Q&A With Toni Racioppo, SVP Media Services
Get to know the head of Halo’s Media Services, Toni Racioppo: Bronx native, die-hard Yankees fan, and spontaneous Santa-suit wearer during the Christmas season
Q: How did you get into this business?
A: When I graduated from college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I answered an ad in the New York Times for an entry level position at an advertising agency. I landed at a company called The William Esty Company in the media department working on the Nissan account.
Q: If you didn’t work in the marketing world, what would you be doing?
A: I think I would be working with kids in some capacity.
Q: Why did you decide to go into marketing/PR/creative/etc?
A: I fell into advertising more than making a conscious decision to pursue it. I stayed in media because it allowed me to utilize both my degree in communications as well as my mathematical abilities.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
A: I create videos for friends and family. I have done wedding videos, videos for my nieces cheerleading teams, birthday celebrations, etc. It is a creative outlet for me. I love matching the music to the pictures. I have been doing this for years, starting by editing with two Betamax machines but now editing on the computer, making it much easier than before.
Q: What’s one thing you have to keep stocked in your fridge?
A: I need my coffee in the morning and I can only drink it with milk, so my fridge always has milk in it.
Q: What excites you?
A: Going on vacation, accomplishments of my nieces and nephews, the Yankees winning the World Series, winning a new business pitch, selling a new idea to a client and seeing it succeed.
Q: What’s your weirdest habit, superstition etc.?
A: I cannot go to a Yankee playoff game. I know this is indeed a fact because in 1997 I was at Game 1 against the Indians. The Yankees were getting their heads handed to them. I left early and as soon as I stepped out of the stadium, the Yankees hit back-to-back-to-back home runs to win the game. It was the first time ever that a team hit three home runs in a row in a playoff game, and confirmed that I am a jinx when watching the Yankees during the post season.
Q: Have you ever lived outside of the US?
A: Does the Bronx count?
Q: What’s one thing you can’t live without?
A: My family
Q: What’s your favorite song?
A: “Smile” by Charlie Chaplin
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Fordham University in the Bronx, Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx, St. Lucy’s Elementary School in the Bronx and PS 89 for kindergarten, yes also in the Bronx.
Q: If you could have one superpower, what would you choose?
A: I would love to be able to fly like superman, then I would not have to rely on mass transit to get to work.
Q: What are you into right now?
A: Disney cruises. Went on my first Disney cruise last year and going on another one this August.
Q: What advice do you have for a client when working with their agency?
A: The best results are when clients treat agencies like partners, with open communications and no hidden agendas. Also, clients need to be open to out of the box ideas and have the courage to try something different.
Q: Why would a client love you or maybe just want to work with you?
A: A client would love to work with me because I will always give 110% to them. I will learn their business and develop strategies and plans to deliver media programs that are designed for optimal ROI.
Q: Is there anything special happening in your life you’d like to share?
A: In July I am celebrating my 1 year anniversary working at The Halo Group!
Q: Do you have a pet?
A: No.
