This is Part 2, and the final video of my conversation with Umberto Crenca, Bert, from AS220. One thing missing from my videos of my time spent with Bert, was our conversing about his music. Bert and his wife and friends also like making music together in a group called Monkey Head. While meandering around his music studio Bert played a couple of his instruments for us. I am sure that if Bert and his band put some energy into it, and acquired some roadies, they will be back on track with their music.
I am very honored to have had the time I spent with Bert to learn about his heart for artists, for humanity, and most poignantly for community. Visit Bert’s website here: Bert’s website to stay in touch with what Bert is doing. I am sure many thousands of people who have benefitted from Bert’s passion come to life at AS220 will be cheering for him on his personal journey now. Bert shows his work at various locations in the New England area. Check out his website to find where he will be showing at a gallery near you. Thank you Bert!
Click the link below to view the video:
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. If you have a story that could inspire others if only it were told, please contact me through my website at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com so that it may be considered. If your story is chosen, I will feature you on my blog and YouTube channel as well as my website. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sarah Hale Folger is a lifestyle blogger, 50+ model, entrepreneur, photographer, artist, singer, interviewer, marketer, seeker of epic moments, determined to continue checking things off her Bucket list and she can be a spokesperson for your business as well. If you would like your clothing, jewelry or businesses branded by a woman who knows how to brand and market, please contact Sarah at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com
What a delight it was for me to converse with the one and only Bert Crenca! This video took a little longer to complete than expected, but here we are. We had enough material for a few more parts, but cut to the heart of the matter in a 2 part series. We are sure to be checking in on Bert down the road. We have posted part 1 on YouTube today. I hope you will take the time to view this and I welcome your comments and feedback. Was this interesting to you? Were you inspired to unleash the creative interests in your soul? I hope so! I would love to hear from you.
Click the link below to see the video:
And please subscribe to my Youtube channel as well as this blog! Stay tuned for part 2 which will be released this Sunday, July 9th. Stay tuned, we have many guests coming who I am sure will inspire you.
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. If you have a story that could inspire others if only it were told, please contact me through my website at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com so that it may be considered. If your story is chosen, I will feature you on my blog and YouTube channel as well as my website. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sarah Hale Folger is a lifestyle blogger, 50+ model, entrepreneur, photographer, artist, singer, interviewer, marketer, seeker of epic moments, determined to continue checking things off her Bucket list and she can be a spokesperson for your business as well. If you would like your clothing, jewelry or businesses branded by a woman who knows how to brand and market, please contact Sarah at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com
My concluding remarks to my interview with Giovanni Feroce for the SHF Project + link to the videos!
LINKS TO THE VIDEOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
Hey Friends, as I stated in my last blog, once I got my video interview completed with Giovanni Feroce, I would create a video post for my subscribers. So here it is.
For those who don’t know Mr. Feroce, he was the past CEO of Alex and Ani, a very successful jewelry company based here in Rhode Island. Under Feroce’s leadership, he took the company from a 2.2 million dollar company to $230,000,000.00 in three years, and now is the CEO of Benrus Corporation. For me, interviewing Mr. Feroce was a great experience, because after reading countless articles and watching interviews about his successes and failures, I still had no idea who he was, and that’s what I was seeking to know. How did a man with such a humble background get to where he is today? To me, that’s real the story.
Not only did he prove to be engaging, attentive, and informative, he helped me learn about his upbringing, his family, and the traits necessary to possess in order to achieve success on a large scale. To all you budding entrepreneurs seeking to fly high, I promise you will get insights into his world that will help as you seek your own successes.
Sometimes we all need people to inspire us to dig deeper, and Giovanni does just that. Thank you Giovanni for your generous contribution to my think tank, it will fuel me for a long time!
I’m also excited to see how his new venture Benrus.com will grow. The fact that Giovanni intends to make his products tie to something meaningful is something I’ve always believe in. He is a sentimental guy, and it reflects in his strategy to take this company to new heights.
So as I always say after all my videos….Enjoy! Oh yea, please subscribe to my blog, my YouTube Page, and visit my website.
And while on my website, please check out my marketing page. We would love to work with you. Thanks! SHF
TO ACCESS THE VIDEOS PLEASE CLICK HERE
All three are on my YouTube Page because they are too big for the blog. While there, please subscribe to my YouTube Page for future updates.
The Sarah Hale Folger Project will seek to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. If you have a story that could inspire others if only it were told, please contact me through my website at www.SarahHaleFolger.com so that it may be considered. If your story is chosen, I will feature you on my blog and YouTube channel as well as my website. I look forward to hearing from you!
