Friends of Dan | Bear On Business

Posted by Dan Caruso
June 26, 2009

Don Gips: Ambassador to South Africa

Tuesday night, I attended an event for Tom Boasberg. Tom, now President of Denver Public Schools, is a long term friend and former Level 3 colleague of mine. Listening to Tom speak made me think about our mutual friend Don Gips.

Earlier in June, President Barack Obama nominated Don Gips to be the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of South Africa. How about that? Wow.

According to Don (as my memory is hazy), I was the first Level 3 person that Don met. In 1998, Don–fresh from a stint as Vice President Gore’s chief of Domestic Policy–heard of what we were up to in Boulder. He came by to meet me, Kevin O’Hara (I think), and likely a few others. Though I wasn’t sure what to make of him at the time, I could tell right away that he would be a great guy to work with. Before long, Jim Crowe hired him as head of Corporate Strategy. Every Level 3 executive changed jobs twice a year–except Don. He remained head of strategy until 2009, when he left to join President Obama’s White House. His role has been director of presidential personnel on Obama’s transition team.

Don met Obama long before the President decided to run for the presidency. He became part of Obama’s inner circle and, from the time Obama decided to run for the Office, Don was part of the team. Though I am a long term republican, Don convinced me to support Obama both with my pocket book and my vote. I’m glad I did, though in the absence of major policy changes, it will be the last democratic support from me for the foreseeable future.

Anyway, Don was the mentor of Tom Boasberg. As I watched Tom, I thought of how far both Don and Tom have come. Congratulations to them both and best of luck.

So Now What?

Leave a response (0 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

Listening to Tom Boasberg

Last night, I attended a gathering in support of Tom Boasberg, the President of Denver Public Schools. Tom and I worked together at Level 3, where until about two years ago, Tom was head of Corporate Development. Level 3’s acquisition of ICG Communications was spearheaded by Tom–to this day, I am smarting over how Tom out-maneuvered both John Scarano and me.

With great fondness (and a sense of pride), I watched Tom speak to the group for about 45 minutes. I was there in support of Colorado Uplift, a charity that works closely with the Denver Public Schools in support of inner city youths. I have been involved with Uplift for several years and continue to be amazed at the impact it has on school children.

Tom was kind enough to recognize Colorado Uplift in his talk. This was appreciated by me and the other board members of Colorado Uplift that attended the event.

Seeing Tom made me think about our mutual friend Don Gips. What is Don doing now? (…tomorrow)

So Now What?

Leave a response (0 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

Congrats Tom Boasburg and Don Gips

Tom Boasburg is a friend and a former colleague of mine from the Level 3 Communications days. I picked up the Denver Post this morning and saw that Tom was approved as the new Superintendent of the Denver Public Schools. Congratulations to both Tom and to the Denver Public Schools, the latter because I know Tom will do a fine job for DPS.

We sold ICG Communications to Level 3 Communications four years ago. Tom led this acquisition for Level 3. It is fun to reminisce some of the stories from this memorable process.

Don Gips was Tom’s mentor at Level 3. Don, also a friend of mine, was recently named director of presidential personnel for Barack Obama. Congrats to Don as well. Several other former colleagues of mine are working with Tom at DPS and, I suspect, a few will find their way to Don’s staff in Washington. It is great to watch the career progress of Level 3 alumni.

Don and Tom–best of luck and don’t forget about us.

So Now What?

Leave a response (1 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

A Risk-y Holiday Season

Brother Bob added a comment to the blog:

Dan the Dynasty continued his dominance in early battes during the tumultous weather conditions during the Christmas and Holiday seasons. But a new leader, named Bob the Bold began to build armies to overtake this land. Bob’s initial attempts to build armies in North America and the South Pacific were squashed by Hitler, um, Dan the Dynasty, as a result of Dan’s deceitful tactics to lure his son Danny and his cousin Nick the Novice to attack this new powerful opponent at their own expense. After recognizing the traitorous ways of Dan the Dynasty, Danny and Nick the Novice switched allegiances and emboldened Bob the Bold’s new armies building in South America to form a powerful alliance to overtake Dan the Deceitful. Nick the Novice proved a very strong partner by sacrificing numerous armies to weaken Dan the Deceitful’s armies in Asia, paving the path for Bob the Bold to overtake Dan the Dwindling Dynasty’s stronghold in Asia and the South Pacific. Bob the Bold has emerged as the new king of the lands, but word is out that Dan the Dwindling Dynasty is using his deceitful ways to lure his former alliance partners back to form a formidable attack anew….stay tuned….

