Comments on: Killing Phil Schieber

by: Mack Simpson

Tue, 19 May 2009 23:36:00 +0000

That just makes me sad; I loved that couch.

by: BillyBob

Tue, 19 May 2009 22:26:30 +0000

I used to freelance a bit for Berry Brown. It had been a couple years since the last assignment when I heard about its closing. I cannot even imagine losing a job like BB employees did.

But from a purely auction buyers’ point of view, it was a great liquidation. New macintoshes that hadn’t even been booted up yet; tons of software in shrinkwrap; excellent furniture and fixtures. I ended up buying the leather couch from Jim’s office and had it for about 5 years before my family wore it out. Now an Iraq war veteran has it.

by: Terrill

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:29:52 +0000

Does anyone know what happened to Bob Berry? I spent a lot of time with his family when I was young and had a lot of great times at Bob’s house. I heard he had sold the company but I lost touch with him and his family. I did hear a wild story that he married some woman and moved to Kerrville, TX and she took all his money.

If anyone has any info on his where he might be let me know…
email: terrillific@gmail.com

by: Jim T

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:12:54 +0000

Makethelogobigger is right: “It really is so hard to know what shit is going on behind closed doors with management…”

Dad’s small company was old & profitable but small, and when in economic downturn the bank decided to reduce its exposure by immediately reducing (to one half) corporate lines of credit, the firm faced bankruptcy - a liquidity crisis induced by the bank. Given litterally no time to find replacement lines of credit - the bank officer announced the credit cut by presenting receivership papers in person - the owner excused himself, stepped next door, and did a Phil, knowing his life insurance would cover his line of credit and ensure the company, and 65 jobs, survived.

Point is, I guess, decisions at the top - good or bad - carry a lot of implications & therefore, responsibility. Not everyone wears it well or wisely, but the buck does stop there.

by: James S

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 13:53:50 +0000

What I have always found interesting about this is that I interviewed for Phil’s position at Berry*Brown–twice. Both times the egomaniacal Bob Berry said my background was acquired in agencies that were, in his opinion, “too small” (like Berry*Brown was a big agency? GET REAL! The only thing big about Berry*Brown were the founding principals’ egos). I could never make “Sir Bob” understand that the accounting entries for advertising agencies are exactly the same, regardless of the actual dollar amounts of the transactions. So Phil was chosen instead. I have never said “I told you so” to anyone; I didn’t have to.

by: James-H

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:04:52 +0000

This really has become a Dallas ad community legend. And having worked for a second company here in town that was infiltrated and ultimately undone by greed, it’s a shame to watch the work of many flushed down the pooper because one guy needed an extra sports car in the garage.

by: Adholes

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 03:48:01 +0000

One place I worked was for a trio - a husband, a wife and her brother. The two men were partners. The wife, there to fire me when the two guys, who liked me, were out of town. Then one day her brother found out that her husband had been embezzling. He had a stroke and never worked again. They fled for another state and screwed all the vendors, putting one out of business. And my future boss bought all their computers and I was left with the task of calling them to get the software licenses transferred. Fun fun.

by: GEddieG

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 03:47:15 +0000

Everyone I know rebounded from the Phil Scheiber experience without visible scars, with incredible attitudes and a mature sense of moving on that I can hardly understand, will never achieve, but truly admire.

Guys like you and Jim are the people I want to be when I grow up, because you seem to have handled the situation with normal grief and anger. Then got back after living life. Me? I’d still be walking around bitching about it.

Is there a lesson in this for all of us?

Yes.

Every time I visited the Berry*Brown offices to see Greg Lane, he commented, “Phil is up to something and it’s no good.” Trust your instincts, inquire in a positive way of your employer and always have a ton of cash on hand.

Just not in the way Phil got his cash.

by: Dana

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 06:56:09 +0000

Hey, Mack! It’s Dana - formerly of Berry Brown. I don’t know if you remember me — the alcoholic admin? I’ve been sober more than 7 years and I’m living in Portland, Oregon. Are you still in touch with Chris? If so, give her my e-mail too. If you read this, drop me a line! P.S. I’m not in advertising anymore.

by: martin

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:40:40 +0000

I find Theo Kie’s comment quiet insulting and actually misinformed about human nature. As the Enron and Worldcom scandals show; remorseless liars, cheats and embezzlers often look and “act” like god-fearing, mainstream, white collar conservative business people and not the rebels and eccentrics that work in a “creative culture.” If you knew anything about human behavior, you’d realize that these people aren’t the ones who are typically money-mad in the first place.