Why is Jim George even in the office technology dealer business? By all rights, he should’ve high-tailed it out the door on day one as a sales rep for Lanier. Perhaps it was his experience serving the U.S. Navy during Desert Shield/Desert Storm that made George unflappable. Regardless, the first time he stepped out as a shiny-new account rep, he received a crash course in handling client objections, to put it nicely. His relentless nature is definitely a story worth retelling.
It was the early 1990s. George and another freshly-minted Lanier sales rep went door knocking in search of business. On the initial stop, George volunteered to go first and opened the door to an office. Upon entering, about 16 sets of eyes stared hard in his direction. He chose a random employee to begin his pitch when a woman in the back of the room started yelling at George to get out. Having been trained by Lanier on the art of persistence, he pivoted and went into presentation mode with the irate woman.
It was an unpleasant scene as she approached him. The woman continued screaming, interrupting and then cursing at George as he launched into his “Good morning, madam, thank you for investing a few minutes with me today, what I would like for us to accomplish” spiel. His partner had already fled, but George didn’t flinch. Finally, he asked the woman for a business card, which she surprisingly provided. Perhaps she admired his bravery.
“I was so glad to leave that office,” said George, a 2026 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “When I found the other rep hiding behind a car, he said, ‘That was awesome, you were in there forever.’ I told him it was horrible and that I don’t think I’m going to be doing this for a living. Almost 30 years later, well, here I am.”
Today, he is the president of Donnellon McCarthy Enterprises, a Cincinnati dealership raking in north of $50 million in annual revenue. While no one would’ve criticized George for bouncing after the day one disaster, he’d already been through some tough times. He’d put his life on hold in 1998 to care for his seriously ill father in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was there that he’d interviewed and landed the Lanier role. Perhaps it was the elder George’s “second place is never an option” wisdom that spurred his son to battle through adversity.
There was a familiar feel to the Lanier experience. “I liked the training,” he said. “It reminded me of the military. I excelled at the job and saw the financial rewards of selling down the street as well as cultivating relationships with large accounts. I was hooked!”
Much of George’s experiences were baked into his perspective as a leader. He loves watching team members thrive, get promoted and extend their earning potential beyond expectations. Having played a role in their development is an immeasurable reward.
Cultivating a happy atmosphere at Donnellon McCarthy Enterprises goes a long way toward maximizing team success. One example is “bring your dog to work day,” which brings a smile to everyone’s face. It carries extra meaning for some; George notes a couple of terminally ill pets were able to spend their final days in the office with their owners. It’s a prime example of a priceless experience.
“Through the years I have learned a lot and wish I would have done some things differently, but I wouldn’t change a thing about the people around me,” he said.
Even though he’s scaled the professional mountaintop, George continues to push his knowledge base, particularly in areas involving artificial intelligence. His goal is to keep pace with the speed of digital transformation and to usher change, not become a victim of it.
Away from the office, George and his wife, Claudia, have three grown children—John, David and Timothy. The happy couple loves to travel and cook, blending the pair by trying their hand at cooking dishes from different countries.
The high school version of me wanted to be a: Professional soccer player and to pilot the space shuttle.
Interesting fact about you: I was a military brat and lived overseas for more than 17 years.
Celebrities you have met: Kate Mara, Steven Bauer, Pete Rose, Sinbad, Sir Richard Branson
Favorite book or movie: “Black Hawk Down”
Favorite food: Surf and turf or Italian
Person you’d most like to meet: Elon Musk
Dream vacation destination: Australia
Any special talents: Cracking jokes, lol
Guilty pleasure: Candy
