I was about 10 minutes late for the Press Conference and as soon as I got to my place at the front table every hand in the room went up. I motioned for the hands to go down and for quiet. Look, I know I was late but I'm not stressing anyone's deadline and I'll stay until all the questions about the project are answered. However, I have a few people I need to recognize. Sitting beside me on my right is my dad, Mike Simmons. Next to him is the CEO of MJS Technologies in Dr. Williams and to him is the Company President Dillon. On my left is Tim, my attorney. Seated next to Tim is Jim Hardymon CEO of Textron and Kyle, Dillon and Jim will have an announcement as we finish. Also present is the Head Football Coach at VT. Coach is here as we have a dinner engagement this evening and he wants to see what distractions I M inflicting on his program.
Patti, as is my custom you get the first question. Thanks Mike, knowing that I'm usually first I almost always have a question ready in advance, one that doesn't get a one word response. I was ready to do just that as I had a question ll set to go but then something happened, I listened to you today. I was struck by your praise and dedication to the union workers. Then there is their response to you chatting your name. So why isn't there any Union involvement in Technologies or Enterprises? I smiled and said well Patti that gets you a 6 word answer; Apparently they don't want to organize. A bunch of hands went up and I laughed and asked, does that mean you want me to elaborate? There was a loud YES. Patti, I'm sorry as I was just having a little fun, I intend to expand on my answer. Tech workers see no reason to organize because they are so well compensated compared to the general workforce. Here at lease, unless they are assigned to work on the various contracts, they have a good bit of freedom to work at locations out of the office. The turnover is great as as soon as they are bored or not challenged they move on. The vast majority of our tech workers are from CMU, MIT and RIT. There are a number of people from VT and Stanford. We are able to attract people because we pay well and the cost of living here isn't draining their resources. Unions will eventually appear as there is a growing trend to farm technology out to foreign countries. As long as I am associated with any company there will be farming out anything overseas. Then there is the issue that everyone working here, even me, has a security clearance.
That seemed satisfy everyone and the next question surprised me? It came from a national reporter from a minority reporter who asked; Mike do you know the percentage of minorities working in your companies? I shrugged and said, I do not. Then someone yelled, dude you need to ask better questions, but I'll give you credit for asking an important question. I was loosing control of this process so I said let's stop the sniping. I'll go into more detail. We hire top level people and the only discrimination is based on their school records and recommendations from faculty. We try hard to eliminate race, ethnicity or sex in the hiring process. HR has an established hiring process and we don't deviate at all. Our problem is that there are not many woman or African Americans taking Computer Science classes anywhere. We have had employees we have dismissed and 99% of those is because of the Federal Security Clearance. Is that a sufficient answer?
Mike, do you feel you have any responsibility to get a more diverse group to take Computer Science courses? Well first of all there are a number of people here I don't know so before I'll answer any questions, I'll need a name and who you are representing. I immediately herd, sorry Mike, I'm Doug Cannan with the Associated Press. Thanks Doug, I don't believe that is or should be y responsibility, right now. I have very little standing in the Educational Community, being an undergraduate. Then, my plate is more than a little full. I have 2 buildings going up and either own or have controlling interest in 7 companies. Oh, then there is college and football.
I pointed to another local guy and he jumped to his feet and said I'm Chris Harlin from the Trib. Mike why are these 2 new buildings so different from the first 2? Chris, everyone knows that I respect the past and feel that everyone should respect their roots. The inside of this building is a shout out to the future. Unfortunately, that appears to be a well kept secret. Because of who we are and what we do we don't encourage visitors. Every visitor has an appointment and those who don't are given a business card and told to make an appointment and there have been very few exceptions. With these buildings I am standing on Mt. Washington and telling everyone that we are at the crossroads. We are not the steel making capital of the world any longer and we will never be again. Many people don't believe that but I'm talking a new road and I'm not looking back. Im placing a big bet on my vision of what I see this region becoming. We have one of the best universities in the country, within walking distance, for Computer Science and robotics. We have build to very stringent specifications and vehicle that could be used on the moon. No one else could do that. Buildings for me make a statement and the manufacturing building we are construction supplies all its energy and doesn't pollute. It will be the same for the larger building. I have chosen a road and I am aware that there will be many other forks in the road. Hopefully those choices won't be forced upon us as a result of a dying industry.
