In 1990 I read a small advertisement in the Boston Globe for an inside lighting salesman.  I had just moved to Boston from New York where I was a commercial photographer and I was looking for something different.  Barbizon offered an exciting working atmosphere selling all the products I used in my studio in New York.  Since I already had excellent hands-on knowledge of the products I thought Barbizon and I would be a perfect match.  I am happy to say that I was right and it has been magic ever since. 

Putting my finger on what I like best about Barbizon is difficult.  When I think about all of my responsibilities, the variety of customers I deal with, the wonderful manufacturers I distribute and my excellent co-workers, it basically comes down to the fact that I love my job.  This June will start my 18th year with Barbizon and I can still say that I look forward to Mondays.  I guess it’s the excitement that I don’t know what that coming week will bring or who I may meet.  Whether I may be in the office quoting a complete lighting and grip package, visiting a television station, on site designing a curtain system for a local museum or demonstrating new lighting techniques for an animation studio, every week is different and just as exciting as the last.  When I first started with Barbizon in 1990 there were only four offices on the east coast.  Now, we have offices spread throughout the country and we have even jumped the pond to England.  It has been an adventure watching Barbizon grow and travel into new directions.  I am very proud to have been a part of this growth and I look forward to new adventures in the years to come. 

Mike came to Barbizon because he had enough of doing social work.  “I was bored in my position and felt I needed a career change so I placed an ad in the Situation Wanted section of the New York Times. Sam Resnick (always on the lookout for new talent) saw it and asked Ira Goldman to give me a call. He left a message on my machine and I decided not to call back since I had no interest in becoming an electrician. Ira called back a second time and I agreed to meet him. I like what he said about the atmosphere at Barbizon and one thing in particular, Ira said Barbizon was a small company and that the ownership cared about their employees, so much so that they had birthday cake for every employee’s birthday. It may seem trivial but something about that touched me and I wanted an interview. Ira set that up for me and I met Sam…that was about 30 seconds and he led me into the back to meet Sid. I was wearing a suit and tie and when I entered Sid’s office I immediately knew I was overdressed. I took off my jacket and rolled up my sleeves and we talked. I don’t remember what we talk about but Sid offered me the job and I had agreed to start on the following Monday (it was a Thursday when I had the interview). As I was walking out Sam extended his very large hand to congratulate me and asked when I was starting. I said “Monday”, Sam said “what’s wrong with tomorrow?” When asked what he likes best about his job, “I love nailing orders more than anything else. Actually I like being a part of where Barbizon came from and where it is going.”