Please feel free to comment and share and please subscribe as well. Please also visit my YouTube page, Sarah Hale Folger
Sarah Hale Folger is a lifestyle blogger, 50+ model, entrepreneur, photographer, artist, singer, interviewer, marketer, seeker of epic moments, determined to continue checking things off her Bucket list and she can be a spokesperson for your business as well. If you would like your clothing, jewelry or businesses branded by a woman who knows how to brand and market, please contact Sarah at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com
So Folks, we have posted the first of a 3 part series on YouTube today with Mr. Giovanni Feroce. I hope you will take the time to view this and I welcome your comments and feedback. Was this interesting to you? Did you gain any insight or wisdom into his life or even inspiration for your own pursuits? Quite frankly, I think we all have our stories to tell and our gifts to offer the world. What’s your story? I want to hear it!
Click the link below to see the video:
Sarah Hale Folger Project: Interview with Mr. Giovanni Feroce-Part 1
And please subscribe to my Youtube channel as well as this blog! Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 to be coming out tomorrow and Friday. And soon you will see the video of my interview with the amazing Mr. Bert Crenca! Stay tuned, we have many guests coming who I am sure will inspire you. And as always, if you have an inspiring story which needs to be told, contact me at contact@sarahhalefolger.com or through my website at: Visit my website
www.sarahhalefolger.com
This video is being created for my Sarah Hale Folger Project. I will be having conversations with many interesting, inspiring people along the way and creating them into videos for my soon coming YouTube show. The Sarah Hale Folger Project will seek to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. If you have a story that could inspire others if only it were told, please contact me through my website at www.SarahHaleFolger.com so that it may be considered. If your story is chosen, I will feature you on my blog and YouTube channel as well as my website. I look forward to hearing from you!
Please feel free to comment and share and please subscribe as well. Please also visit my YouTube page, Sarah Hale Folger
Sarah Hale Folger is a lifestyle blogger, 50+ model, entrepreneur, photographer, artist, singer, interviewer, marketer, seeker of epic moments, determined to continue checking things off her Bucket list and she can be a spokesperson for your business as well. If you would like your clothing, jewelry or businesses branded by a woman who knows how to brand and market, please contact Sarah at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com
This blog is a prelude to the upcoming video interview with Giovanni Feroce for the Sarah Hale Folger Project. Please subscribe to MY BLOG & Visit my website for updates at www.SarahHaleFolger.com
I had an incredibly insightful conversation on a beautiful afternoon as I sat down for a one on one with Giovanni Feroce for The Sarah Hale Folger Project. Like many people, I have read about his accomplishments and successes, especially in my home state of Rhode Island, where as the CEO of Alex & Ani, his leadership helped grow the company from $2.3 million in annual revenue to $230 million in 3 years. I don’t know about you, but I wanted to get into the complex mind of Mr. Giovanni Feroce.
Feroce’s new venture as CEO of Benrus Corporation, which is a lifestyle brand with wristwatches as the core element, has drawn a lot of attention. Where others saw only the decline of a once-dominant American manufacturing legend, Giovanni saw an opportunity. He purchased the BENRUS name and has transformed the company into a military-inspired lifestyle brand. However, Mr. Feroce has received some unfavorable press. Knowing that one way seems right until you hear the other side, I wanted to tap into that subject. I wondered: how does someone like Giovanni Feroce navigate this media crisis, or any other crisis? Soon you will find out in his own words.
But there was so much more I wanted to know. How does someone become wildly successful? How does he mesh his military, political, and business skills together to achieve success? I wanted the scoop on that! So my first question was, Who is Giovanni Feroce?
In my video interview coming out soon, you will hear personal stories from Giovanni about how he views the world from a business, political, military, and personal perspective. I believed this was a very honest and real glimpse into his life.
Personally, I am impressed by those who have the tenacity to go after their dreams and visions regardless of risk and whatever people might think. Rhode Island has its share of movers and shakers, and Mr. Feroce certainly stands amongst them. Being somewhat of a strategic thinker myself, and having read many books on how military tactics translate into business practices, I found myself sitting with someone who has done this in real life, not just in theory. I was eager to find out how having been in the military, as well as politics and business, formed Giovanni’s thinking. And you will find out in the upcoming video.
I am a big believer in the power of our thoughts and how they affect our own success or failure. What we believe we can or cannot do, determines if we will or will not succeed. The ones who fearlessly press through life’s obstacles to achieve major success, therefore, are rare. In fact, it seems to me the majority of people will never risk leaving their comfort zone to try to reach for their dreams. Something always seems to trip people up and they give up before they reach their goals. I know, because I have done this to myself at times in my life. This is why I am so intrigued by someone who does not stop himself from moving forward towards success. What can we learn from this man’s life to inspire us to reach our own full potential? It can be hard to relate to someone who does achieve his goals. Some may think it’s luck when someone meets with accomplishment. Nothing sums this up better than a quote from a book written by James Allen entitled As a Man Thinketh:
“The thoughtless, the ignorant, and indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of law, of fortune, and chance. Seeing a man grow rich, they say, ‘How lucky he is!’ Observing another become intellectual they exclaim, ‘How highly favored he is!’ And noting the saintly character and wide influence of another, they remark, ‘How chance aids him at every turn!’ They don’t see the trials and failures and the struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience; have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realize the vision of their heart. They do not know the darkness and the heart aches; they only see the light and the Joy, and they call it ‘luck’; do not see the longing arduous journey, but only behold the pleasant goal, and call it ‘good fortune’; do not understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it ‘chance’.”
