Crains New York - June 3, 2013 - (Page 7)

60% BUSINESS PEOPLE Portion of job seekers in Class of ’13 grad business programs who’d received an offer by March Source: Graduate Management Admission Council EXECUTIVE MOVES buck ennis BOX SET: Operating a moving business has given Christian Gibbs the freedom to put out a dozen albums of his own songs. GOTHAM GIGS Moving to the music How Christian Gibbs’ business saved his career During a gig on Broadway, he ran his company from a dressing room There are many contenders for the title of hardest-working man in show business, but it’s the rare singer-songwriter who has his own moving company. Wooly Mammoth Movers helps 44-year-old Christian Gibbs keep body and soul together, and also go on recording and touring despite the demands of raising a family and the ups and downs of the music industry. ¶ “I was just a man with a van,” said the Brooklyn dad, recalling the days two decades ago when he started his business. “Then it grew into more.” ¶ The company was born of necessity. A deal with Atlantic Records in the late 1990s gave Mr. Gibbs a six-figure advance that he lived on for three years in Los Angeles. But he parted ways with Atlantic after the album 29 Over Me came out in 1999 and didn’t do the kind of business a major label likes to see. ¶ “I’d gotten cocky in the past,” Mr. Gibbs said. “I stopped being cocky when I realized how volatile the music business is.” ¶ He returned to New York—and revived the moving company, which he found gave him both the money and freedom to go on performing. ¶ When he landed on Broadway a few years ago, playing guitar and keyboards for the rock musical Passing Strange, he managed his moving business from his dressing room between acts and during his weekly day off. Instead of recording an album with the money he made, he bought a Sprinter van that’s big enough to move people leaving small apartments, who form the largest portion of his clientele. ¶ Over the years, he has put out a dozen albums of his material, which ranges from indie rock to the all-acoustic Sleep the Machines, released in March on his own label, Eastern Spurs. ¶ “Responsibility gives you freedom,” he said of his dual career, “if you do it the right way.” —matthew flamm Branderati: Ekaterina Walter, 36, joined the marketing company as a partner and chief marketing officer. She was previously senior social-media strategist and innovator at Intel. Reputation Institute: Jonathan Ewert, 49, joined the corporate-reputation advisory company as chief executive, a newly created position. He was previously entrepreneur in residence at Catalyst Investors. Viggle: Christopher Traynor, 43, joined the second-screen media platform as chief technology officer. He was previously chief architect and group chief technology officer at IPC Inc. Urban Land Institute: Felix A. Ciampa, 46, joined the nonprofit as executive director of its New York District Council. He was previously deputy commissioner of policy and external affairs at the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Schechter Wealth Strategies: Robert Langer, 47, joined the financial advisory company as managing director. He was previously managing director at BTIG. Campfire: Sascha Uzzell, 38, joined the marketing agency as director of accounts. She was previously vice president and senior director at Safari Sundays in New York. Nick Braccia, 37, joined as creative director. He was previously group creative director at G2 USA. Publicitas USA: Tal Salomon, 46, joined the media sales company as international account director. He was previously vice president of sales and business development at Instadium Inc. Andrew Yaguda, 26, joined as digital sales manager. He was previously an account executive at Observer Media Group. The Madison Square Garden Co.: Ron Skotarczak, 42, was promoted to executive vice president of marketing partnerships at the sports, media and entertainment company. He was previously senior vice president of marketing partnerships at MSG Sports. Nickelodeon: Dion Vlachos, 44, joined the media company as senior vice president of retail sales and marketing. He was previously vice president of franchise development and global marketing at Disney Publishing Worldwide. Comedy Central: Jason Shafton, 29, joined the entertainment and media company as vice president of brand marketing. He was previously head of play product and social marketing at Google. —eva saviano June 3, 2013 | Crain’s New York Business | 7

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - June 3, 2013

Crains New York - June 3, 2013
IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
THE INSIDER
BUSINESS PEOPLE
REAL ESTATE DEALS
OPINION
GREG DAVID
FOR THE RECORD
TOP ENTREPRENEURS
CLASSIFIEDS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
SOURCE COFFEE
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crains New York - June 3, 2013