Not many people would leave a successful career in California and move their family to Detroit to work for a mom-and-pop business, but Brad Oleshansky isn’t like most people.
He’s run with the bulls in Spain, participated in a triathlon, sold popcorn with his son’s Boy Scout troop and even brokered a “relationship” between his 10-year-old daughter, who is a duct tape fashion designer, and the CEO of a duct tape company.
He began his career as an entertainment lawyer in Beverly Hills, Calif., representing clients in the entertainment, licensing and marketing industries, and later worked as vice president of business affairs at the Game Show Network until he decided to move his family.
Big Communications, which focuses on health care relationship management, went through the pain of the dot-com bust, and the organization nearly went out of business. In 2004, the founder restructured the company and brought Oleshansky on as its first president. He accepted the offer and moved to Michigan because he saw huge potential in the business and was willing to take the tremendous risk to come on board, bringing with him the passion and drive that he’s used to approach the rest of life.
During tough times, he took salary cuts like other managers did to avoid layoffs, but he was confident the company could make it. His ideas and strategy led to 30 to 40 percent annual growth for four years, and the company became so strong that in 2008, led and negotiated an acquisition of the company by Meredith Corp. He now serves as CEO of the organization and continues to be passionate about driving innovation. He says that innovation isn’t just one thing — it’s everything.
How to reach: Big Communications, (248) 246-5209 or www.bighrm.com
