My Professional Background…

It seems, when looking back on my life, that my career was pre-destined because every step I took to simply earn a living led in the direction of a career that has been both satisfying and productive. For that, I am eternally grateful. And, to the mentors who’ve guided me and the clients who’ve had faith in me, I say thank you, thank you, thank you. Here are some of the adventures I’ve enjoyed….

Coldwell Banker M.M. Parrish Realtors
In 2002 I retired from being a "Road Warrior" and became a licensed realtor, working for the largest and oldest real estate firm in the area, Coldwell Banker M.M. Parrish Realtors, in their High Springs (www.highsprings.com) branch. In just 2 years I achieved a top producer status in the company, responsible for almost $7,000,000 in real estate listings and sales.

In early 2004 I was asked to assist the corporate office in a consulting capacity, by establishing a Marketing Division, and working on various projects for the company and its people. These projects included creating a New Development Division, designing the corporate brand image and position, designing the advertising program, revising the web site (www.mmparrish.com) and creating Associate Support materials to generate more business for the firm.

In December of 2004 I traveled to Costa Rica and Panama searching for the perfect retirement spot, and decided on Boquete in the Highlands of the province of Chiriqui where I have purchased a house.  The rest of the story is on the Home page of this site and daily adventures with photos are posted on the Penny In Panama page of this site.

The Ripple Effect
From 1986 to 2002, TRE provided a variety of business-to-business marketing services to corporate clients the world over. Specializing in meetings, conventions and trade shows, these services have included Staff Training, Print Promotions, Industrial Theater and Video Production, ROI Measurement Survey & Analysis, Computerized Lead Management Software (RippleWare™), Special Events and Meeting Planning.

Clients include American Airlines, Ameritech, AON, Arch Communications, AT&T, Canadian Telephone Company, CellStar, CNET, Colgate-Palmolive, Compaq Computer Corp., Computer Sciences Corp., Connaught Laboratories, Conoco Oil Company, Evinrude Outboard Motors, Frito-Lay Foods, Goss Graphic Systems, GTE, Hewlett-Packard Company, Hormel Foods, IKON Office Solutions, IT Services Corp., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Kerr Drugs, Lucent Technologies, MANRoland, Inc., MasterCard International, Merrill, Lynch Securities, Miller Brewing Company, Outboard Marine Corp., PageNet, Paragon, Pepsi Cola Company, Pittman Corporation, Polaroid Corporation, Procter & Gamble, Rapistan Systems, Kodak, Reliant Building Products, Rockwell Automation, Shell Oil Company, Source One Communications, Springmaid Corporation, Sprint Press, Texas Instruments, United States Postal Service, Viskase Packaging and Xerox Corporation and many others.

Convention Service Associates
As owner/operator of Florida’s largest destination management company (1981-1986), creating and producing marketing events and programs for trade and professional associations and major corporations, with offices in Miami, Orlando and Naples/Marco Island, I had the pleasure of fulfilling my dream to be an entrepreneur. After 6 fruitful years, the business was sold to an Orlando competitor, Florida Convention Services.

University of Miami – School of Medicine
As Director of Educational Programs for the Department of Anesthesiology (1979-1981), I was responsible for faculty CEU requirements, medical school rotation programs, and independent program curricula for domestic and international meetings, as well as a variety of training and administrative programs in a department of 150 employees.

Thomas Cook Travel
Recruited by this, the world’s largest travel company, to serve as their Branch Manager of the San Francisco Market Street office, I then moved on to open a new office in Miami. Once that office was up and running smoothly, the company gave me the responsibility of authoring a Procedures Manual for Commercial Travel Counselors and then to create and manage as their Director of Training, responsible for 85 branches around the U.S. (1977-1979)

Eastern Airlines
In the over 10 years with the second largest airline in the free world, I enjoyed a number of positions including reservations, consumer affairs, sales development, management recruiting and field sales. These responsibilities included direct work for the Chairman of the Board and President, Frank Borman. (1966-1977)