Meet the Board: Alan Faber
Roessel Joy’s Advisory Board is made up of diverse and talented members, with success and experience in many different industries. We are proud to formally introduce our members in our new “Meet the Board” series! Recently, we sat down with Al Faber, Managing Director at Alan Faber Growth Strategies, to learn more about his experience and his role on our board.
Q: How long have known our Managing Partners, Jonas and Chris?
A: I’ve known Chris since he was with Davis Companies because Davis was a client of mine. We became personal friends through that. I guess I became a sort of mentor to him. So, I would say it’s been five to six years. I met Jonas through Chris once RJ was established.
Q: What drew you to RJ, and how long have you been on the Advisory Board?
A: I’ve been on the board since the inception. What drew me was my relationship with Chris and a desire to help a couple of young guys build a practice in an area that I am very familiar with.
Q: What space do you work in?
A: I work, on a retainer basis, as a consultant to clients who sell professional services. I act as an advisor to CPA firms, law firms, etc. And yet I spend 70% of my time doing pro-bono stuff. Paying it forward and so on.
Q: What previous experience do you bring to Roessel Joy?
A: I like to think that I bring the experience of white hair and wrinkles! By that I mean I’m street savvy. Even though I am a college graduate, I would not consider myself an academic. I am a street-savvy, bricks and mortar kind of guy. I also think that I bring the experience that my mentor, Gorham Brigham Jr., brought to me for more than 50 years. That paying it forward and building relationships are the two most important things in business and life. Boston is the most relationship-driven business community in the country.
Q: Are you involved in any other organizations outside of work?
A: There certainly are a lot of them. I am very active in the Boston community - I have been for a very long time. I have been a member of the Boston chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI) for more than 50 years. I am also a permanent, honorary member of the Treasurers’ Club of Boston. I am extremely active in the Boston College CEO program. I am a very active member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
Q: Where do you see the future of Roessel Joy going in the next few years?
A: I see Roessel Joy becoming the premiere Boston staffing firm in finance and accounting. I think that there is a major need for an organization like Roessel Joy, which is millennial-driven and forward-thinking.
Q: What is your favorite piece of career advice?
A: Don’t forget that nurturing and developing relationships and paying it forward is critical. Even if your job description doesn’t say that. I do a lot of career counseling for people in all stages of their careers. My best bit of advice to them is, “I don’t care what you call me, as long as you as call me.” I sincerely want to help people. I want to pay it forward. I have no self-agenda. The more people who do call me, the happier I am knowing at age 83 I am still in the game and valuable.
Q: What is one thing we should know about you that we can’t find on LinkedIn?
A: Well, I played professional basketball, not in the NBA, but in the old Eastern League, which is now the Continental Basketball League. But the most important thing that you should know about me, is that my beautiful wife Gail and I have been married 55 years. Quite an accomplishment.