Vice President of Human Circuit Retires After More Than 26 Years of Service
Gaithersburg, MD. November 25, 2014 – After more than 26 years the “Master of All Things”, Denny Bell has decided to retire from Human Circuit. Starting at Professional Products (PPI) in 1988 with a position in sales, Denny has held a number of jobs within the company. We won’t go through them all but he concludes his career as a very valuable member of the team, Vice President of Human Circuit. Instead of a complete biography, we thought we would let Denny sum things up with a Q&A.
HC: Why now?
Denny: Life is very fragile and short. It’s been a great run. House is paid off. HCI is on an upswing. Time to explore new challenges. It’s time.
HC: Why did you come to PPI/HC?
Denny: I was a customer. At the time it was a good opportunity to make more money than I was making at the time. The technology was in my wheel house.
HC: What are your best memories or prized moments here?
Denny: Best memories had to be in the early days when the business made more sense than it does today. It was clear what we had to do. We knew who our competition was. Working for and learning from Carter was the best. Building our dealer show from a little conference room at MD Public Television to what it was at the end was my proudest moment. Getting the first nice big commission check back in the day when we switched over was a big deal. Overall best memories was doing the Tech Fair all those years, and the slide show you guys did at the cocktail party on the 20th anniversary (I think) was one I will not forget.
HC: Funniest story while here?
Denny: At NAB one year, when I knocked Gallagher on his ass with a big blow up whale at his show.
HC: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received or given?
Denny: Never BS a customer. Tell them you don’t know the answer but you will find it out and get back to them. Get back to them ASAP.
HC: What would you like to be remembered for?
Denny: Being fair to everyone.
HC: What are you going to do now?
Denny: I will do more volunteer work with some organizations; American Heart, Maryland Food Bank and some sort of animal rescue organization. I will get back into my photography. Do some consulting work if it comes up. Might work part time for an AV company doing sound.
Bruce Kaufmann, President & CEO of Human Circuit shares his thoughts on Denny’s retirement, “I don’t know of anyone that bit off more than Denny did while he was here. The challenges he took on for this company ranged from a three office consolidation and relocation to running the best dealer show EVER! If we couldn’t figure out how to do something…Denny! If nobody wanted to do it…Denny! If we were doing it badly…Denny! 26 plus years is a long time to be anywhere, but I am pretty sure that nobody squeezed in as much in that period of time than Denny Bell did with us.” Bruce aptly sums up the thoughts of the entire Human Circuit family when he says, “People around here have some big shoes to fill. We’re going to miss him.”