Page 18 - Executive Warfare

Acknowledgments

years, somehow finds the patience to deal with my idiosyncrasies. My
assistant, Antoniette Ricci, somehow perseveres through the hectic pace
of my life. Amy Hinson is a rare person. She read and reread every word
and helped make this book fresher and more contemporary. And where
would any author be without a great lawyer like Ike Williams? Mary
Glenn, my editor, continues to have faith in Michele and me. She chal-
lenges us to keep on point and rise above our previous works.
I also need to thank some of the people I have worked with who taught
me by allowing me to watch them in action. I don’t believe they would all
agree with every one of my interpretations and lessons learned, but with-
out them, I would still be working in my family’s delicatessen. Among the
most notable are Bob Kleinert, Jack Connors, Jack McElwee, Jim Morton,
Steve Brown, Bill Boyan, Mike Bell, Alan Einersen, Bob Marston, and Bob
Muir. Then there are the unnamed ones I never liked but learned from
anyway.
There are two men, coincidentally both named Dominic D’Alessandro,
who deserve my gratitude. My father showed me that the path to success
is never straight or predictable—but perseverance has its own reward. The
other Dominic, CEO of Manulife Financial, who I am not related to, gave
new meaning to the creed “be a man of your word.” Now, no person in
their right mind thanks his father and not his mother. Rosemary taught
me the value of listening carefully and being direct when necessary—even
if it caused confrontation.
Lastly, I am grateful to the thousands of characters I have met who,
through their brilliance, stupidity, selflessness, greed, honesty, or deceit,
wove the fabric of this book.

xvi