It is nice that my brother offered up this comment. However, Bearonbusiness is known as one of the highest integrity blogs in the entire blogosphere. Only accurate and truthful accounts are tolerated–and the above comment, unfortunately, is neither. Many important facts are glossed over. Many misleading ascertains are made.

Driven only by the need to preserve the integrity of the blog, I will clear up all misunderstanding over the weekend.

Happy New Years to all.

So Now What?

Leave a response (2 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

Wrestling Match at Warsaw Board Dinner

Those damn camera-equipped mobile phones. They pop up their ugly lenses at the most inopportune times. For example, a couple of months ago I was at a GTS Telecom Board Dinner in Warsaw, Poland–nearly half a globe away from Boulder Colorado. I am minding my own business when George Nazi challenges me to an arm wrestlng match. George, you might recall, was made famous by the bearonbusiness series “George Nazi and Growing up in the Baddest Part of Town“.

I decide not to get suckered in and so I politely explained to George that arm wrestling is not an appropriate activity at a board dinner, I further explained that Americans are trying to improve their image overseas and an arm wrestling contest at one of Warsaw’s highest-end establishments is not a step the right direction.

That’s when George smirked. You know that George Nazi smirk–the one where a childish dimple makes his cheek look like it is caving in. Then he uttered one word: “wimp”. At that point, I no longer cared about the board dinner setting or the international reputation of Americans. All I wanted to do was smash George’s right hand onto the table and forever hold this humiliating defeat over his head.

We cleared the table. The camera-equipped cell phone clicked. And, as you can see from the picture, that is my arm in a decisive position over George’s. For those who know and understand the art of arm wrestling – rarely if ever is a match lost once one of the participants gets this type of leverage over the other.

One more thing about camera-equipped mobile phones. Their shutters are slow and taking more than one picture in a short period of time is problematic. So we will have this snapshot as the only verifiable evidence of the outcome of the match. If anyone is interested in signed copies, please send a picture to me with a self-addressed stamped envelop and I will return an autographed copy promptly.

Caruso at GTS Board Dinner

So Now What?

Leave a response (6 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

Congratulations to Bob Goodman

I met Bob Goodman about a year ago, through an introduction from John Siegel of Columbia Capital. Bob took John Scarano, Ken desGarennes (Zayo’s CFO), and me to lunch at Milo’s, a mid-town fish house. It was the best lunch I’ve had in the U.S. I’ve since returned to Milo’s twice.

With Bob at the helm, Bessemer Venture Partners joined Columbia Capital, M/C Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, and others to buy out GTS Telecom earlier this year. Bob and I have attended several board meetings together and have gotten to know each other pretty well

When I was with Bob earlier this week, I learned that Bob made Forbes Magazines’ Midas List–which is the world’s top 100 technology investors. Bob came in at #47, up from #51 in 2007.

Congratulations Bob. I have enjoyed getting to know you!

So Now What?

Leave a response (1 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

Hoping Jim Crowe is Right

Jim Crowe, CEO of Level 3 Communications, was the keynote speaker at the recent Colorado Broadband Summit.

At the press conference that followed the keynote, Jim offered the following perspective on the challenges the macro-economic slowdown poses to the broadband industry.

Fundamentally we have a healthy industry. That doesn’t mean that everyone within the industry is healthy. But, in tough times people tend to communicate more. They tend to stay home, entertain themselves at home; they tend to substitute telephone communications for cars and planes. Businesses tend to communicate more and for the same reasons consumers do, less travel more communications – we’re doing that. We just finished installing 30 more high definition video conference systems in all of our locations, and the usage has skyrocketed.

I agree with the logic and hope it proves to be accurate.

For those interested in learning more about what Jim said, please click on w3w3’s webcast.

So Now What?

Leave a response (0 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

The Dan Dynasty

[Continued from Thanksgiving Day Risk and Fourth Punic War: The Niwot Scuffle.]

Fathers have a soft spot for their sons. Commander Marty was no different. With ease, he could have pointed his formidable troops at those of his weakened offspring. But Chris is his eldest and his only male heir. The opportunity to co-rule all of humankind with his son at his side was too appealing. Just as Darth Vadar spared Luke Skywalker, Commander Marty decided against overtaking his son. Instead, his attention turned to General John.

A quick calculation of the odds made the outcome unclear. Marty certainly had more armies but not by a lot. Moreover, John’s troops were spread across five countries. The first one was his best fortified and they came ready to battle.

