- Apr 28, 2009
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- Jerry
Typically I would not burn a bridge, but today I am going to blow one up! When it comes to speaking my mind there will be no sugar coating this story and I will be brutally honest. When I feel an injustice has taken place, I will be the first to raise my hand and protest. With that said, I feel it’s time somebody stood up to Mike Roscoe and called him out for the _____________ he is? One could insert so many different labels within the blank line and I’ll let you the reader insert your personal favorite.
I attended the very first Digital Dealer in Nashville many years ago and I’ve attended the majority of them since. In the beginning I would have to say they were well run events that returned value to both the dealer and the vendor. I also watched as Mike Roscoe became more and more arrogant and greedy with each event. The last few Digital Dealers were more about Mike Roscoe maximizing his profits than providing value to his clients. The first day in Vegas was a classic example. Lunch was served in the exhibit hall and within 10 minutes the food had vanished. I asked a catering manager if more was being brought out and she shook her head. She even proceeded to tell me that she made the show organizer aware that not enough food had been purchased and that they didn’t care. As a result, dealers chose to exit the exhibit hall and dine elsewhere, thus leaving the vendors without an audience.
Dealership representation in the exhibit hall has been a major issue at the last few Digital Dealers and in my opinion Roscoe has failed his responsibility to provide value to the vendors. For this reason I will not be participating in any future Digital Dealers and I have heard the same from many other vendors.
My real issue with Mike Roscoe is the way that he treats people. I have watched over the years as Mike has attacked my friends, colleagues, associates and those associated with Digital Dealer. The list of people banned from Digital Dealer grows with each event and I now consider myself a proud member of that club. Sure it’s Mike’s sandbox and he can call the shots, but when you look at the larger picture, he is playing in our sandbox and it’s time we ban Mike Roscoe! Vendors, it’s time to stop giving Mike Roscoe your money. Dealership attendees, there are better events to attend and there will be plenty of new alternatives.
Below is an example of Mike’s arrogance:
From: Kimberly Tonkovich <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013 9:44 AM
To: Christy Roman <[email protected]>
Subject: Your payment for bar sponsorship
Christy,
We will be returning your check for the sponsorship you bought at the 15[SUP]th[/SUP] Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition. Because of your past behavior, you and your money are not welcome at Digital D
On Fri, Sep 27, 2013 at 10:15 AM, Christy Roman <[email protected]> wrote:
What? I have been sponsoring you guys for a while now, have spoken at your event and supported your efforts. Anything between me and Mike was years ago and since I had seen him over the years, I assumed it was water under the bridge. Truly I can't be the only person who has had a run in with him…Are you sure you want to take that stand? I respectfully ask that you reconsider your position on this. It's a bar sponsorship and I am no big company – just a small fish in a large sea. Seems strange to me to pick a fight with me after all these years I have gone sponsoring your events and attending. I believe I have more than one conversation with Mike as well. I guess you can let me know - Christy
From: Michael Roscoe <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013 10:45 AM
To: Christy Roman <[email protected]>
Cc: Kimberly Tonkovich <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Your payment for bar sponsorship
Nobody is picking a fight, we just don't want people at our events who bad-mouth me to my face, to my girlfriend, to friends of mine and who knows what you say to people I don't know. Not exactly queenly behavior.
When you're a little fish, as you claim to be, best to not shit in someone else's pond. If you do, don't be surprised when you're not welcome anymore.
Kimberly, please make sure Ms. Roman gets her refund asap.
Mike
On Fri, Sep 27, 2013 at 10:47 AM, Christy Roman <[email protected]> wrote:
Touche. Actually only had issues directly with you to be fair after you hit on me all those years ago, which was a bit unprofessional, and I didn't appreciate how you treated me afterwards, but it's all good. Whatever you say. You're the powerful man in this equation. It's your world, we're all just living in it.
From: Michael Roscoe <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013 10:56 AM
To: Christy Roman <[email protected]>
Cc: Kimberly Tonkovich <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Your payment for bar sponsorship
You have GOT to be kidding me. Now you're claiming I hit on you?
BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Have you looked in a mirror lately?
This is the BS that makes you unwelcome at my events.
Goodbye auto queen...
From: Christy Roman <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013 11:03 AM
To: Michael Roscoe <[email protected]>
Cc: Kimberly Tonkovich <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Your payment for bar sponsorship
I didn't say you were sober
Continued article:
This behavior from Mike does not surprise me since I have been on the receiving end of crude and unprofessional e-mails in the past. It’s time we help facilitate Mike Roscoe’s retirement. Myself, I like to think of this as euthanizing a rabid animal.
I plan to stop patronizing Mike Roscoe’s businesses and hope others will follow my lead. I am going to ask those with Mike Roscoe horror stories to share them on this thread. Mike Roscoe is a bully and he needs to be exposed.
I would also like to hear from vendors who are ready to move on. Mike is planning to move Digital Dealer to Atlantic City in May. I say we start our own event in Florida at his old venue around the same time. By excluding Mike Roscoe, we can lower the cost and pricing to vendors and dealerships. I will write more about this shortly. I look forward to hearing from the community.
