Founder's Note: February

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You Gotta Have Friends

One of my talents is recognizing it in others. Bundling a select few and creating an environment where their talent can thrive is my passion. Prosper Publications LLC, therefore, was not launched by one person with a great idea, but by a great management team, an innovative designer, a photographer on the move, a motivated sales force, a dedicated office staff and scores of professional journalists that share the vision. I’m always on the lookout for folks to expand that team, and I have to tell you, I feel blessed. I’m happy to announce that Michael Teel, former CEO of Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, has come on board as a partner.
    Mike is the only grandson of the late Thomas P. Raley. In 1935, the elder Raley quit his job as a Safeway store manager to open his own grocery in Placerville. He introduced drive-in markets, prepackaged meats and side-by-side drug and grocery stores. Today, the $3 billion family-owned company owns 134 supermarkets. Mike grew up working in his grandfather’s stores. After college, he entered Raley’s store-level management training and literally worked his way to the top. Along the way, he never missed a chance to give back to his community. That hometown commitment sparked his interest in Prosper.
    Mike cares about the region. The seasoned CEO with many personal interests is plunging equity and sweat into a publishing startup because he believes the region deserves a magazine that emulates the excitement of doing business in the metro marketplace. Immersed in the family tradition of community activism, Mike now carries the torch in a new direction. He sees Prosper as a vehicle to unify the Sacramento Metro Marketplace and help it grow in prosperity.
    Historically, successful and rewarding partnerships entail the merging of like ethics and values with unlike skills and style. While Mike and I are on the same page regarding honest business practices and core company values, we bring different strengths to the company. Mike describes me as the “racehorse” of the business, while I describe him as the business guru. His input into all things financial, his knowledge of building a company infrastructure and his knack for forming strategic alliances will be invaluable to ProsperPublications. He is the most qualified business leader I can think of to maximize Prosper’spotential in the marketplace.
    But the most important advantage of having a Mike Teel turn up every morning is that he fits. He became a teammate ready to share the day-to-day stresses and decisions of a growing new company so competently that there was no need to float an inter-office memo proclaiming sweeping new changes. He just started working.
    Prosper’s focus groups, surveys, letters and word-of-mouth feedback suggest that each issue keeps getting better. No wonder. With a hard-working talented staff and the addition of Mike Teel, Prosper’ssuccess is a story waiting to be written.

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