West Palm Beach Florida. There Gene worked with ATO.'s Harry Figgie on its acquisition to get into First Responder simulator training. You must remember, computers back then filled a 14 x 20 foot room for a 2 mhz speed with hard drives, disks, the size of R2D2. At least that was our computer at Ken Cook Transnational in Milwaukee where we created programmed flight instruction and military traianing manuals in 18 languages manuals. From there Gene used his financial experience - Gimbels - to negotiate up front better. In his position with The Bendix Corporation as regional PR for 12 divisions in diverse industries his assignments included proposal team chief on NASA Houston Manned Spacecraft Center, FAA multi-approach landing systems, and several other contracts well into the half billion dollar range. Through those assignments, Gene learned much from mentors like A.P. Fountain, H. Michael Blumenthal, and Bill Agee. Much included subordinate P&L management to grow business from operations, to finance an airplane at a higher fixed rate (11 percent) than at a temporary adjustable rate (2 percent above prime or 9.5 percent that quickly moved to 22 percent in less than six weeks), and to sell-out or merge (Allied Signal) when your target (Martin Marietta) takeover fails . During that time I was also reassigned to a Florida Army Reserve Garrison that coincidently went to Hattiesburg Mississippi where I experienced Hurricane Camille. As a newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, I wound up being the only qualified "media" officer, expert by reputation, at Camp Shelby that year to meet and greet Camille with her entourage of network reporters. Film was at six - video wasn't as portable back then. Various garrison assignments increased Gene's awareness while auditing all headquarters and subordinate units under its command. This included personnel records, finance, medical and training efficiencies. Good background for later career moves providing due diligence for startups, corporate restructuring, and government contract performance. Identifying and managing advertising programs in 22 States along our eastern seaboard was his next challenge. With a $301,000 budget he managed a multi-million dollar program using not only Public Service Advertising, but wisely auditing state programs for efficient use of our money including recovery of $750,000 left idle at N.W. Ayer ABH Advertising, as "un-obligated" funds. By recapturing those funds to the first computerized check book registry (created with punch cards) Gene was able to allocate 140 percent of budget with a low bidders philosophy, month to month reconciliation and reallocation of resources, to come in 2 percent under budget with no slush funds or requirement to spend foolishly just to use or lose it in next year's annual budget. Army's comptroller, ready to retire, told Gene, after seeing this program's performance, he was going to stay on another five years. Gene authored new regulations for advertising of which all seven services adopted and are in use today providing recruiters with quicker access to funds, greater accountability, and limitations of types of approved media expenditures that would meet or exceed GAO scrutiny. Recruiters and Commanders no longer had to spec out construction of a battleship to buy imprinted coffee mugs or other small advertising specialties. Experience - opened a door to head up advertising account management of military accounts at W. B. Doner & Company, N.W. Ayer ABH Advertising, J.W. Thompson, McCann-Erickson, and Grey Advertising with stints at several public relations firms in Michigan, Washington DC, and Florida. Results from these programs recreated military marketing, restructuring investment opportunities, and damage control of economic or natural disasters. In 1980, Gene was accredited by the Public Relations Society of America as an a.p.r. In that five hour written and oral exam he had to develop a disaster plan. Having been through several, it was not a tough exercise. In fact, his proctors gave him a scenario that was one he addressed for real and won a Silver Anvil. How lucky can you get? Requested by high level officers in Defense, Gene enjoyed assignments at all major Commands giving guidance on outside influences from mentors, family, media, and clergy. Some assignments took him overseas. Some were scrutinized for strategic impact on America's military might. Some were to review and assess performance in global security provided by our strategic alliances and co-production nations. Each project was archived with all historic records, contracts, orders, kudos, and personal letters - on 12 inch CPT disks, no less. Because of Gene's experience writing regulations, he was tasked with scripting the Amry's annual plan for global Public Affairs. Assessing, an operation in Granada, he recommended taking only one pool reporter to prevent any leak in destination, time or mission. Suggested was to inform that selectee at a morning briefing, outfit him in uniform, with military cameras, recorders, etc and embed him in our units without any phone calls to his media sources or family. Result was complete military success in a matter of hours. No losses. No casualties. Unfortunately, no footage either to that Gene was assinged to create a video after-action report with 13 seconds of video. Lucky our Reservists who were called up took their cameras. Teachings from others and analysis of their financial antics lead Gene to running for Comptroller in Maryland four times. Of his seven campaigns, he never was elected, but each opened another level of investigation into voter fraud, with that important final piece materializing in 2006. There are 19 states including Maryland with illegal governments. Of his financial experience, he now learned that with lawyers controlling our elected offices, there is rarely a recount of substance. It is similar to courtroom testimony. Anecdote: Three lawyers were out sailing and when asked if they would use a new downloadable deposition recorder (Audicorders) device that can record continuously up to 17 hours of testimony. Recordings could not be modified, tampered