I think this quote, however harshly worded at first, speaks to the great sacrifices and hardships one must go through to be highly successful. I suppose the good ones can make it look easy.
What I perceive to be the key ingredient to Giovanni’s success is his 100% RISK tolerance. Where most will assess and walk away, he accepts the challenge and has the strength to believe in himself to get the job done even if the stakes are high. Paraphrasing his words, “If I ever ended up with just a bottle of water and $7.00, I would be okay, I would just move on and start over again.”
Another thing I learned about Giovanni is that he mentors others in their personal quests. I got the feeling from my own encounter with Giovanni, that I was just as important in my quests as he is with his own. To me, that is respect and honor.
When the video comes out you will hear, in Mr. Feroce’s own words, his advice for entrepreneurs, learn of some of his personal insights into life, and you will hear how he navigates his own troubled waters dealing with the issues and concerns associated with his business life. It’s a true mark of an individual how he or she deals with the bumps in the road. Does he react or respond? You be the judge. For my part, I listened and learned.
I feel as though there are few people in the world who actually get to be in a position to affect the world on a large scale. I love it when those people take the time to share their knowledge with the rest of us. It’s a true mark of good character to be a giver of time, and this was certainly the case with Mr. Feroce. I get the feeling that his love of his family, his love of his country, his ambition in business, and his undying passion to do whatever it takes no matter in good times or bad, has truly inspired me and will certainly be enlightening to you as well. Be on the lookout for the up-coming video.
I’ll end this blog with words I have heard him share from an old professor of his: Three questions you must ask yourself to get to the next level in achieving your life purpose:
- Who are you?
- What do you want to do with your life?
- Who do you want to do it with?
And he added another nugget, which you will have to wait to hear in the video!
This video is being created for my Sarah Hale Folger Project. I will be having conversations with many interesting, inspiring people along the way and creating them into videos for my soon coming YouTube show. The Sarah Hale Folger Project will seek to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. If you have a story that could inspire others if only it were told, please contact me through my website at www.SarahHaleFolger.com so that it may be considered. If your story is chosen, I will feature you on my blog and YouTube channel as well as my website. I look forward to hearing from you!
Please feel free to comment and share and please subscribe as well. Please also visit my YouTube page, Sarah Hale Folger
Sarah Hale Folger is a lifestyle blogger, 50+ model, entrepreneur, photographer, artist, singer, interviewer, marketer, seeker of epic moments, determined to continue checking things off her Bucket list and she can be a spokesperson for your business as well. If you would like your clothing, jewelry or businesses branded by a woman who knows how to brand and market, please contact Sarah at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com
If you live in RI and are seeking a photographer I highly recommend John (http://www.johnpitocco.com/Welcome.html). I have known him for 7 years and have had the pleasure of working with him on a number of projects.
The key to any successful shoot is first and foremost being comfortable in your own skin. It’s important to have your head in the game and to enjoy the process.
It’s always great when you can work with someone who you feel comfortable with. It’s not always possible especially if you are hired for a job and have never even met the photographer. So once again, I find it is up to me to be in a happy place no matter who the photographer is.
Everyone sees the world differently. It is up to me as a model to help bring about the vision of the shoot. Every shoot should tell a story, every picture should have interesting value to it.
There is something special about Providence. The history is rich, the culture is varied, and the hope of it’s future is in the hearts and minds of those who would take interest in preserving and enhancing it’s greatest features.
Fine art photographers have an eye for the beauty in the broken parts of a city. Leave it to the artists to make something beautiful out of something that has fallen into rubble.
I am a woman who values my part in this state, in this community. For my part I have almost entirely dedicated my life to my family and to the creative and performing arts.
I can remember when the city looked nothing like this. It’s up to those who love her to make her shine in the eyes of the world. Rhode Island has many points of destination for visitors. South County and the beaches are spectacular and many come to spend time there. But equally as important is the city of Providence, rich with it’s universities and museums, it’s restaurants and it’s night life. Can anyone remember Providence without Waterfire? It’s part of who we are now.
