focus PHILANTHROPY

The Inspiration Business

JACK KRASULA MADE A FORTUNE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; NOW HE’S GIVING IT ALL BACK — ONE DIME AT A TIME BY TOM BEAMAN

ack Krasula settles into his chair before the mi- out to Ford’s Lee Iacocca. As part of the deal to en- crophone in WJR Radio’s Production Studio 1. tice Iacocca, Riccardo offered to relinquish his CEO JThe host of Anything Is Possible, which airs Sun- position to him a year after Iacocca started. Once days at 6 p.m., is recording his 91st show today. Across Iacocca was on board, Chrysler’s outlook began to the desk from him sits 83-year-old John Riccardo, improve, but things got worse for Riccardo. As part former president and CEO of Chrysler Corp. Ric- of the federal loan guarantee agreement that he and cardo seems nervous; this is the fi rst interview he has Iacocca negotiated with Congress and the Carter given in 27 years. But as the show begins, Riccardo Administration to save the company, Riccardo was forcedforced toto resign,resign, thethe symbolsymbol ofof thethe oldold regimeregime thatthat wwasas bblamedlamed fforor CChrysler’shrysler’s wwoes.oes. IIacoccaacocca ttookook overover aass cchairmanhairman iinn 11979979 aandnd tthehe rrest,est, aass ttheyhey ssay,ay, isis hhistory.istory. Talking with Krasula, Riccardo sounds up- beat,beat, almostalmost noble,noble, asas hehe describesdescribes hhowow hhisis tteameam negotiatednegotiated thethe bailoutbailout andand howhow hehe symbolical-symbolical- lyly sacrifisacrifi cedced hishis career.career. “The“The greatestgreatest dutyduty ofof a CEO,” Riccardo says, “is to ensure the continu- ity of his company. Courage is falling in battle for the right cause.” Overcoming adversity is a common theme on Anything Is Possible, whose guests have ranged from astronaut Gene Cernan to Beverly Hills divorcee-turned-nun Mother Antonia. “The AWE-INSPIRED show is meant to inspire people,” Krasula says. Krasula with The birth of the show is a classic example of be- Pope John Paul II. ing careful what you wish for, lest you get it. He’s met scores of other luminaries, Krasula, 58, was frustrated with what he sees as as well. today’s mean-spirited media culture. “When we were kids, we had heroes,” he says. “Now, the media wants to knock everybody down.” That concernconcern surfacedsurfaced duringduring a 20052005 golfgolf gamegame withwith goodgood

relaxes and talks about the various chapters of his life: friend Mike Fezzey, who just happens to be WJR’s LEFT FROM how, as the son of poor Italian immigrants, he helped president and general . “I told him, ‘Mike, support his family by manually bending handlebars you need more positive stuff on the radio,’” Krasula in a bicycle factory; how, during World War II, he recalls. “’You should have a show on once a week OF COURTESY : drove trucks into China along the Burma Road; how where you highlight one person who started with he earned a master’s degree in economics from the nothing, overcame great odds and is giving back — University of Michigan; and how, in 1959, he gave to inspire people.’ A couple weeks later Fezzey called ZIEGLER BRAD KRASULA; JACK up the chance for a lifetime partnership at accounting and said, ‘Jack, I love the idea and I think you’d be fi rm Touche Ross in order to join Chrysler. the perfect host!’” In the 1970s, as president, Riccardo was leading But Jack Krasula isn’t just the host of a radio Chrysler’s efforts to survive in the face of increased show. He’s also an entrepreneur, an investor, an foreign competition and government regulation. Des- art collector, and a world-class sports fan. His day perate for management talent, the company reached job is president of Trustinus, LLC, the Southfi eld-

