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22TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2009NEWSTRENDSMARCHAPRIL2009MarileneRiveraMarileneRiverasalesmanagerorReuterExpositionServiceswasborninPuertoRicoandmovedtoConnecticutwhenshewas2yearsold.ShereturnedtoPuertoRicoorherhighschooleducationandcamebacktoliveintheStateswhenshewas18.ShewasbilingualataveryyoungagespeakingSpanishandEnglishfuently.Herx1rstcareerchoicewastobeafightattendant.SheattendedConnecticutStateCollegeandchosehotelmotelmanagementashermajor.Workingulltimetoputherselthroughschoolwasnx19talwayseasyshereportsbutintheendjugglingajobandschoolworktaughtMarileneinvaluabletimemanagementskillsthatsheputstouseeverydayinhercurrentposition.Marilenegraduatedin2006withtwoassociatex19sdegrees.MarilenebeganhercareeratReuterExpositionServicesaspartoaninternshipprogramthatwasrequiredtograduate.Whenshecompletedtheinternshipshewasoeredaull-timepositionwiththecompany.x1cMarileneisakeyemployeeatmycompanyx1dsaysSusanReuterpresidentoReuterExpositionServicesLLC.x1cHerorganizationalabilityriendlymannerandbilingualskillshavemadeheraninvaluableassetortheTobaccoPlusExpo.x1dMarilenelooksorwardtospendingaewweeksinItalythissummerandwillmostlikelyreturnspeakingfuentItalian.Howdoyousayx1cCometotheTobaccoPlusExpox1dinItalianJustaskher.PhilViscidix1cIgrewupinwesternMassachusettsalongtheConnecticutRiverandatage14pickedtobaccorom7a.m.to3p.m.underthesummersunandunderwhitenettingthatblanketedthex1eldsalongtheriverx1dsaysPhilViscidiaounderoTobaccoOutletBusinessmagazineanditscurrentpublisher.x1cFor75centsanhourmybrotherandIranupanddowntherowsotobaccoplantspickingtheleavespackingthemincanvasbasketsandrunningthemouttotheheadsotherows.x1dViscidididnx19treturntothetobaccoindustryormanyyearsinsteadpursuingacareerinadvertisingsalesandthenstartinghisownbusiness-to-businessadvertisingsalescompany.Thatpathledhimintothemagazinepublishingbusiness.x1cIstayedwithadvertisingsalesbutover15yearsomagazinepublishingIbecameinvolvedinallaspectsothepublishingbusinessx14editorialdesignprintingandcirculationx1dherecounts.WhenaskedtoputtogetherabusinessplanoramagazinetoserveanemergingretailsegmentothetobaccobusinessViscidiwasabletoputallohisbackgroundandknowledgeothebusinessintothechallenge.ThatbusinessplanturnedintoTobaccoOutletBusiness.Heandthreepartnersbuiltthemagazineintoapositionoleadershipservingtobaccooutletswholesalersandmanuacturers.x1cWeworkedhardandsmarttomakethemagazinethevoiceothismarketx1dhesays.x1cWeaddressedboththebusinessandthelegislativeandlegalbattlesthatthetobaccobusinessaced.ItwasanexcitingtimeinthetobaccobusinessandexcitingtobepartothelaunchinganddevelopmentothemagazineanditscompanionshowthatisnowtheTobaccoPlusExpo.x1dBeyondhisinvolvementwithTobaccoOutletBusinessViscidiispresidentoViscidiCommunicationsInc.aour-personindependentx1rmthatrepresentsthreemagazinespublishedbyNielsenBusinessMediaandtwomagazinespublishedbyIdealMedia.x1cAsoneotheoundingpartnersoTobaccoOutletBusinessanditspublisherorthelastyearIamexcitedtocontinuetobepartothemagazineunderitsnewownershipx1dhesays.x1cTheirdedicationandplanstotakethebusinesstoanewlevelorelevanceandimportancetothetobaccomarkethasbeenclearromthestart.IlookorwardtocontinuingtoplayarolewiththemagazineandthemanuacturersandreadersIhavecometoknow.x1dx1cTodayIappreciatethoseshade-growntobaccoleavesomyyouthasasmokerratherthanasapickerx1daddsViscidiwholiveswithhiswieinMassachusettsandistheatherotwoboys.x1cButIhavenottraveledsoarthatIcannotrememberthoseearlydaysomytobaccocareer.x1d