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Sunny, Walker’s
“goofball”
family dog.
Can’t remember. Let’s just say
our timing was a bit off. These
days we gig for charities we
believe are important, like cancer
research and children in need.
I’m also part of a hopeless
group of Toronto Maple Leaf
season ticket holders (the Cubs
have given us renewed hope!)
and I’m also a pretty big Toronto
Blue Jays fan and season ticket
holder. When I’m home I enjoy
cooking and sampling new wines
from around the world.
What do you enjoy
most about your work?
Every day is different, for one.
Not many industries offer that.
Not knowing exactly howmy day
is going to play out is exciting
(usually). The creative aspects of
what we do are invigorating and
I love the people I work with. We
stress the importance of teamwork
in our mission statement. It
fosters a great environment for
empowered co-workers to strive
for personal success.
What was your first
job, and what lessons
did you learn?
I was on the road a lot,
producing live sound right
out of school. We had a lot of
fun, but very long days (and
nights) taught me that hard
work and commitment lead to
success. It also stirred a sense
of independence and started to
help me understand how to take
control of my destiny.
What was your first
job in promotional
products and how did
it come about?
My first job in the industry
was assembling boxes for a
calendar company. This was my
best friend’s (and bandmate’s)
family business. Box-making
jobs are highly regarded by
broke musicians everywhere.
My supervisors thought I may
have been slightly overqualified
when I kept showing up on time
and, of course, [based on] the
quality of my box making. This
led to a promotion to the phone
room telemarking promotional
products to small businesses all
over North America, faithfully
promising delivery in four to
six weeks. As far as learning, I
am still learning and making
mistakes, sharing thoughts and
ideas and treating people with
respect. I’ve been at it for over 30
years now in one form or another.
Who or what has
had the greatest
influence on your
career and why?
That’s a tough one. I kind of fell
into this industry, as most do, but
I have been very fortunate to have
hadmany positive rolemodels and
influences to helpme throughout
my career. I’ve always seenmyself
as an entrepreneur, though, and
this industry has allowedme to be
immersed in creative environments
while allowingme to take control of
my destiny.
What motivates you in
business and in life?
My family, especially my
kids. I want them to have every
opportunity to succeed at
whatever makes them happy.
That means I need to succeed,
and offer myself up as a positive,
cheerful, low-stress role model
for them.
What is your
greatest professional
accomplishment?
I don’t know that I can narrow
this down to one thing. I’m
so proud of being at the helm
of two wonderful, successful,
growing companies [Walker
also heads Sharper Marketing,
a supplier of logoed hard
goods to college and university
bookstores in Canada]. So many
little and big accomplishments
(and mistakes) have gotten
me this far. I guess my greatest
accomplishment will be when
I have built a legacy for my
family and employees, and I
can put my feet up and call it
a day. Retirement will offer an
opportunity to immerse myself
in everything, including music.
I’m never going to stop playing!
What advice would
you give to an
industry newcomer?
There aren’t many industries
that offer unlimited opportunity.
There are no traditional
restrictions or glass ceilings here.
You have unlimited earning
potential. Period. Just work hard,
define what you would like to
accomplish and go get it!
Julie Richie is associate
editor for
PPB
.
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JANUARY 2017
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