38 DBUSINESS: JULY/AUGUST 2 0 0 7 based executive-search firm. But it’s prob- ably more accurate to say that Krasula is in the encouragement business. “I see myself as a motivator, a nudger — someone who inspires people to reach a little higher,” he explains. He modestly downplays the “bucket of money” he made from the sale of his first company, Decision Consultants Inc. (DCI), claiming that he gets more satisfaction from helping friends. Coming from most people, that could sound disingenuous; coming from Jack Krasula, you believe it. The company, a forerunner to today’s mammoth informa- tion-technology industry, was sold for $55 million in 2002. Krasula is also a philanthropist, and his generosity has benefited, among others, the National Hall of Fame, whose edu- cational arm provides baseball-themed lesson plans to 20 million schoolkids a year. “Jack is the most optimistic, forward-looking per- sonality I’ve ever met,” says Dale Petroskey, Hall of Fame president and an Inkster native. “Nothing is going to stop him from trying to do good and reach his goals.” Krasula credits his work-ethic and glass- half-full outlook to his parents. “From my dad, I learned that you get up early, you work hard, and you stay humble; and from my mom I learned [to] be good to people, treat people special,” he recalls. Young Jack took this advice to heart and began working at an early age, sweeping up behind the el- ephants in a downtown parade. He also took inspiration from his hero, Hall of Fame Ernie Banks, whose positive outlook earned him the nick- name “Mr. Sunshine.” Krasula earned a B.A. in mathematics from Lewis College in Romeoville, Ill. He says he was a good student, but school was never im- portant to him. “All that mattered was to fin- ish the homework so I could go out and play sports,” he says. Realizing that he would never play at , Krasula began to look for a more traditional career. His lightning-bolt moment came during college when a friend told him how someday he could make $15,000 a year programming computers. “That’s the SIGNATURE MAN Krasula has day I decided what I was going to do,” Krasula collected thousands of signatures says. “I didn’t know what the heck they were, from pro athletes, politicians, and celebrities. The list includes Mario but $15,000 was like $5 million.” Andretti, President George W. Bush, Not long after receiving his master’s de- Mary Kay Ash, and Mark O’Meara. gree from Loyola University in 1972, while

DBUSINESS MAG.COM: JULY/AUGUST 2 0 0 7 39 focus PHILANTHROPY

With , , and Bill Murray.

With Ernie Banks. With Rudy Giuliani.

working as a programmer at Illinois Bell, Krasula got a call to do for an encore. “[Executive search] made all the sense in the from a recruiter at information technology services fi rm Cut- world,” he says. “I know a lot of people in town. People trust me; ler-Williams, who offered him a job in Detroit. Tempted as they’re always looking for stronger leadership.” much by the prospect of his fi rst airplane ride as by the job Since 2003, Trustinus has matched presidents, vice presi- offer, he fl ew to Detroit with the promise that the fi rm would dents, COOs, and CFOs with some 50 companies. As Kra- move him back to Chicago in six months. Four years later, sula describes his business, his homespun philosophy is clear: still in Detroit, Krasula left Cutler-Williams and formed DCI “We don’t have any clients,” he says. “All we have are Jack’s to serve his fi rst client, American Motors Corp. DCI’s fi rst friends. We can’t let a friend down. To have your friend from month’s billings were $2,700. the company who gave you the search say, ‘Jack, she’s doing The company grew, taking on contracts ranging from fabulous’ — that’s much more rewarding than the check that maintaining corporate average fuel-economy data to tracking comes. It’s all about encouraging people.” railroad freight cars. At its peak, DCI was the largest privately Krasula won’t divulge the fi nancial state of the privately held IT services fi rm in the country, with 1,800 employees, held Trustinus, but his reputation is well-known. “The guy annual revenue of $150 million, and offi ces throughout the is a master,” says a competitor who requested anonymity. “If and in India. I could buy stock in a person, In 2002, Krasula sold DCI to With mementos I’d buy it in Jack.” Colorado-based Ciber Inc. for of “Shoeless” Krasula’s strong work $55 million. Joe Jackson. ethic and steadfast determi- It was at DCI that Krasula nation to see a job through fi rst began to put his inspira- his way emerged in the third tional skills to work on a large grade, when he received an scale. Twice a month for 26 assignment to write to fi ve years, his employees received politicians. He would have a signed letter with their pay- nothing to do with that. Be- checks. The letters contained ing an avid sports fan, Krasula messages about teamwork, instead wrote to his favor- OF COURTESY TOP: serving the customer, or going ite baseball players, includ- the extra mile. “It was a way ing Banks, , and to propagate our culture and . Such insub- to inspire people,” Krasula ex- ordination didn’t sit well with ZIEGLER BRAD KRASULA; JACK plains. He still sends at least fi ve the nuns who taught him. handwritten thank-you letters But what was seen as a snub a day. of their authority set Krasula After making his mark in off on a lifetime endeavor that the IT industry, Krasula didn’t provides more than a glimpse have to think twice about what into what makes him tick.

