RICK BLANGIARDI

Sometimes people stop following their dreams to meet the practical demands of reality. And this is what senior VP and GM of KGMB TV, Rick Blangiardi did when he shifted his career from football coach to corporate executive to support the needs of his family.

Blangiardi might have lost a dream-turned-reality, but this did not stop him from being a facilitator of motivation and inspiration. Being positioned high up in the corporate ladder, Blangiardi believes in creating a challenging environment where employees can enhance their skills through the guidance of a mentor—the same principle he used as an assistant football coach.

Football played a huge role in Rick Blangiardi’s life. He was a player and eventually became assistant football coach and defensive facilitator for the University of Hawaii. Because of this attachment, the transition from coaching to communications practitioner was hard for Rick Blangiardi but his focus and determination to succeed eventually bore its fruits.

In this Greater Good Radio interview, Evan and Kari speaks with Rick Blangiardi about his career in football and what brought him to change his path to becoming a corporate executive. Blangiardi also talks about how he applies coaching and mentorship to motivate and inspire his employees. Adding to this is how he draws parallels between his career in sports and television.

Listen to the aftershow and find out how he handles the upbringing of his children and why gathering their respect has become his biggest life accomplishment.

BIO:
RICK BLANGIARDI

January 2006 – Present Senior Vice President & General Manager
KGMB9
Honolulu, Hawaii
November 2005 – January 2006 Senior Vice President & General Manager
KHON2
Honolulu, Hawaii
July 2002 – November 2005 Senior Vice President & General Manager
KHON2 and KGMB9
Honolulu, Hawaii
November 1999 – July 2002 President
Telemundo Group
Los Angeles, California

1997-1999 Chief Executive Officer
Premier Horse Network
Los Angeles, California
1994-1996 Group President
River City Broadcasting
St. Louis, Missouri
1993-1994 Vice President & General Manager
KPIX 5 Television
San Francisco, California
1992-1993 Vice President, New Business Development
CBS Television Network
New York, New York
1989-1992 Vice President & General Manager
King 5 Television
Seattle, Washington
1984-1989 Vice President & General Manager
KHNL 13 Television
Honolulu, Hawaii
1977-1984 General Sales Manager (1982-1984)
Local Sales Manager (1975-1977)
Account Executive (1977-1979)
KGMB Television
Honolulu, Hawaii
1975-1977 Associate Head Football Coach & Defensive Coordinator
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
1972-1975 Assistant Football Coach
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii