Joe Whitaker and Ron Yukelson talk cars - Hot Wheel Cars.
Before SCORE volunteer Joe Whitaker retired, he was a marketing pro with Mattel Toys (where he met and worked with the late Tom Martin. There’s a whole side story to all of that, but that’s not today’s focus.) Today we’re talking about Joe’s smokin’ claim to fame as the original brand manager / marketing whiz for Mattel Toy’s Hot Wheels (launched in 1968). Enter Ron Yukelson, business development director at Sierra Vista and a guy who nabbed his brother’s original collection of Hot Wheels when said brother lost interest. Ron has lovingly cared for the collection all these years, and, when he learned that Car Guy Joe lived locally, just had to talk toys. As might be expected, Ron found Joe and lunch, car stories and marketing tales followed. And you thought Barbie’s 50th was big … In speaking of the good people of SCORE, they are hosting a workshop to help jump-start business plans. One-on-one counseling and other benefits for attendees on Sept. 21 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. No charge. 547-0779 … The Central Coast Women’s Network is sponsoring a “How I Did It” forum on Thursday, Sept. 23, featuring a panel of local successful women, including two special BCA pals: Susan Mullen of Pacific Energy and Hillary Trout of Longcrier Associates. The program runs 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Steynberg Gallery on Monterey in SLO … The Human Resources Association of the Central Coast hosts its Annual Professional Development Conference on Oct. 21 at SLO Embassy Suites. With a theme of “Rebounding in Today’s Economic Times,” interest is sure to be strong. Sign up at www.HRACC.net.
