Tim Toterhi
The Official Website of Author Tim Toterhi
The official website of the author, Tim Toterhi. Tim is the author of numerous short stories, features articles and three highly acclaimed books!
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
T im Toterhi was born in the Bronx but moved just a few miles north to New Rochelle, New York as youngster. Growing up a true latch-key kid in a tough neighborhood, he learned early that life is what you make it. "One of my strongest held beliefs is that the past does not equal the future. It's amazing how meaningless initial circumstance can be if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and work through it."
Education Though never enamored with the thought of higher education, Tim labored through five and a half years of night school to make good on a promise he made to his grandfather shortly before his passing. After earning a B.A. in Communications (and a boatload of karma points), Tim celebrated by crafting an overwhelmingly sarcastic novella entitled, A B.A. in B.S. The College Guide You Will Actually Read. (Still in print somewhere) Of course, karma, being the ironic entity it is, landed Tim straight back in school, when his then boss "requested" he get a law or business degree to effectively compete with the other, more academically-inclined brokerage boys and girls. Three years later Tim again emerged from Iona College, this time with an M.B.A in International Business and an amazing desire to NOT write anything sarcastic. Tim recently added to his education by securing a certification in business and life coaching from CoachU. Though he's now washed his hands and feet of formal education he continues to attend professional development seminars in Human Resources and Learning and Development. Writing Tim earned his chops by penning hundreds of short stories and features articles for several NY magazines and newspapers. He gives special thanks to the folks at Gannett including Barbara Moroch and Karen Croke for kick-starting his freelance activities. His current book-length works include:
Business Tim defines his career not by companies or titles held, but rather by a series of influential mentors, managers and friends who have helped shape his career. "I'm always amazed at people's willingness to teach those who are ready to learn. Any success I've achieved can be largely attributed to the skills passed to me by my mentors." Throughout his teenage years Tim held a variety of interesting positions including salesman, karate instructor and Comedy Club MC to "keep the lights on". During this time he met Ray Melillo, a marketing guru and self-made millionaire. "Ray was the first guy I knew from the 'old neighborhood' who really made something of himself. Though network marketing was not for me, I learned countless lessons from him about relationship building and the power of persistence." Halfway through college Tim landed an internship at a New York based nuclear fuel brokerage house. He spent the next six years navigating his way from stringer to client researcher, to sales assistant and finally to fuel broker and consultant. He credits his mentors Daniel Einbund and Joe McCourt with his success at the firm. "These guys built the company from the ground up. They taught me more about business than I've ever learned in school. Danny was a networking genius and Joe was perhaps the most decent, hard-working guy I've ever known. Together they taught me a great deal about negotiation, sales, contracts, and relationship building. But more than that, they really boasted my confidence. I honestly credit them with sparking a real turning point in my life - the notion that you can have both creative and business success." Shortly after graduate school Tim left the brokerage house to find his own career calling. As a tribute to his mentors he authored a business case study entitled, SWAPCO Nuclear Corporation, which was published in the International Journal of Value-Based Management. The case details the firm's unusual path to success. To expand his general business knowledge, Tim worked in a series of start-up ventures including a unique technical training company called Visiocom. There he met Sally Wright and under her watchful eye, grew a sales management position into a slot as director of operations. "Sally was a tremendously giving person who honestly took great pleasure in helping others succeed. She taught me that one of the greatest honors you can have as a manager is to spark success in your people. " Armed with a wealth of operational experience and some legitimate time carrying a bag in the trenches, Tim accepted an Organization Design position at Bayer. Thanks to the support and coaching of his current manager, mentor and friend, Tim was able to thrive in this global role. After the team completed a wildly successful sales force redesign project, Tim made the tough decision to leave New York and follow his manager to North Carolina to begin some exciting work at a major Health Care organization. "Goodwill is not a scare resource. It costs nothing. It takes almost no energy to expend. And the returns are endless." In seminars Tim often speaks of this seemingly illusive career booster. "The benefits are clear when you are on the receiving end of a mentoring or coaching relationship. But even those pale in comparison to the joy received when someone gives you a call to say thanks for the time you put in to help their career." When asked what defines a good manager, Tim answers with a simple question. "Are your people succeeding in a way that is meaningful to them and the company? If yes, than you have it right." |