My hope is that many more of us will make our creative mark in this state. It’s a very expensive state to live in for a variety of reasons, more so than almost any other state. This is the hard part on all of us, I am sure. Lots to think about as I look through the photos and think of this place.
I am originally from Cincinnati and have lived in Colorado and Massachusetts and even a moment in Texas. I have lived here now for more than 30 years, so I am officially a Rhode Islander. I love traveling but I love coming home as well. And I enjoy the people I get to work with. I think a lot of people I know have a vision for this state. I ponder all these things I do, and my many life experiences and I remain hopeful for the future.
Please feel free to comment and share and please subscribe as well. Please also visit my YouTube page, Sarah Hale Folger
Sarah Hale Folger is a lifestyle blogger, 50+ model, entrepreneur, photographer, artist, singer, interviewer, marketer, seeker of epic moments, determined to continue checking things off her Bucket list and she can be a spokesperson for your business as well. If you would like your clothing, jewelry or businesses branded by a woman who knows how to brand and market, please contact Sarah at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com
Who is Bert Crenca? He is an amazing man who has changed the culture in Providence for over 30 years. Bert is an artist and also the founder of AS220, a non-profit arts organization located in Providence that has enriched the lives of many over the years. The fascinating story of AS220 is currently being created into a documentary film and you can visit their website for more information on this ground breaking non-profit at https://as220.org/ But although we discussed Bert’s role in the creation of AS220, it was not the purpose of my interview. I wanted to hear much more, I wanted to hear the story of Bert’s life and what has made him become who he is. I wanted to know what was coming next for him now that he has retired from AS200 leaving a legacy behind him.
I met Bert at his studio with my crew and we spent the better part of two hours just living in the moment while Bert shared his intimate thoughts on life, the role art plays in community, stories about his incredible life, and the time just flew by. Bert’s heart was so big, and it had room for all of us.
I can’t wait until the video is edited and we get it up on my YouTube page (Sarah Hale Folger) As I told Bert, I am on my own new adventure and although I have several interviews lined up, I was hoping in my heart that he would be the first for my new video show “The Sarah Hale Folger Project.” I have followed the story of AS220 for over 25 years and I have felt a kinship with Bert in so many ways as our paths were on similar tracts so often. It only seemed right that someone whose work I have admired for so long should be my first interview for my new show.
It became apparent that Bert’s art will play a major role in his life moving forward. Bert has won awards and been invited to the White House to speak based on his work at AS220. Bert has also given a TED Talk. Here is the link to the YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD-T4LIddtE
And there is another thing Bert and I share, our love for creating music. Bert has a group called Monkee Head which I hope to hear at some point soon!!
As we bounced around from room to room we ended up at Bert’s wife’s studio (her name is Susan Clausen) and she is just as creative as Bert and the two of them continue to be a dynamic duo in both the fine arts and through their music.
What I found most incredible about Bert was his humanity. Bert is a man trying to make a difference in the world and I believe he is succeeding.
Bert’s quest to create peace and harmony in a world gone mad is incredibly inspiring!
In Bert’s retirement from AS220 one of his future quests is to take the time to showcase his art in a one man show somewhere in New England. Right now he is completing a series to go in downtown Providence. With this series, Bert hopes to inspire people to hold on to the value of the human soul. Bert also has a political side to him as an advocate for arts and culture. His philosophical view of the world is ever striving to find ways to create space for people to be happy and free.
We haven’t heard the last of Bert, in fact, this is a new beginning and I am pretty sure that even Bert has no idea what’s coming in his future. Just like when he spoke out over 30 years ago in favor of artists having space to create and grow and thrive, I am sure that he will stumble upon something unexpected that will bring inspiration to many.
Mostly, for my part, I want to see his art speak. He is a fighter for justice and freedom. I hope karma gives back abundantly to him as he follows his heart.
Be on the look out for the video featuring Bert coming soon on the Sarah Hale Folger Project. www.SarahHaleFolger.com
This video is being created for my Sarah Hale Folger Project. I will be having conversations with many interesting, inspiring people along the way and creating them into videos for my soon coming YouTube show (YouTube Page). The Sarah Hale Folger Project will seek to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. If you have a story that could inspire others if only it were told, please contact me through my website atwww.SarahHaleFolger.com so that it may be considered. If your story is chosen, I will feature you on my blog and YouTube channel as well as my website. I look forward to hearing from you!
Please feel free to comment and share and please subscribe as well. Please also visit my YouTube page, Sarah Hale Folger
Sarah Hale Folger is a lifestyle blogger, 50+ model, entrepreneur, photographer, artist, singer, interviewer, marketer, seeker of epic moments, determined to continue checking things off her Bucket list and she can be a spokesperson for your business as well. If you would like your clothing, jewelry or businesses branded by a woman who knows how to brand and market, please contact Sarah at http://www.SarahHaleFolger.com
