Today’s Quote of the Day comes from MakeMusic’s (MMUS) recent annual earnings conference call:
Operator: Your next question comes from Tom Kangas.
Tom Kangas: Thank you. As a long time follower of this Company, I’m just curious what musical instruments do you play. Mr. Koch? And what musical instruments does your new Sales Director play?
Jeff Koch: I don’t currently play a musical instrument. I played piano and trumpet growing up. But I don’t currently play one now. Our new sales director played the guitar and he was in a band growing up, and he still plays it now.
Tom Kangas: What connections does your new Sales Director have out in the field as far as the music industry?
Jeff Koch: What connections does he have in the music industry?
Tom Kangas: Right.
Jeff Koch: He does not have significant connections in the music industry, and we did not hire him to have significant connections in the music industry. He does have connections in the education market. He also primarily is not a producing salesperson. He is in charge of leading the entire sales group. His role is really one more of mentor, coach and facilitator than it is of being out in the field and trying to stir up new leads.
Tom Kangas: When you say his experience is in the education industry, what does that entail?
Jeff Koch: He was sales manager for Varitronics, which sold p into the K-12 education field. Into the schools.
Tom Kangas: Books?
Jeff Koch: No, they were recognition products. It was a series of products that teachers would use to recognize awards and achievements and things like that.
Tom Kangas: Oh. You know, I am just totally disgusted with you and your new salesperson. You let a man, a veteran of over 30 years in the industry, leave the Company. Ron Raup was a respected man in the entire music industry. He knew what he was doing. And you had the audacity to — let him go. That is just horrible for all of us shareholders. And you, sir, have no experience whatsoever except you talk a good game, but you don’t even know the industry. I’m really disappointed.
Jeff Koch: OK, well I appreciate your insight.
Tom Kangas: You got it, man.
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