The news of former NSCA President Randy Vaughan passing away has left us all in a state of mourning, feeling empty and sad. He leaves behind a great family of whom he was so proud. I’ve been flooded with calls and letters sharing stories of the affect he made on the lives of those whom he employed, educated and groomed.
NSCA is privileged to honor Randy with an education scholarship in his name. Continuing education and being a lifelong learner were important to him. At our upcoming Business & Leadership Conference in February, we will announce the details of the Vaughan Scholarship program. As a former NSCA Educator of the Year and Education Committee Chairman, Randy would be so pleased for us to remember him in this way.
I’ve been thinking about other ways to remember Randy on a more personal level and, as such, I’ve asked to teach his class at the upcoming InfoComm show in June. I can already envision him looking down on me with that grin he has as I struggle to teach anywhere close to his level. Nevertheless, I will work hard to prepare for and deliver the course in the same fashion he always did. It’s about what sales professionals new to our industry need to know to be successful.
To my knowledge, Randy accomplished something no one else had done. He served on both the NSCA and CEDIA boards at the same time and was elected to serve as the chairman of each board. As you think about that, imagine the time commitment it takes to go through the various officer positions to accomplish this. But, well beyond that, think about the respect he earned from the leadership of two different industry segments.
I remember so many things about Randy, but one of my favorites is the first time we went to dinner. That night was my first lesson on the difference between eating and dining. Over the years, we managed to compromise some, but along the way, I gained a much higher appreciation for taking the necessary amount of time to enjoy dinner properly.
For a guy who may not have even owned a pair of socks, he sure did well in life as he did in business. There are many lessons (beyond his sales and marketing skills) we can take away from knowing him. The best one, I believe, is how he managed to balance work, play and family time. In that category, he was the master. Our industry and his friends are indeed going to miss him.
-CW