THE "R" IN RCMO

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PAUL:  So, Ryan, tell us about yourself.

RYAN:  I'm Ryan Serritella, and I am the Founder of RCMO media. I’m 41 years old. I've been married to my wife Erin for almost 15 years. We have a 12-year-old son, a 10-year-old daughter... and, a genetically engineered dog.

P:  Tell us about your background.

R:  Let’s see... as far back as I can remember, I've loved to create things. I'd see something and want to make it better. 

I got good grades, but school bored me to death. So, in high school, one of my teachers and I created an independent study so that I could learn to script, shoot and edit video. In my Senior year, I spent most of my time behind a video camera shooting and editing anything I could.

P:  So, you were a nerd. Then what?

R:  Ha! Well played.

I wanted to go to film school but was steered away from it. So, instead, I went to Providence College in Rhode Island. I was an undeclared major for two years. I was taking core classes and making Dean’s List. But, again, I got bored. I was going to school for school's sake.

Long story short, I came back to New York and enrolled at Siena College. I continued to struggle for another year. It was brutal. 

But then something awesome happened.  

P:  Do tell...

R:  I came across an ad for a paid internship in New York City with the Governor's Office of Motion Picture and Television Development. I applied. I interviewed. I got the job. And it totally changed my life. 

P:  How's that?

R:  I went from not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, to knowing exactly why I was put on Planet Earth.

On day one, I’m out scouting mansions for a Woody Allen movie. Then we're shutting down the Brooklyn Bridge for a scene in Zoolander. Then I'm looking for airports to shoot Catch Me If You Can. It was crazy.

P:  So, then what?

R:  In the year following the internship, I went back to Siena, made Dean’s List, started dating Erin, graduated, and went to work for FOX TV.

P:  Fast-forward 17 years, now what?

R:  For the last 17 years, I’ve been working in the advertising industry. I worked for FOX and ABC. Then I joined a national ad agency and worked my way up to Executive Vice President.  

P:  So why did you leave?

R:  I wasn't planning on it. I woke up one morning and knew it was time. 

P:  OK, but why?

R:  It just became obvious to me that the concept of the traditional advertising agency was becoming stale. And, unless you are mega, you can’t fulfill every need for your client.

You know me. I’m a client guy. I want my clients to be the best. I want to work with the best people in the industry. And, I want to bring all these assets together. It is very difficult to do that at a traditional agency.

So, I left and started RCMO media. 

P:  What is RCMO media?

R:  It's CMO for hire. We do expert level media consulting, buying, auditing and brand management.  

P:  Tell me more.

R:  In effect, we become your in-house Chief Marketing Officer. We weave ourselves into our client's businesses. The outsource model works great in the accounting sector, in HR and so on. But there was nothing like it in the advertising sector. Now there is... RCMO.

We step in and help shape the big idea. Then we execute the plan. We scrutinize everything. And we make it pay. Business owners hate thinking that they are being taken for a ride by media partners. We make sure that doesn't happen.

P:  Sounds good. Any final thoughts?

R:  Help me… help you. 

P:  Lunch?

R:  Let’s go.  

- Paul Hogan is a serial entrepreneur, SportClips franchisee, Ryan's friend, mentor, and all-around great guy.