Summary: In this first interview with veteran digital marketer Chuck Bankoff, we find out how he decided to become a digital marketer and why he chose WSI.
In this first of a series of interviews with veteran digital marketer Chuck Bankoff, we find out how he decided to become a digital marketer and why he chose WSI.
Tell us a bit about yourself, Chuck:
I grew up in New York and moved to Southern California with a couple of friends of mine when I was 22. I got married and raised my two kids here and essentially built my entire adult life here.
Tell us a bit about yourself, Chuck:
I grew up in New York and moved to Southern California with a couple of friends of mine when I was 22. I got married and raised my two kids here and essentially built my entire adult life here.
Why did you want to become an Internet consultant and join WSI?
I was working for a large aerospace company at the time and was in charge of certain “Special Projects”. One of those special projects was to help facilitate outsourcing our jobs (mine included) to other countries. The thing about the aerospace industry is that every company is either a prime contractor, or a sub-contractor of the same government or commercial projects. That means that all of these companies are either hiring or laying off at the same time.
I decided to break out of that cycle and be proactive by exploring other opportunities. I had never run my own business, so I was looking for a safety net and started looking at different franchises. The one that made the most sense for me was WSI because it was one of the few opportunities at that time where all I needed was a laptop and a phone to get started. I also had the freedom to work out of my home or set up an office at my discretion. Besides…back in 1999, this Internet thing looked like it might become something someday.
What’s the biggest value that you get from WSI?
It may be a little different for me now than when I started. Remember, I’ve been with WSI for almost 20 years, so my value may be different from someone just getting started.
For me, it’s mostly about the network, being able to pick up the phone and exchange ideas and best practices with other consultants who are my peers. Other consultants with a track record of success whom I trust.
The other big value for me is the eMarketplace, where I have access to some of the industries premier vendors. These are companies that I would mostly have access to anyway, but though WSI I get better pricing. That’s nice, but the real value is that we typically get a higher level of access. For example, we often get enterprise level service for entry level pricing, and have a dedicated go-to person at that company. That is HUGE!
What job/business were you in before you started your WSI business?
At the time I started with WSI, I was the Leader of Learning at a large Honeywell facility. I did a lot of consulting, facilitation and special projects, which as it turns out, was a great background for my consultancy.
Chuck, thanks for sharing this with us. We look forward to our next conversation, where we'll get into more about you and your business.
