Hi, I’m Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie  –  a native Midwesterner now living in Portland, Oregon. I’ve been in the business world for over 35 years in various leadership positions, most recently as the SVP of Operations for Bresnan Communications, a cable TV operator in the Rocky Mountain west (from 2003 to 2010), and today, as the CFO/COO of Portland retailer and record label Tender Loving Empire.

Since arriving on Portland, in addition to my work at Tender Loving Empire, I’ve kept busy and engaged as a business consultant, strategist, coach/mentor and angel investor. I’m also honored to have been recently named one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine.

I’m also the co-founder and board member of the non-profit organization and online magazine focused on Oregon entrepreneurs, BuiltOregon.com, which launched in December 2014.

My career’s biggest passion has been the practice of what I call More Human Leadership. It’s a philosophy that is unabashedly personal –  all about positivity, purpose, empathy & compassion, humility, and love.   This site centers on what it means to be a More Human leader, and the fantastic benefit that can spring from it, the Success Trifecta – a successful company, a happy team, and a fulfilled YOU. (To find out more, see my “What is More Human Leadership” page).

I started my career way back in 1982 as a CPA for a public accounting firm, and got my first taste of executive life in 1987, getting thrown into the deep end of the management pool at the age of 27.  I learned so much from that experience, and I’ve summarized those lessons on my e-book “Leadership From a Glass Half-Full: The 5 Lessons You Need to Learn Before You Jump Into the Pool”  (click here to download).

Since then, I spent the better part of 23 years in the cable TV business, which was a wonderful training ground, since it is so focused on people  – the people in the business who serve the customers, and the customers themselves. It was by serving those people I discovered that to really hit the success trifecta,  I HAD to go beyond the prototype of a typical “boss” and become a More Human Leader.   It was a decision that changed my life.

Thanks for stopping by this site – before you check out more of my posts,  here’s the story behind the “Starbucker” name:

And, if you want to dig a little deeper,  here’s a quick look at where I’m coming from (otherwise known as my “Crash Davis Belief Statement”):

“I believe in the incredible potential of the human spirit, the vast underappreciated beauty of the earth, my wife’s smile and the love that radiates from it, long hugs and soft kisses, weddings and butterflies, honesty and courage, incurable optimism, the men and women in the arena, movies that make me laugh and cry at the human condition, the Green Bay Packers, downward dogs, a fine hot almond milk latte, the warmness of friendship, the spirit of Built Oregon, coconut milk ice cream, Elton & Bernie, the Grand Tetons, the amazing people in PDX, common courtesy, melodies I can’t get out of my head, amazing grace, Mom & Dad & my two sisters, more human leadership, government above hypocrisy, the daily grind, deep cleansing breaths, the power of dreams, the incredible wisdom of my grandmother, E=MC², and God and the Golden Rule.”

Lead well!