40 DBUSINESS: JULY/AUGUST 2 0 0 7 BRAD ZIEGLER proud. proud. ments to grow it, so you have more to give back.” You have to take calculated risks and make wise invest people.morehelp can we means which … multiplies thehopemoneyportionina of it thethis bankthat in eyto help others, to make a difference. We’re investing dollar on the day I die. God expects me to use this mon typical. not goals are investment his but investor, major a also He’s employees. key find help will and member board a as serve will we’re trouble.”in Krasula chairman, our as Jerry with business banking the we in “If successful can’t be says. Krasula telephone,” the over him with Florida-owned bank, with 50 branches in five years. he says the goal for the new institution is to be thewon’t gotiations,bank’sbutname,theKrasula largest divulge D.Campbell.Becauseongoingneof Jerry Chairman RepublicCitizensBancorpFlint-based trepreneur and en veteranbanking with Florida in he’s bank starting theabout you tells he learn, possibly can you Krasula collection. in his letters philosophy-of-life notable most the of compilation a be will that book a he hosts That’swhy others. with them share to him to portant butit’sPeale,Vincent im more Norman or O’Meara a and letter of finding from mailbox Mark his opening be to positive, to need encourage, to serve. his Sure, he is gets a kick out Krasula define does What point.’” the missed you ‘Jackie, say, to going he’s collection, sports world’s havetheI greatest him tell I and maker my meet to go I “If him. define not do be, may they aletter. getting be soon will Koppel that are met Tedrecently Koppel a in Troy men’s Odds room. W. Krasula Charles Fellowship. of Colson The Prison and Watchers Weight of Mark Florine as diverse as To some admires. date, 150 … have he responded people people from philosophies life soliciting to graphs I that domyself can itto provethan it to anyone else.” to prove… to me for it’simportant more something, do to outset I when is DNA my and it, do to outset just “I Ford. Gerald and W.H.Bush, George Carter, Jimmy from letters personal with along office his in since Grant. A letter signed by Lincoln Abraham hangs president every of portraits signed and president U.S. runs. He owns a orhandwritten typed letter from every players who’ve baseball homemajor-league 20 500 in the autographs he’s collected since: every Krasula’s mother — and Ernie Banks — would be be would — Banks Ernie and — mother Krasula’s “Inperfecta world,” hesays, “I’d giveaway mylast is so honest you Campbell shoot could craps “Jerry When it seems you’ve learned abouteverything Jack though grand collections, his that stresses Krasula auto collecting simply from evolved hobby His Today, proudlyJack showsKrasula visitors copies of d sport, the greats of golf, all but three of the of three but all golf, of greats the sport, Anything Is Possible b and why soon he’ll publish every Hall of Hall Famer ------for Krasula, who is now his patron. his now is who Krasula, for exclusively painted has West then, Since amarriage.” like was …it art sports for passion own my and sports for passion “His Hills. Rochester in home his in astudio of out works now who works. more purchased Krasula which during years, two for to correspond continued They portrait. Mikita Stan his buy in paintings Fame of Hall Hockey original West’s for ad an saw Krasula Jack Then shows. sports at paintings his selling and country the traveling happy was He Max. Peter and Neiman LeRoy both by inspired astyle in art sports creating niche a comfortable found had 13, of age the at drawings first his sold who native, artist. astarving not was West Doug de’Medici Krasula Patron of the Arts I’ve followed my gaveinspiration...Jack me the I’m not proud of them. My soul wasn’t in them. But with these, paintings from the ’70s and ’80s were good,” West has developed thata hadconfidence eluded him before. “My ism. And through their creative and intostyle a bold blend ofrealism, and impressionism, modern West young Krasula encouraged toartist’s passion, evolve his others, he has frombenefited Sensing theirthe association. Schools. Cornerstone Detroit’s and Foundation, Sr. Ripken Cal the Project, Dreams Suite the as such charities to benefit lithographs limited-edition the donates he but nal, origi each keeps Krasula clearly. more aportrait of elements the see him helps it that saying down, upside image the with paints often He action. in athletes star depict that collages Doug West Doug “As soon as we met, it was instant chemistry,” says West, West, says chemistry,” instant was it met, we as “As soon West is not just a tomeans Krasula’s Likeends. so many acrylic and watercolor colorful bold, in specializes West S S E N I S U B D Sports Collectors Digest Collectors Sports : M O C . G A M

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