Life is Full of Unplanned Transitions; Always Be Ready.

Or

How Good Is Your Parachute?

It is an amazing feeling when you see a news article where you know you made a difference in the lives of people mentioned in the article. My name was not in the news, but one of my client's name was.

I was checking LinkedIn and saw an article from the day before of a corporate change in one of my clients. The article stated the CEO, Jordi Ferre of AgroFresh Solutions, had been removed as CEO, and another man moved into place effective immediately.

My immediate thought was: I created top 1% headshots for him and his senior, C-level staff; they are in good shape. So, one month later after the photoshoot, I read that Jordi Ferre had been replaced as CEO that day. I am so very glad I created some top 1%, high lookability headshots to help him (and some of his staff to) move onto his next chapter.

I have been through these transitions more times than I care to relate. That is how I learned the power of a top 1% headshot. Before I thought the power was in the resume'/profile words (copy), and the headshot was just a painful form-filler. Or at least I hoped so because I never liked me in pictures, and hated the entire photo process. I had no idea what made an effective, door-opening and opportunity-drawing picture. I just know most headshots I saw were terrible, had nothing appealing, and thought they were too expensive in time and emotional drain.

And I know the fear and chaos that falls on the entire company, and the families. And for Jordi and his team my conscious is clean. I know marketing and I know the power of the top 1% headshots I created for them. I gave them the best possible tools anyone could have. And way more than most people have, or even consider possible.

If you have to bail-out (or are pushed-out) of your current income stream, what does your transition toolkit look like? "Ever ready" is the motto of the wise. "Maybe tomorrow" is the motto of the foolish.

Take a hard look at your transition parachute and refresh it right away, and then make it better. (Right now I offer a 50% discount for returning clients. That is a lifetime of current, top 1% headshots. Now that is a super parachute!)

I am confident that I gave Jordi and his staff the best possible tools, parachutes of top 1% headshots, to move on in life. Often when a CEO is removed, the entire C-level staff is replaced. Life in the entire company is full of tension as each one looks to cement their relationship with the new CEO, and/or start their own job-hunting process.

No one knows how deep the cuts and changes will be. Often this process can take two years or more. Since the new guy is an outsider, no one is immune.

Synonyms for this transition include: rightsizing, down-sizing, delayering-layer removal, reorganization, firing, dismissal, sacking, unemployment, restructuring, shakeup, overhaul, separation, divorce, demotion, early retirement, etc. This can happen in any organization, from a public or private two-man shop, to a multi-national conglomerate. Then add in your own personal decisions and events; life is full of transitions.

Some strong lessons:

• It is never too soon to arm yourself with one of my top 1%, headshot parachutes; you never know when transition is coming.
• If your headshot is not a top 1%, you need one now.
• If your headshot is older than 1 year, you need a new, top 1% headshot now.
• If you think I am blowing smoke, go back into your hole and keep sucking your thumb.
• If you want cheaper, look elsewhere;
• If you want ineffective, look elsewhere,
• If you lust after success, contact me now.

I am here for you.

I am a professional photographer majoring in individual and group headshots, portraits and other commercial photography.

My images make my clients feel exceptional and continually draws opportunities to them. My top 1%, headshot images are the competitive advantage for individuals and organizations to open doors and draw opportunities.

The future belongs to flexible, driven, ready-for-anything individuals who have a current, top 1% headshot, to open doors and to keep your options active.

30 years in professional marketing has taught me that a top 1% headshot is the most powerful marketing tool there is, and the secret ingredient for accelerating personal and business success.

I want to help in any way I can; your success is my only goal.

If I can be of help, or if you know someone who could use a business/career/life jumpstart/promotion/stability or peace, call me now: 302-561-5555.

Discounts to students, vets, medical and first responders.

The Article

Here is the article I read:

By Jeff Blumenthal  –  Reporter, Philadelphia Business Journal

Apr 12, 2021

AgroFresh Solutions, a Philadelphia technology company aimed at preserving fresh produce with the use of data, has hired longtime pharmaceutical executive Clinton A. Lewis Jr. as its next CEO, effective immediately. He replaces Jordi Ferre, who is leaving the company after five years at the helm.

AgroFresh (NASDAQ: AGFS) said Lewis, who will be one of the few Black CEOs of a local public company, will also join its board of directors. Ferre will depart “in the coming weeks” after a transition period. He was hired as CEO in October 2016, months after former CEO Thomas Macphee and President Stan Howell resigned.

A spokesman said the company had no comment on Ferre other than Chairman Nance K. Dicciani saying “the board is grateful to Jordi for his contributions and wishes him well in his next chapter.”

Prior to his time leading AgroFresh, Ferre served as chief operating officer at PureCircle, a Chicago-based producer of stevia sweeteners for the food and beverage industry.

AgroFresh, which is located in Old City, did not make Lewis available for comment. Dicciani said in the statement that “AgroFresh is at a key inflection point, and the board believes that Clint is the right person to lead the company forward. We are confident that he will leverage his life sciences experience and significant leadership abilities to pursue strategic growth opportunities, increase efficiencies and create shareholder value.”

Lewis has spent the past three decades in the life sciences space. He worked at Pfizer for almost 25 years, joining the company in 1988 in the human health pharmaceutical segment and ultimately migrating over to become president of U.S. operations at Pfizer Animal Health in 2007.

After a series of acquisitions, Pfizer chose to spin its animal health division into its own company via a 2012 IPO. Pfizer sold its majority stake in the company, called Zoetis, in 2013 as part of a broader plan to shed non-pharmaceutical subsidiaries in an effort to cut costs, raise capital and pay off debt. Lewis moved over to Zoetis, which became the world’s largest producer of medicine and vaccinations for pets and livestock, as executive vice president and group president responsible for international operations, commercial development and global genetics. Lewis left Zoetis in February 2020 and has served on the boards of International Paper and Covis Pharma.

AgroFresh was formerly a subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Co. before it was acquired by Boulevard, a blank check company, in May 2015 for $635 million. Its technology provides data-driven chemical services that allow farmers and distributors of produce to maximize their supply to the market. Its primary product, Smartfresh Quality System, maintains the firmness, texture and appearance of fruits during storage and transport.

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Net sales for 2020 were $157.6 million, down 7.3% from the prior year. The company lost $53 million in 2020, compared to a $54 million loss in 2019, while current assets increased to $786 million from $806 million.