WordCom, Inc.

Chris Wachtel
Chris is President and CEO of WordCom and has been with the company full time since graduating from the University of Connecticut’s School of Business with a marketing degree in 1992 (although he has worked here part time since he was 13).  In addition to his duties overseeing the daily operations of WordCom, Chris’ main focus is on the analytics, list segmentation and mail strategies for WordCom’s clients.

If you had one hour of free time, what would you spend it doing?
To get all my activities in, I would spend a half hour playing with my two sons, 15 minutes playing volleyball, and 15 minutes on the computer researching geeky electronic items while watching UConn basketball and drinking a homemade India Pale Ale.

If you were going on a road trip and could choose to drive any one car and bring any one CD, what car and CD would you choose?
I would be driving a black 1978 Trans Am (think Smokey and the Bandit) with the T-Tops off listening to The Alarm’s box set (a harder edged U2).

George Wachtel
George Wachtel, Chairman, founded WordCom in 1981.  Starting out as an English major in college and an Information Officer in the Army, George was Director of Communications for a major insurance company before starting WordCom.  He is also known as The Letter Doctor™ and writes a regular column for the ABA Bank Marketing Magazine. 

If you had one hour of free time, what would you spend it doing?
I would be on the tennis court - where I hope someday to teach my grandson Lucas how to enjoy the game.

If you were going on a road trip and could choose to drive any one car and bring any one CD, what car and CD would you choose?
I would cruise in a white ’58 Chevy Impala, while listening to ZZ Top’s Greatest Hits.

Charles E. Gross, Jr.
Charlie joined WordCom in 1986 and since then has served clients in New England.  Before joining WordCom, Charlie spent 14 years in the banking industry with increasing responsibilities in marketing, product management, and retail service delivery.  He is past president of Bank Marketing Association-New England Chapter, the Rhode Island Advertising Club and the Executives Association of Rhode Island.  Charlie enjoys golf and riding his vintage BMW motorcycle.

If you had one hour of free time, what would you spend it doing?
I would be out in the woods taking my dog for a walk on one of our favorite trails.

If you were going on a road trip and could choose to drive any one car and bring any one CD, what car and CD would you choose?
I’d take the car I learned to drive in, my dad’s 1965 Mustang convertible, and I’d be listening to James Brown’s Live at the Apollo Volume 2.

Tim Berger
Tim is a Senior Vice President at WordCom.  He attended Eastern Connecticut State University majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing.  Tim worked at Clarke American Checks for 22 years before joining WordCom in March of 2008.  He played high school and college soccer and has been officiating soccer for over 25 years.  Tim lives in Agawam, MA.  Soccer must run in the family because his daughter Kayleigh also plays soccer at Southwick High School.

If you had one hour of free time, what would you spend it doing?
I would spend it practicing soccer with my daughter.

If you were going on a road trip and could choose to drive any one car and bring any one CD, what car and CD would you choose?
I’d be driving a 1975 Mercedes 450 SL Convertible listening to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s Greatest Hits.

Harry Waltman
Harry is a Vice President at WordCom.  He has an MBA from the State University of New York at Albany and spent many years on Wall Street in various capacities.  Taking refuge from the ‘big city’ in Ellington, CT, the view from the kitchen of his home is of woods rather than the brick façade of the building next door.  He lives there with his wife, teenage son and 10 year old daughter.

If you had one hour of free time, what would you spend it doing?
I’d be in my kitchen, preparing a chicken, sausage and shrimp gumbo while chatting with my family.

If you were going on a road trip and could choose to drive any one car and bring any one CD, what car and CD would you choose?
I’d like to be driving a 1965 Ford Mustang while listening to U-2.

Melanie Tracy
Melanie has been an Account Manager at WordCom for 15 years.  Before joining the WordCom Team in 1996, Melanie held various positions at a Hartford-based insurance company, starting out as their Annuity Coordinator and working her way into the sales/marketing department.  As Account Manager at WordCom, Melanie coordinates the production and execution of ongoing programs and provides outstanding service to her clients across the U.S.

If you had one hour of free time, what would you spend it doing?
I would likely be reading whatever novel I had my hands on at the time - I’m a bit of a bookworm - while my cats try to compete for my attention by chasing each other around the house.

If you were going on a road trip and could choose to drive any one car and bring any one CD, what car and CD would you choose?
I would be driving a 2012 Mustang Shelby GT500, which has a 5.4L Supercharged 4V Ti-VCT V-8 Engine with 6-speed manual transmission, and 550 hp.  SWEET!  The CD would have to be Adele's latest "21" album... check it out if you haven't already... she's amazing.

Cory Leiphart
Cory is an Account Manager and the Marketing Manager at WordCom and has been there for nearly 10 years, joining the company in 2002.  He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Communications and a focus on Marketing.  Cory facilitates the management of ongoing projects for clients along the eastern seaboard and oversees WordCom's marketing activities and analytics. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and two sons.

If you had one hour of free time, what would you spend it doing?
In my hour of free time, I’d spend it crawling around on the floor with my sons, cooking a nice meal, enjoying a Yankees game, UConn basketball game or a movie with my wife.

If you were going on a road trip and could choose to drive any one car and bring any one CD, what car and CD would you choose?
I’d be driving a 2012 Audi R8, enjoying the power of its V10 engine, while listening to my favorite mix of music.