Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mike Gagliardi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mike, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My Dad especially taught me the old school way of making relationships work. I can still hear him telling me : “Look people in the eye, give a firm handshake and always finish what you start. You make a commitment to do something – you do it.” My Mom taught me how to enjoy every day. To make a point of laughing every day, learn to laugh at yourself, and have empathy for those less fortunate.

They both grew up thru the depression, Dad was on a destroyer in the South Pacific. in WW2 and married my Mom on leave. Moms father lost everything in the crash of ‘29. She went from a huge house to a cracker box with her 4 siblings at that time. We have it pretty easy compared to what they endured as young Americans. They both taught me to be optimistic.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was a corporate headhunter in Chicago after getting out of college – had a blast! I learned how to hustle and to work with people. I was kind of a “zen” headhunter – not the full on pushy type – since I was working with peoples careers. Lived in Wrigleyville and after work, went thru that town with my wallet in one hand and a beer in the other.

Then I saw a snowboard in the windsurf shop around the corner from where I lived….blew my mind, and changed my life.

Got married – that board in the window became my wedding gift from my wife….we honeymooned in Breck and moved out to Colorado about 4 years later. I somehow went from being a VP in a headhunting firm running the insurance division to $6/hour running a woodshop in the Aggression Snowboards factory in Boulder. I knew I was going to get to know people in the industry and eventually become a salesperson, but now I was taking a break, having fun with the factory crew – we were all committed snowboarders – learning who was who and what was what, and snowboarding every Winter day I wasn’t chewing sawdust in the woodshop.

About 2 1/2 years in the factory, and we shut down and I was laid off – could collect unemployment. I started reaching out to companies – I got a few lines (commission so the unemployment wasn’t affected). I put an ad in the paper and tuned skis and snowboards in my basement. I also worked (under the table) at one of the best snowboard shops in town. I learned so much from the experienced reps that came in and joined the local rep association so I could disply at the shows.

I hustled…..got better lines. Never Summer, 686, Neff, Technine, Osiris, Counter Culture. Built up a rep agency that had 3 paid employees and a bunch of local pro riders and homies that would help us at events and demos. The business was fun and the fun was our business.

When my son went into high school I had a come to Jesus moment. The road was fun, and I had a lot of free time in the Summer with my son, but he was doing fall sports, and the road rep life doesn’t loan itself to making those moments. I amicably left the lines I had and went in house with Never Summer. This allowed me to make all his games, be around the house with my wife more, and stay in the industry I love.

I’ve been in house with Never Summer ever since. One of the long-term guys – there about 29 years if you count the years as an independent rep. Awarded a small stake in the company by the founder Tracey back about 10 years ago.

I’m still a fully committed snowboarder and love the product we make. We’re one of the only American manufacturers of snowboards, and our chief designer Tim came up with one of the most innovative and game changing snowboard profiles in the industry – Rocker/Camber – and we eventually received a patent on it. I helped refine it,….not many people can say that they tested snowboards as part of their job….what a blessing. We can come up with an idea on a Monday, build it by Wednesday, and ride it Thursday.

I get about 60-70 days a year and I’ve rode in a lot of different and amazing places. My favorite place to ride is still the one that’s closest to my place….Loveland. This business is still definitely work and long hours, but the rewards have been amazing.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I ALWAYS do what I say and say what I’ll do. I much prefer to tell you to your face if I’m going to do something that will affect your business with me. I don’t believe in subterfuge, and I don’t give any respect to bullies or fakes. I don’t have the time for that bullshit. Life’s too short and precious to put up with it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Broke my ankle skating a ramp right before Action Sports Retailer – big trade show in San Diego, and this was my first trade show with a new skate shoe vendor – Osiris. I literally did this 4 days before I was supposed to fly to San Diego. Casted up to my thigh (!) I went and did the show. I’ll never forget getting kudos from one of my fellow reps that surfs Mavricks…..this guy surfs waves 30 feet high and he’s telling me how much balls I have…..ha…hardly. I needed to show up and earn money and not flake on my new line.

Got back to Denver and doc was: “We don’t like the way it’s lined up. We’re gonna have to operate and put screws in there.” So 2 weeks after the first accident, they knocked me out, rebroke it and I woke up with 8 screws and a plate securing my ankle and a whole ton of pain.

Part of a board reps responsibilities after the sell in is supporting their product with clinics and shop visits. I found out I can do clinics, sales events, sample sales (with help – thanks Ceeks!) and demos standing on one leg. I did this at the absolute worst time as far as workload, but I only missed one demo (car troubles) and made the whole sweep through Colorado, Utah, New Mexico for shop visits and clinics, events and sales. As far as I’m concerned I came out stronger than ever. Took me 3 1/2 months but the first time back on a board there were tears of happiness. a few weeks later I was hitting jumps again. There was soreness, but I’m still riding and the soreness has gone away.

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