Jeffry Herman

My Career Journey

Jan 25th, 2025

My Journey
1963

From an early age, I was an enterprising kid. One of my first ventures was selling the Grit newspaper door to door. My sales pitch was far from polished: “You don’t want to buy the Grit, do you?” Many homeowners took pity on the little redheaded kid, and I managed to sell a decent number of subscriptions.

After my brief stint with Grit, my first real job was delivering the local newspaper. Mornings began early as I tied each paper and rode my bike through the neighborhood, making deliveries to subscribers. Rainy or cold mornings were made bearable when my dad drove me around. To this day, I can still recall the distinct smell of freshly printed newspapers.

Following Bob’s Lead
1967

My next jobs were influenced by my older brother, Bob. He worked at various gas stations pumping gas, and before long, I was working alongside him. We gained experience at different stations, moving up in small but meaningful ways.

At one point, my parents suggested we pursue pilot licenses. While Bob and I tried our hand at flying—taking controls mid-flight and practicing stalls—it didn’t ignite a passion for aviation in either of us. One particularly memorable job was at a Target bakery, where Bob and I were tasked with cleaning the entire bakery after hours. We lasted just one day—cleaning a bakery proved to be a surprisingly disgusting task. Another unique experience was working for a janitorial company, where I developed a knack for using industrial buffers to polish long corridors.

Exploring Career Possibilities

1969

After these jobs, I briefly considered a career in law enforcement. I toured the Hopkins police station, rode with officers, and joined the Civil Defense. One of my tasks in the Civil Defense was stocking supplies in a bomb shelter, but this assignment quickly lost its appeal.

I often dreamed of starting my own business, though I had no clear idea of what it would be. I also fantasized about a millionaire lending me $1 million to invest, with the promise I could keep the $50,000 in annual interest. Those dreams kept me motivated as I continued building my work experience.

Chalet Pizza and Beyond
1972-1973

When Bob took a job at Chalet Pizza on Shady Oak Road as a delivery driver, I joined as a cook. The owner, Gary Kendrick, was a bit gruff and always suspicious of employees stealing pizzas. Despite his demeanor, Gary taught me the importance of high-quality ingredients—he sourced many directly from Italy. Mixing dough, crafting sauces with secret spices, and cooking pizzas became second nature. All three of my brothers worked at Chalet at some point.

Occasionally, I filled in at the second location in Chanhassen, where I met my first wife, Cassandra.

Pickwick Records
1973- 1982

My best friend, Lyland, worked at Pickwick/JL Marsh Records and encouraged me to apply. This opportunity set me on a career path that eventually led to California and gave me the skills to start my own business.

I began by stocking bins with records for order pickers, then moved to fill orders for head shops in the Twin Cities. Later, I transitioned into managing record racks for stores, which included a company car and a route. Over time, I trained as a salesperson, managing entire record departments rather than just specific sections.

After completing my training, I had two transfer options: Detroit or San Jose. Having already lived in Detroit, I chose San Jose, sight unseen. My first wife and I packed up and drove west.

California Life
1975

San Jose was breathtaking. My sales territory covered South San Jose, Santa Cruz, and the Monterey Peninsula—a route filled with stunning coastal views. I serviced Wards, Sears, and small independent stores, yet I rarely took the time to appreciate the scenery as work consumed most of my attention.

After my divorce, I sought a fresh start and enrolled in the Barbizon modeling school to refine my grooming. Modeling was a fun experience—I met my future roommate and a friend who might have been a Brad Pitt of our generation if not for his limited acting skills. While I dabbled in local ramp modeling, I eventually faced a choice: pursue a cutthroat modeling career or focus on business.

Read more about my modeling journey

Selling the dream
1976

During my time modeling, and still working as a sales representaive at Pickwick, I met Mickey Worley. He was a new employee at Pickwich and became known for his striking style, his bald head, and impeccable dress. Mickey was a seasoned musician, sharing fascinating stories of performing in clubs across the country with various bands. Despite our differences, we bonded over our shared love of music and spent a lot of time together.

Our friendship even extended to the stage. One Saturday night, at a club in Santa Cruz, Mickey invited me to join his group on stage. I performed Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London," which impressed my date for the evening—a lady I had met earlier that week during an I. Magnin ramp show.

Mickey later recorded a cover of Gary Paxton’s song "Alley Oop," paired with a beautiful love ballad on the B-side. Overestimating my ability as a sales person, he asked me to join him in promoting the record. I traveled with Mickey, approaching radio stations to request airplay, and he graciously credited my efforts on the 45 rpm record.

In return, I invited Mickey to join one of my modeling photo sessions, a fun and creative experience for both of us.

Although we eventually lost touch after I moved to Los Angeles, my time working with Mickey was filled with memorable experiences that blended music, creativity, and camaraderie.

A Pivotal Promotion
with Pickwick
1976

I was offered a promotion to sales supervisor in Los Angeles. Winning Salesman of the Year sealed the deal. I left modeling behind and moved to Los Angeles, where I spent nearly 50 years.

In LA, I was assigned another incredible territory, spanning Costa Mesa to San Diego. Driving to San Diego twice a week became routine, and while the scenery was beautiful, my work was all-consuming. My first sales team was made up of some incredible individuals: Lance Sueoka in Orange County, Stephany Hanson in Costa Mesa, Mike Vitkievicz in the Inland Empire, Ken Johnson in San Clemente, and Kent Houston in San Diego. Leading a team for the first time was daunting, but they exceeded all my expectations.

Together, we achieved remarkable success, including winning an RCA national contest that rewarded Kent and me with a trip to the Bahamas.

