As part of our clean-out process, I could not defend retaining this plaque from my corporate days, so decided to keep a photo keepsake instead. I thought that it might be of interest even if I am patting myself on the back…
Scientific Data Systems used to award the honor of “Pro Club President” each year to our best-performing salesman from the year before. This was done at the annual Pro Club meeting during the first quarter of each year.
SDS was a special company. It reached $100,000,000 sales faster than any US industrial company had before.
Xerox acquired SDS in 1969 for the then astonishing price of $929 million. To be good corporate citizens, we changed the name of the meeting to “Par Club” to match Xerox’s designation.
I was VP of Sales at SDS from 1968-1972 when I was transferred to the Xerox corporate staff in Stanford, CT. It was not a promotion. I had been put in the “Penalty Box” because sales in 1971 were lower than forecast. This was caused as a result of our 3 major markets all going south during a recession as well as Xerox’s desire to compete with IBM in the commercial market. Xerox replaced me with one of their people, an ex-IBMer. It didn’t work.
I was invited by the then Par Club President to come to the meeting in 1972. The Pro Club plaque was retired that year and given to me.
Comments