Douglas Haddad

I had many varied experiences both opening my own small businesses as a child in high School and learned alot working for different businesses as a young adult. When I was 13 I got a job in a local bakery. My mom drove to me to wkr onthe first day at 5am. After that, I got to drive myself to work which was fun for a 13 year old who didnt get a license to drive until 17. When I got pulled over one morning I wasnt wearing shoes (not sure why not maybe i left them in the office the night before) and after explaining to the police officer that I was late for work adn it was almost 5:10am He let me go and told me to just drive with some shoes on next time. I worked in many service based industries, from clothing stores, to restaurants and did some computer work later in my younger years. I have worked in the field with A/V installations and am BICSI Certified and know how hard it is to dig a trench in the heat of summer for 200 yards. I learned patience by tutoring students with learning disabilities like dyslexia at Hofstra to make a few extra bucks in college and tutored the wrestling team in subjects that they needed alot of help in. I learned financial modeling in My real estate days first with management and then with commercial finance at Meridian Finance. Until I funded a large $40,000,000 deal that my paycheck was cut short on. Once my check cleared I handed in my resignation. That taught me the value of paying people what you said you would and learned the clear distinction of what real character is as well as honor. Over the years I have had business dealings go bad and learned that no matter what documents you have in place bad people will do bad things and its better to surround yourself with good people. That has made the biggest difference in my life and in AFN is the amazing people that make AFN the company that it is.