989. "Now That's an Interesting Story!"

“I went to the University of Kansas, majored in advertising and graduated with a 2.8 GPA, which is not anything to write home about. I’m sitting at home one Saturday night watching the TV show ‘Common Ground.’ A guy by the name of Warner Sanders was interviewing a woman named Barbara Proctor. Barbara Proctor was the first African-American woman to start an ad agency in the U.S. Now, I don’t have a job, I don’t have any prospects, I have nothing going, but that Monday morning I put on the one suit that I had, made a few copies of my not-that-strong resume, and went to Barbara Proctor’s office at nine o’clock. I just walked in with no appointment. The receptionist was very nice to me, and said, ‘Have a seat. I’ll find out if anybody can see you.’ After about an hour I met with a guy named Tony Moore who ran their media department. He liked me, but he had no jobs. He said, ‘You seem to be a good kid. I’m going to help you with something.’ He picked up the phone and called another gentleman who worked for Vince Cullers Advertising. He told him, ‘I’ve got this young man sitting in front of me who is fresh out of school and wants to get into advertising. I think you ought to take a look at him.’ So, I walked down the street to Vince Cullers offices. Now Vince Cullers was a genius, and a pioneer. I say that because he was the very first African-American in the U.S. to start an agency to target, primarily, the needs of the Black consumer. I met with the media director there. We talked for about a half an hour. Then he introduces me to Vince. We talk another half an hour. I was back home by noon, and I had a job.”

Kevin Newell is a retired C-Suite executive of a Fortune 500 and Dow 30 Company. He began his career in the advertising industry in Chicago before joining McDonald’s Corporation where he spent 27 years, rising to the position of Division President and Global Chief Brand Officer. Upon retirement in 2016 he became the Executive Advisor for tech company HubKonnect. He also serves on the boards of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, the Off The Street Club and Louis Carr Internship Foundation.