I attended the very first Digital Dealer in Nashville many years ago and I’ve attended the majority of them since. In the beginning I would have to say they were well run events that returned value to both the dealer and the vendor. I also watched as Mike Roscoe became more and more arrogant and greedy with each event. The last few Digital Dealers were more about Mike Roscoe maximizing his profits than providing value to his clients. The first day in Vegas was a classic example. Lunch was served in the exhibit hall and within 10 minutes the food had vanished. I asked a catering manager if more was being brought out and she shook her head. She even proceeded to tell me that she made the show organizer aware that not enough food had been purchased and that they didn’t care. As a result, dealers chose to exit the exhibit hall and dine elsewhere, thus leaving the vendors without an audience.
Dealership representation in the exhibit hall has been a major issue at the last few Digital Dealers and in my opinion Roscoe has failed his responsibility to provide value to the vendors. For this reason I will not be participating in any future Digital Dealers and I have heard the same from many other vendors.
My real issue with Mike Roscoe is the way that he treats people. I have watched over the years as Mike has attacked my friends, colleagues, associates and those associated with Digital Dealer. The list of people banned from Digital Dealer grows with each event and I now consider myself a proud member of that club. Sure it’s Mike’s sandbox and he can call the shots, but when you look at the larger picture, he is playing in our sandbox and it’s time we ban Mike Roscoe! Vendors, it’s time to stop giving Mike Roscoe your money. Dealership attendees, there are better events to attend and there will be plenty of new alternatives.
Below is an example of Mike’s arrogance:
From: Kimberly Tonkovich <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013 9:44 AM
To: Christy Roman <[email protected]>
Subject: Your payment for bar sponsorship
Christy,
We will be returning your check for the sponsorship you bought at the 15[SUP]th[/SUP] Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition. Because of your past behavior, you and your money are not welcome at Digital D
On Fri, Sep 27, 2013 at 10:15 AM, Christy Roman <[email protected]> wrote:
What? I have been sponsoring you guys for a while now, have spoken at your event and supported your efforts. Anything between me and Mike was years ago and since I had seen him over the years, I assumed it was water under the bridge. Truly I can't be the only person who has had a run in with him…Are you sure you want to take that stand? I respectfully ask that you reconsider your position on this. It's a bar sponsorship and I am no big company – just a small fish in a large sea. Seems strange to me to pick a fight with me after all these years I have gone sponsoring your events and attending. I believe I have more than one conversation with Mike as well. I guess you can let me know - Christy
From: Michael Roscoe <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013 10:45 AM
To: Christy Roman <[email protected]>
Cc: Kimberly Tonkovich <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Your payment for bar sponsorship
Nobody is picking a fight, we just don't want people at our events who bad-mouth me to my face, to my girlfriend, to friends of mine and who knows what you say to people I don't know. Not exactly queenly behavior.
When you're a little fish, as you claim to be, best to not shit in someone else's pond. If you do, don't be surprised when you're not welcome anymore.
Kimberly, please make sure Ms. Roman gets her refund asap.
Mike
On Fri, Sep 27, 2013 at 10:47 AM, Christy Roman <[email protected]> wrote:
Touche. Actually only had issues directly with you to be fair after you hit on me all those years ago, which was a bit unprofessional, and I didn't appreciate how you treated me afterwards, but it's all good. Whatever you say. You're the powerful man in this equation. It's your world, we're all just living in it.
From: Michael Roscoe <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013 10:56 AM
To: Christy Roman <[email protected]>
Cc: Kimberly Tonkovich <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Your payment for bar sponsorship
You have GOT to be kidding me. Now you're claiming I hit on you?
BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Have you looked in a mirror lately?
This is the BS that makes you unwelcome at my events.
Goodbye auto queen...
From: Christy Roman <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013 11:03 AM
To: Michael Roscoe <[email protected]>
Cc: Kimberly Tonkovich <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Your payment for bar sponsorship
I didn't say you were sober
Continued article:
This behavior from Mike does not surprise me since I have been on the receiving end of crude and unprofessional e-mails in the past. It’s time we help facilitate Mike Roscoe’s retirement. Myself, I like to think of this as euthanizing a rabid animal.
I plan to stop patronizing Mike Roscoe’s businesses and hope others will follow my lead. I am going to ask those with Mike Roscoe horror stories to share them on this thread. Mike Roscoe is a bully and he needs to be exposed.
I would also like to hear from vendors who are ready to move on. Mike is planning to move Digital Dealer to Atlantic City in May. I say we start our own event in Florida at his old venue around the same time. By excluding Mike Roscoe, we can lower the cost and pricing to vendors and dealerships. I will write more about this shortly. I look forward to hearing from the community.
that's funny.
I'm not sure how my comment saying "Yes, I'd like to see another conference" has anything to do with how vendors should speak on stage. ....errrrr.....yeah, I agree with you that some people should never get on stage.