with, or deleted from a hard drive, patent pending. To wit, lawyers said they wouldn't want it - because you couldn't change the testimony. Judges loved it for the same reason. Larger audience wasn't available, but it can be used for other legal evidence in medical procedures, seminars, accident reports and some educational situations. Designed by Gene it can playback earlier testimony while recording at the same time reactions, recants, and explanations to uncover perjured witnesses. Now, let's get to some financial experience learned by helping others. While assisting a 73 year friend enter into a new venture of Financial Planning built around annuities, multi-generational annuities, stretch IRA's, and gifting annuities, learning about how Congress subdues benefits of these programs while they take full advantage was a little disconcerting. These programs are great hedge funding opportunities to spend your wealth and leave it to others - mostly families unless you're Warren Buffet. Word on the street is you can Leave your estate to your heirs; leave it to chairities; or leave it to the IRS which puts it into Congress's pockets. However, when addressing tax laws, you see distrust of these instruments because probate attorneys can't capture all assets; and most shelter generations later from liability. Good deal for most of us. In Gene's presentation prepared for "Plan Now", he quoted President Franklin Roosevelt on two things; (1) The only fear we have is fear itself, and (2) Social Security will never be taxed. So much for Presidential proclamation - reminds one of Clinton years where healthcare was important until they found out there was money for special considerations available. Healthcare waned. Second rule to remember is: If you wouldn't give your income and assets to a member of Congress to manage for you, why do you vote for them? If you do, you just did. Financial assistance is often needed by many who want to buy a home, or make investments. In mid-90's, Gene helped a friend establish a mortgage brokerage that allowed him to learn compliance law as well as getting loans through a mired system in 10 days and in one case overnight. He used that experience to create an online Continuing Education program (e-prmi) to help loan officers in 8 states meet their license renewal compliance. While assisting a sister company in December1966 generate Home Improvement sales, Gene was given a lead in Culpepper, Virginia. It was to an old farm along a river in a valley surrounded by new high-priced homes. Expectation was; that home owner needed doors, windows, and a roof. Sure enough, that was true. Based on age and condition, that old house couldn't support those new improvements. It's owner, a young single mom with a six-year old dressed like Roy Rogers with six-shooters and hat, took three years off from her well paid computer programming job to care for her mother who passed away. Now, she was facing foreclosure in 29 days to lose whatever she had left that was willed to her. Listening to her situation got Gene thinking. She couldn't afford any improvements, but Gene was going to sell her a door for $5,000. A heavy steel security door for her home. Callous, gutsy or creative. You decide. Selling that door to her on a consolidation loan could be accomplished in 15-20 days. If she hung the door on her home, it probably would collapse that old house. So, it was suggested to keep it wrapped in her barn. Her mortage was approved. Her motivation restored. She got her job back. Wondered who that angel was. Sold the property for over $3 million a couple of years later. Devine intervention.... Throughout that process Gene learned how Americans use credit, and vice versa; how credit uses and destroys creditors. Major influence on default is heathcare tort and fraud by HMO's ascerbated by increasing interest and finance charges exceeding any reasonable usery fees. This compounds by selling debt to third parties who abuse creditors privacy, citing Title 8 & 15 USC as authority, under threatened litigation of greater loss than that which created default resulting in lender charge off even when risk was assessed with loan interest proportionately agreed to. Gene sent analysis (Banking Letter) with remedies, August 2001, needed for Federal Reserve enactment through Federal Trade Commssion for submission to our Congress. Action paper was sent November 2001(Financial Reform). March 7th, 2007, Congress is ready to address our credit fraud industry. It is now reaching that prediction made to Bank of America, Federal Reserve, and Senior Deputy Comptroller at Treasury. Recently, Gene has been challenged by a Federal Court Senior Judge regarding default on a very high visiblity case (Notice of Findings) where fraud on the court resulted from phony credit/debt charges and illegal siezure of property. It was followed by another such case resulting in a new book on "Debt Collection" a companion book to "Pro Se Legal-ez Guidelines". Ever wonder why after you paid off a debt, there are more fees due? Buy the books. They're only $10 each. Financial skills learned and law acquired gives Gene an understanding to help protect you and your money from advanced legislative fraud perpetrated by our Congress and making us not only vulnerable to foreign manipulation, but also a joke in International circles 'cause our Govnerment forgives debt to third world nations while others exploit that value in devaluation. Only "We The People" get screwed when Congress deliberates for more than a decade on an immediate problem - healthcare. They deliberate for fear of accomplishment that could cost them their jobs, so they defer action through divisive hearings, innuendo, and diversions to run for higher office espousing they know what to do, but cannot tell us how they plan to do it. "Cause they really don't have any experience in solving problems, just theory. They just don't have that experience of responsibility, productivity, or compassion to encourage self-reliance to build wealth. Here's a start....(put your cursor over bill)
copyrighted March 2007 by Gene Zarwell, Washington DC |
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