Whether you are new to Salt Lake City or have been around the town for awhile, it feels good to be connected. We introduced the Local Legend series in our June 2017 newsletter. Our idea of a local legend is a person who has had great impact on Salt Lake City. This person is not only well connected around the town but also has the inside scoop and does their part to positively impact the community.
We are honored to name Terry Marasco as our November Local Legend.
Terry Marasco is a serial entrepreneur, innovator, and community activist. He is the leader of Utah Clear Air Alliance and is on the board of Utah Moms for Clean Air. In the early days of internet commercial development, Terry was a senior customer contact consultant assisting banks and startups on getting online. He was noted for "Best Internet Customer Service" 1999 by Boston Globe (Pat Seybold) and mention by the New York Times. He has owned a motel, restaurant, a project management consultancy, his own wine brand, and 3 retail wines stores branded as T Marasco Selections. He has recently launched Virtual Sommelier (VS) - a personalized beverage (wine, beer, and spirits) and cheese shopper for Utah. Terry also contributes commentary for the Salt Lake Tribune. We asked Terry a few questions about his life, experiences, and thoughts on a few topics we thought area young professionals would find interesting.
1. What were you like in High school? Overweight kid with loads of confidence to be the first on the dance floor
2. How did you end up becoming an entrepreneur? Did you know in college what you are doing today is what you would be doing? My college years earned me 3 degrees in education, However when I was an intern with a large city superintendent, I realized bureaucratic life was not for me. Business pursuits ensued - hospitality. wine, realestate, internet customer service consultant during the early years of the internet and now 2 startups spressyrself.com and virtualsommelier.biz. In 1999 I was awarded best Internet Customer Service for eToys by the Boston Globe.
3. Who has had the biggest influence on your career path? When I was young I got a job with a family who owned retail stores, one was wine and spirits. They taught me the business and I applied their knowledge throughout my life.
4. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Bought a resort in rural NV and built a restaurant. Turned out to be very successful.
5. What are your current goals? 3 startups, the third in addition to above is a granola recipe I developed. Need to find a baker!!
6. What are you most proud of? I am not afraid to wash floors and clean toilets even as a CEO. I am 73 but can work with folks at any age. I am a community activist who has success at addressing air and water quality problems.
7. What do you see as the greatest strength of the Salt Lake Community? Youthful ebullience!
8. What do you see as the Salt Lake Community’s greatest needs? I think the use of cells in public builds walls between persona interaction possibilities in public. Seeing couples in restaurants working on their cells rather than personal face-to-face communication gives my Italian nature pause
9. How can young professionals get more involved in the community? Tackle problems directly. Sign petitions, go to rallies, VOTE, volunteer to assit the most vulnerable. I volunteer at the Metro jail mentoring inmates to get their GEDs.
PS my career counselor in high school suggested I skip college and go to trade school. Did not listen - 3 degrees
To learn more about Virtual Sommelier visit virtualsommelier.biz. To learn more about the Utah Clean Air Alliance visit utahcleanairalliance.org. Also keep an eye open for Salt Lake Tribune posts written by Terry.