The story of Hannibal’s incredible counter-offensive in the Battle of Cannae has been re-told for 2,000 years. Likewise, General John’s toying with Mighty Marty will be remembered for generations. (I’ll make sure of that.) John’s black squared army bent but never broke. They withstood attack after attack. When nightfall hit, only a few from John’s once strong army survived–but they held Carthage.

Mighty Marty’s red square army was mighty no more. Proudly, his attack continued until only a few of his red squares remained. The attack was called off, but only after every statistical possibility of victory dissipated.

Yes, Marty still had armies spread across all of Asia and the South Pacific. Yes, Marty lived to fight another battle or two. Yes, he outlived John. With survival at stake, Marty even used his last offensive to take out his son Christopher. But the final history was already being written. The world would not be his. A new army–this one of yellow squares–was mobilized in Western United States. Its strength was beyond what the world had seen to date. Through Alaska and Russia it marched. Asia and eventually the South Pacific crumbled. It was only a matter of time before the world was to be filled by yellow squares.

The Dan Dynasty began.

Happy Thanksgiving.

So Now What?

Leave a response (1 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

Fourth Punic War: The Niwot Scuffle

[Continued from Thanksgiving Day Risk]

2,300 years ago, a formidable power from the southern Europe battled its northern African rival. The fate of all of civilization rested on the outcome of the Punic Wars.

The First Punic War resulted in Rome seizing Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica from Carthage. Rome emerged with a mighty Navy to control the Mediterranean.

The second Punic War featured Hannibal attacking Rome after a surprise crossing of the Alps. Elephants in tow, Hannibal wrecked havoc on Rome and its allies for 20 years. But Rome withstood the assault and eventually drove Hannibal to retreat and defeat.

The third Punic War set the stage for centuries of Roman world domination. In 146 B.C., the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus reached the wall of Carthage, sacked the city, and burned Carthage to the ground.

The proud North Africans had to wait more than 2,000 years for a chance at revenge. Thanksgiving Day 2008, a massive army of little blue squares was assembled in Italy under the command of Marty. Sitting across the Mediterranean was North Africa’s Carthaginian force, itself also in the shape of squares–but black instead of blue–with General John ready to defend the homeland. At stake was control of the world.

Three red dice and two white dice were rolled and the battle began.

So Now What?

Leave a response (3 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

Thanksgiving Day Risk

Marty took early control of the South Pacific. Asia was fast becoming his.

His son Christopher, first time Risk player, was in a weak position in Africa. He was highly vulnerable when Marty turned in a set of matching cards, giving him dozens of armies to go on the offensive. Though Chris would have been easy prey, he had only one card and hence wasn’t quite as attractive a target of John. Or perhaps Marty has a soft spot for his kid.

Whatever the reason, Marty elected to attack John, the dictator of South America. John had most of his armies sitting in East Africa, protecting the pathway to Brazil. My North America stronghold protected John’s flank. Marty would have to go through me to get to John, and I was well fortified. Though not nearly as strong as Marty, I had plenty to withstand an attack. And I had five cards in front of me–so even if weakened, I’d come back at Marty like a Bat out of Hell.

A quick count of relative strength of Marty and John made the outcome of their brewing battle unclear. The victor would like decide the game. If Marty prevailed, he’d pick up John’s two cards, re-fortify with another match, and turn his sights on me. It Marty came up short–even by a little–John would be too weak to hold me off. Our western hemisphere alliance would be over and John’s cards would belong to me. The world would be left with two superpowers.

Marty rolled his three red dice. John rolled his two white ones. The fate of the world held in the balance.

…to be continued….

So Now What?

Leave a response (0 so far)

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via by Email

Archive for the 'Friends of Dan' Category

Don Gips: Ambassador to South Africa

So Now What?

Related posts:

Listening to Tom Boasberg

So Now What?

Related posts:

Congrats Tom Boasburg and Don Gips

So Now What?

Related posts:

A Risk-y Holiday Season

So Now What?

Related posts:

Wrestling Match at Warsaw Board Dinner

So Now What?

Related posts:

Congratulations to Bob Goodman

So Now What?

Related posts:

Hoping Jim Crowe is Right

So Now What?

Related posts:

The Dan Dynasty

So Now What?

Related posts:

Fourth Punic War: The Niwot Scuffle

So Now What?

Related posts:

Thanksgiving Day Risk

So Now What?

Related posts:

Recent Comments

Categories

Blogroll

Archives

Meta