Next I pointed to a young woman and was rewarded with a big smile. She said thanks Mike, I don't usually get to ask a question, I'm Sara Graf with the South Hills Record and I would like ask 2 questions. Sara, just ask the first question, please. Mike, how will you deal with the 7 companies while playing football and taking classes in Virginia? Sara, I'm not much involved with the dad to day stuff with any of them and there is a great team in charge of all of them. I am very aware of the complexities. I can be back herein 90 minutes because of the Cessna Jet but I don't expect that to be necessary. I simply decided to move on and we moved on for another 45 minutes. Having finally had enough I thanked everyone and introduced Dr. Williams for an important announcement. As Kyle was introducing Dillon and Jim, I started out not wanting to be asked more questions. Before I got away Sara got to me and said Mike, you owe me another question as you promised. I thought for a minute and said well I remember saying ask the first question, please. Sara smiled and said that correct but I was never given the opportunity to ask a second question. Sara, I have a very busy schedule and I apologize. I started to move away and she kept it up. I finally stopped and said ok, let's do lunch tomorrow at South Hills Country Club, say 11:30. She smiled and said sure. I got on the elevator and was thinking damn she is sexy and not much older than me.
At my office I sat in the casual area put my feet on the table leaned back and closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Almost immediately my desk phone rand and the security guy said Mike, there are two guys here saying they were Virginia Tech asking if you would have a few minutes to talk. Another deep breath and I said put them on the elevator and I'll meet them on 4. I got to the elevator as the door opened and there stood Coach B and another guy who looked to be fit and in his early 59's. I shook hands with Coach B and was introduced to Coach Brian Geyer. Then I was shocked to hear that he was the new Linebacker Coach. I tried not to react and said, well let's go to my office. Once inside Coach B went outside and I followed and Geyer was looking at the wall. I was sure he was told that Coach wanted to talk privately with me. Coach wasted no time and said Mike, I wanted you two to meet before dinner. So Coach you want Coach Geyer to ride with me to the Club while you pick up the recruit, correct? Coach just shook his head and asked so what else. Well Coach is this recruit a linebacker? Mike he is a Junior inside backer. Well Coach, that must be Jason Cole, from Thomas Jefferson High School. Great size and nice guy. They have an outstanding coach but most of their top dudes go to Pitt. Mike, we are hoping you will help us change that. Oh , I invited JJ to dinner. There was a smile but no comment. Back inside Coach said Brian, Mike will be taking you to dinner, have a nice chat. I asked Coach Geyer to stay put and walked Coach B to the elevator. At the elevator we shook hands and Coach said Mike, I'm glad you invited JJ.
Back in my office I found Coach Geyer was sitting in one of the club chairs. I sat down and asked so Coach what brings you to the Hokies? He laughed and said well I was going to ask you that? Mike, I came from Duke and was the Linebacker Coach at Duke and I like the Hokies and especially Coach B. I have been coaching on various levels since my playing days at Yale. Mike, I have gone over absolutely everything we have on you. I know how smart you are and what you have done and I paid very close attention to you today and took special notice how you manipulated the press. Then there was you stiffing that young, very good looking reporter on her second question and I wondered why. So the only question I have is which of your three Country Clubs are you taking here to and is it dinner or lunch? I laughed out loud and said Coach, Lunch at South Hills.
Mike Coach says you have committed to us for 3 years, why is that? Well Coach, as on this moment I have almost enough credits for a semester and I haven't taken any AP tests yet and I will walk on Campus as a Sophomore. I simply don't see any reason to stay longer, I have already made that mistake by not graduating in January. Oh, so there is no misunderstanding I have no intention of playing Pro Football. Then Coach said Mike and all this and he waved his arm indication the building and I'm sure everything? Coach, I thought you took special notice to the Press Conference. Coach, I explained this more than once an hour or so ago. Mike, I'm not the enemy here and I did not make a lateral move from Duke because I had to get out of Dodge. I made the move because I believe in what Coach B is doing and because of your recruiting class. We might set a record for starting freshmen and redshirt freshmen next year and we will more than likely have our heads handed to us a good bit. The year after I feel we have a good shot at playing on New Years' day. You and I need to be on the same page and understand those goals. Mike, you especially as we have a number or recruits that are with us because we landed you. Mike, like you we won't sell out on everything to win and education matters. All I ask is that every time you find a need to push back please consider is it a hill the team is willing to die on. Your buddy Sean has figured that out and yet he gets his point across when necessary. Mike, there can't be winners and losers as the only choice is to win. We do that by working together all the time and not only when it is convenient.
