Personality+: David Goodwin, Pitcher Perfect

By Cara Sievers

David Goodwin, principal and co-founder of master agency Advanced Technology Consulting Inc. (ATC), started playing baseball as soon as he could throw a ball and swing a bat, and he was on an organized team as soon as he was old enough. Little did he know then that one day he would have a baseball card with his own mug on it.

After lettering in baseball all four years of high school, David played at Xavier University in Ohio. When David was 21 years old, he became the ninth player selected by the Chicago Cubs in the June 1988 draft. He reported a few weeks later to the Mesa, Ariz., summer camp and got his team assignment in the minor league system, and he played the rest of that summer in Geneva, N.Y. After the next year’s spring training, he ended up in Charleston, W.V. David decided to leave after that season when the Cubs’ minor league director, who was instrumental in picking him in the draft, moved on.

This pitcher admits that the major leagues were always the goal, but nothing could replace the experiences he had with his teammates, the competition, the fans and traveling to so many cities he had never seen before. But, “the money would have been way better,” David joked.

Today, David is the head coach of a team of 14-year-olds in the Southwest Ohio League of the American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC). His team is at the highest of three levels in the league, due no doubt in part to his competitive drive. “I really enjoy my family, our friends and participating in sports and games,” said David. “I have been known to make a wager or two with friends when competing in games and sports.”

In addition to his baseball activities, David plays basketball and golf and is a big fan of football. And when he’s not coaching, David spends time with his daughters, Cassie and Grace, and his son, Trey, who is on the team he coaches. “God also blessed him with a good arm,” David said.

Of course David happily balances sports with the telecom business. Through a recruiter, David was hired in 1990 by Cable & Wireless, where he worked in various levels of sales and management until 1999, when he launched ATC with fellow Cable & Wireless alum, Darren J. DeMartino. Today, the master agent, dually headquartered in Ohio and Connecticut, has relationships with more than 50 service providers.

“Baseball is much like a business — you have people in your corner and others that aren’t, there are politics just like anywhere else and the higher-ups are looking to get a good return for those that they have invested the most in,” explained David. He said baseball, and sports in general, “teach you a lot about hard work, perseverance, tenacity, team goals, individual goals, winning and losing. In my 19 years of sales and management in telecom, I have needed all of those qualities.”

First job: At a car wash in Indianapolis. “I have always liked cars and I like mine clean,” said David.

Superfan status: David is a huge fan of Xavier basketball (his alma mater), Ohio State football, the Indianapolis Colts and whoever is playing in the College World Series.

Words to live by: “1. A rising tide lifts all boats; 2. Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered; 3. Nothing ventured, nothing gained; and 4. Do the right thing!”

Thoughts on telecom: “I think right now you have to be well-versed in wireless, SaaS and VoIP if you are going to sustain strong future growth. With the economy the way it is, it is wise to be diversified with providers and services.”

Do you know someone who has Personality+? We’re looking for interesting characters in telecom to take the spotlight! Please send nominations to Cara Sievers at [email protected].