We also celebrated Mike Vitkievicz earning the prestigious Salesman of the Year award—a testament to his dedication and talent.

My first Sales Manager, Ed Pahuli, was only with us for about six months before moving back to Minneapolis to pursue a career as a wedding DJ. His successor, Ray Reed, was a true taskmaster, but his leadership proved invaluable. He instilled in us a deep understanding of management, budgeting, and the record industry. His relentless drive pushed us all to new heights, shaping my own growth as a leader.

Dynasound
1982

With Kara’s gentle encouragement, I made the leap after ten years at Pickwick Records and joined Dynasound—a company specializing in carrying cases for audio cassettes, 8-tracks, and CDs. As their Western Regional Sales Manager, I nearly doubled my salary and traveled extensively across the West Coast, meeting with regional store buyers to drive sales.

Just six months into the job, the company was sold, and my division was shut down. The timing couldn’t have been worse—Kia had been born just two months earlier, and suddenly, I found myself with a newborn and no job.

Despite the uncertainty, I saw an opportunity. Dynasound had leftover inventory of 8-track carrying cases, and I knew that Zodys store customers still used 8-track

. I approached the company with a proposal, then called the buyer and closed the deal. That single sale generated an extra $5,000—money we badly needed.

Fortunately, the company provided me with six months of severance and allowed me to keep the company car, giving us some breathing room as I planned my next move.

Blackbourn Inc
1983 - 1987

During my six-month severance from Dynasound, Kara and I traveled to Las Vegas to attend the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES)—baby in hand! By day, I walked the show floor, searching for my next opportunity. While there, I ran into Bill McFeeders, my former National Sales Manager at Dynasound, who took the chance to parade us around as an example of what his old company had let go.

On the third day, I came across a booth for Blackbourn, a company specializing in vacuum-formed packaging and binders. Harry Johnston, a key figure there, took an immediate liking to me. Though I had limited sales experience—aside from that one deal selling 8-track cases—he saw potential. They offered me a position as their West Coast salesman.

They took a chance on me, and I exceeded even my own expectations. Not only did I thrive, but I also won Salesman of the Year after closing a massive deal—securing Walt Disney as Blackbourn’s exclusive VHS packaging provider. This success led to the opening of a new plant in Ontario, California, where I became the Sales Manager for the entire state. Then came a pivotal moment. One of my sales reps brought in a new potential customer: Gateway Educational Products. That introduction would change everything. When I eventually started my own company, Gateway would be the account that made me rich.

Software Publishing & Packaging
1987

After Blackbourn shut down its Pomona plant—losing millions in the process—I found myself at a crossroads. Determined to move forward, I took a job with a brokerage firm in Camarillo, California, specializing in printing, packaging, duplication, and assembly for software products.

The CEO, Dave Lafferty, made me an offer that seemed almost too good to be true: a $35,000 salary plus 50% of the profit from my projects. The opportunity was so compelling that I quickly recruited two of my former colleagues from Blackbourn to join me.

Within my first six months, I had already made my mark, successfully manufacturing my first kits for Hooked on Math—a milestone that set the stage for even bigger successes to come.

My time at SPPI introduced me to key aspects of the trade I had yet to master—printing, duplication, and assembly. This knowledge equipped me with the skills and confidence that I would use to one day start my own company.

Multi Media Publising & Packaging
1988 - 2003

When SPPI ran into financial trouble, an unexpected opportunity emerged—I could finally fulfill my childhood dream and start my own company.

Kara and I spent countless hours weighing the risks of striking out on my own. It was a daunting decision, but ultimately, we took the leap. Drawing inspiration from Software Publishing & Packaging (SPPI), I put my own spin on the name and launched Multi Media Publishing & Packaging (MMPP).

Building the company from the ground up was no small task. I had to secure licenses, create a logo, create stationary and a brochure, set up phone lines, and build an entire bookkeeping system that was inspied by SPPI. The biggest challenge? Having the funds to extend credit to customers on 30- to 60-day terms—essentially financing their orders upfront—while negotiating the same credit terms with my vendors to keep cash flow steady.

From day one, sales grew month after month. Before long, MMPP became the largest packaging company in the infomercial industry, working with powerhouse brands like Hooked on Phonics, Carleton Sheets’ No Money Down real estate course, and Warner Brothers Video Packaging.

Over time, I saw the landscape shifting—physical media was moving online. Recognizing this change, I made the strategic decision to sell MMPP at its peak, successfully exiting the business and retiring at 50.

Other dreams

Inspired by Sean Shanahan, I felt the urge to explore building other products—maybe to keep my mind active, maybe to open new doors.

One idea I pursued was bold: buying rare 1600s Bibles, gently disbinding them, and turning the individual pages into beautifully framed works of art. I threw myself into it—tracked down an original Bible, hand-selected pages to frame, wrote polished sales copy, and even organized a professional photo shoot to create a high-end brochure. The result was stunning, and I called the product Ancient Scriptures . But as proud as I was of the final product, I quickly hit a wall: I had no idea how to reach the people who might want to buy it.

Tree House

2024-03-17

My parents had a magnificent tree house constructed in our backyard, providing Bob and me with an exciting sanctuary to explore and play.

Social Security income

2024-01-22

This is my Social Security income from the time I started working in 1968 to the time that I retired in May 2004. They do not count all of your yearly income since I do not see the $100,000 year from Disney in 1985 and 86, but then a big year in 1994, so they must just report some percentage of your yearly income. But I find it fascinating that my entire history of employment can be seen on one page!