Well that was quite a word salad and I'm sure once I sort through the rabbit food there is a message. As you noticed in my dealings with the Press I use words sparingly. But rather than do that let me tell you what to expect from me and then we can figure things out. I am in 100% to what I am doing at the moment. If it's a football game or practice, I'm all in. When I'm a student I'm 100% into that. I expect the people around me, coaches, professors, teammates, company executives and employees to put forth the same effort I do. I never shoot from the hip and only act after thinking. To the extent happens I am good. I don't drink Cool Aid, and I don't follow. My personal life is exactly that personal. I help more people, by a lot, than I ignore. I will defend anyone treated unjustly with all my resources. So Coach, you good with that? Mike, if I'm not? Coach, then one of us won't be on Campus very long. I want to play football, I don't need to play football. Please excuse me as I need to change my shirt for dinner. I got up opened a closet and took a shirt to the bathroom to change.
I returned tying my tie and Coach said Mike, you seem to compartmentalism things, what happens when things conflict? I shrugged and said, I try to deal with both but the most important thing got most of my attention. Coach, it isn't hard to multitask. Then I smiled and said well it's time we head out as it will take about an hour this time of day and we have to go through town. At security we both went through the same check and he liked my Mustang. The ride to the Club was very pleasant and we chatted football the entire way. I was more cautious than usual driving as I got the sense that Coach was paying attention to that. I don't know why but I was comfortable with the guy as he was able to turn things off and relax. That was odd for me as I haven't been totally comfortable with a coach since Junior High.
We pulled into the parking lot and were the first ones there. I didn't want to sit in the car and wait for others. I knew JJ knew the way inside and I figured that a Head Coach of a D1 school could find the way. Besides the main entrance was obvious. That was quickly resolved as Coach Geyer said Mike, Coach and Jason just pulled in. I looked and sure enough JJ was right behind them. JJ jumped out of his truck grabbed his blazer and when he turned around he stopped dead in his tracks. Then he laughed and said, damn we must be hard up for backers to be recruiting your ass. Everyone stopped and looked as JJ and Jason shook hands and pulled each other into a hug. We all just looked at each other. When that was all over JJ said guys, I'm sorry but I never expected to see Jason here. Then he shook hands with Coach B and said Coach, it's great to see you. Then Coach introduce Coach Geyer to JJ and Jason and we went inside. JJ and Jason talked the whole way in.
We were greeted by Clark, the manager, who said Good Evening Mr. Simmons, please follow me. Then he said, I almost forgot Mr. Palmer is here with his wife and he would like a word. I said thanks and we were seated with a view of the 9th green. I sat with my back to the view giving others a view that I had seen a hundred times. Once the drink orders were taken I excused y self and went to where AP was seated. I was asked to have a seat and then he said Mike the PGA is considering asking the Club to host their tournament. I shook my head and said, well the USGA isn't real happy with us over the darn bridge and I think that would further damage our relationship with them so I won't support that as a member here ot as a board member of the USGA. Mike, that's exactly how I feel, that was just a heads up. We shook hands and I commented on how nice Winnie Palmer looked and I was told he would stop by our table on their way out. I said thanks and returned to the table. Jason immediately asked Mike, is that who I think it is? I smiled and said they will stop and say hi, on their way out.
I simply picked up my menu and when I saw Alaskan Blackened Salmon and Wild Rice I was all set and listened to JJ sell Jason on VT. He was damn good and instead of giving flying lessons he should be in sales. The Coaches just let him go. Then JJ shocked the shit out of me when he said Jason, I bet you and your rents would like a private jet ride for an official visit. Hell, I'm betting Mike would be my copilot. I laughed, putting the menu down, and said well JJ as it's my plane you are offering up I expect to be in the left seat. JJ smiled and said whatever. The waiter came and it was Steaks all around with baked potatoes and a salad. Well except for me as it was , Wild Rice and a salad wedge. Coach Geyer looked at me and I said Coach, I sorted through enough salad earlier and I do like things compact. We both laughed and everyone looked but there was no explanation and I knew we were good. Jason looked at Coach B and asked if an official visit was on the table and Coach smiled and said Jay, if your parents are free tomorrow I would like to chat with them again and bring along an official offer. Coach both my parents are teachers and are home by 4:30 if that works for you. Jay, I'll make it work. The salads came and I said Coach, would you like a private flight back, JJ and I have time tomorrow for an down and up say wheels up at 6:30? Coach laughed and said Mike, that would be great. As we ate the salads, AP and his wife stopped over and introductions were made and after a short visit they were on their way. Jason was so excited and said he couldn't wait to tell his dad. As usual it was a great meal and with all the work done we finished eating and I noticed that Coach B held JJ back for a brief conservation. With that Jason and the two coached were on their way and JJ stopped at my car and said MJ, I'm betting you want to talk but I just want to swap some head. I'm betting both can happen, I'll see you at your place.
Thanks for reading and for the messages. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
PLEASE REMEMBER NIFTY, THEY NEED MORE THAN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION!