BOYS & GIRLS CLUB HONORS
LOCAL HERO MACK RUCKMAN

From St. Marys to the global scene, Mack Ruckman has made an impact on the world of finance, media and entertainment. As a result of his achievements, he will be honored as the 2008 Local Hero during the annual Local Heroes Steak Dinner, sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club of Pleasants County. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday, March 7, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Marys Marina building. The program will feature remarks by Ruckman as well as the 2008 local Youth of the Year. Keystone Club president Logan Venderlic will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening.

Mack Ruckman, President of GRN of Bronxville, has spent his entire career representing and advising companies. His unique capabilities and leadership has positioned him in senior executive positions in banking and at Time Warner Inc. Having served on both sides of the table, he possesses a unique ability for successful negotiations and has learned a great deal about people. Mack’s passion throughout his career for recruiting, hiring and coaching talented people, combined with his desire to run his own organization, has led him to Global Recruiters Network.

The Time Inc. / Warner Communications merger served as Ruckman’s emergence into the corporate arena. In January 1990, he was named Vice President and Treasurer of the new Time Warner Inc. He assumed direct responsibility for all investment banking and banking relationships. This entailed the overall financing of the corporation and its subsidiaries. Other areas under his leadership and direction included all rating agency matters, foreign exchange, cash management and pension plans. His business acuity and interpersonal skills landed him corporate liaison with Time Warner’s strategic Preferred Partners: Itochu Corp., Toshiba and Advance Newhouse Communications.

Prior to this position, Mr. Ruckman served 14 years at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company. As Vice President and District Manager, Ruckman was responsible for the Time-Life Corporate Banking Office. This office maintained a loan portfolio in excess of $3.5 billion and a staff of 45. His tenure allowed him to emerge as a creative leader in an industry just ready to blitz the American market. Mack developed the strategic plan for a Media Brokerage Business and was instrumental in forming Manny Hanny’s Media Group. Other duties for the bank included the Administrative Officer for the Metropolitan Division, as well as teaching corporate finance and credit analysis in MHT’s management training program.

More recently, Mack held senior positions at two other financial institutions. In September 2001, he assumed the title of Senior Vice President/ Group Head, Technology, Media and Telecommunications at HSBC USA. He developed HSBC’s presence in the TMT sector in the U.S. The group achieved $ 30 million in new business fees in its first year, $ 10 million over target. Similarly, in September 2004, WestLB AG recruited him as Executive Director, Media and Entertainment for North America. As a German bank, WestLB engaged Ruckman to develop media relationships. His strategy was to enhance WestLB’s presence in the Media and Entertainment sectors.

An alumnus of St. Marys High School, Ruckman graduated from West Virginia University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance. Notable also is that he received a four year athletic scholarship for football. In 1976, he was awarded his MBA from Fordham University. Mack retired from the U.S. Army Reserve with the rank of Captain. He lives in Bronxville, New York with his wife, Ginger. They have three sons and one daughter.

Tickets for the evening are now available through the Boys & Girls Club office. Individual tickets are $60 per person, while small tables seating four are $400 each and large tables seating six are $500. Club members will be seated at each table to offer information about the Club and their experiences at it. Tickets and tables for the event may be purchased by calling the Club at 684-7643 and asking for Kristi, or by contacting any of the Club’s Board of Directors.