Gary L. Taylor, founder of Akron-based InfoCision Management Corporation and philanthropist, passed away Saturday, March 2, just over three years since he initially fell ill after a heart attack suffered in 2009. He was 59 years old.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gary,” said Steve Brubaker, InfoCision chief of staff. “We have all lost a great friend and leader. Gary made this company what it is today through hard work, dedication and a strong sense of integrity. His mark is indelibly stamped on the industry, as well as on our company and its culture. The InfoCision Family will miss him more than anyone will ever know.”
Gary spent his entire life in this community. He graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 1975. He continued on to earn his MBA, while serving as a graduate assistant, in 1977, and it was at the University of Akron he met his wife of 34 years, Karen, and shaped his career path.
In 1982, working out of the breezeway of their home, Gary started InfoCision with his wife, Karen. For the first three years, InfoCision operated as a consulting company that developed outbound telemarketing programs for clients, utilizing an independent telemarketing contractor. Today InfoCision has grown into the second largest privately held teleservices company in the world, employing more than 4,000 people in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
InfoCision Vice President of Corporate Facilities Vickie Creekmore, who was the first employee Taylor hired and is still a dedicated employee thirty years later, added, “I met and started working for Gary when I was 18 years old. He was so much more than a boss. He was my friend and a great mentor. I will miss him terribly like so many others. He taught me a lot about life and had a dramatic impact on me and my entire family. Gary was indeed a great man of honor and integrity and I am so thankful he was a part of my life.”
InfoCision raises more money for nonprofit organizations than any other teleservices company and is a leading provider of customer care services, commercial sales and marketing for a variety of Fortune 500 companies and smaller businesses. InfoCision is also a leading provider of inbound and outbound marketing for religious and political organizations.
Astute and strategic businesspeople, Gary and Karen Taylor developed a succession plan that laid the foundation for their son, Craig to take over the day-to-day management of the company. In October 2012 Craig was appointed to Chief Executive Officer and Steve Boyazis to President. Over the last 10 years Craig has held many strategic positions within the company and has been the driving force behind several initiatives to grow business and outperform client expectations. The company’s performance continues to be strong as it remains focused on client results and long-term strategic growth while building upon the company’s core fundamental values of a commitment to quality and excellence in every aspect of the business.