TONY BERRY

REFERENCE QUOTES

Senator Luke Esser, 48th Legislative District, Washington State:

“I have known Tony Berry since his positive initial experience as a Page in the Washington State Legislature representing my office in the 48th Legislative District in 1999 and again the following year in 2000 as well. Tony is a bright, personable young man and it was clear early on that he took his Page responsibilities seriously and was effective in communicating with others during our legislature sessions.  Tony was able to continue his education in our political system by attending the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, PA as a member of the non-partisan National Junior Statesman Foundation Symposium group and also as a Page for the U.S. House of Representatives 107th U.S. Congress in 2001.
           I have enjoyed the on-going updates from Tony and his supportive family as he has continued to serve his community and complete his Gonzaga University commitments.  Tony's focus and determination to maintain the balance between his education, community service and his very real passion for his motor sports career exemplifies the self-discipline and maturity needed to help achieve a positive future career foundation.
          Tony's well-rounded life skills development to date certainly positions him to take full advantage of many upcoming career path opportunities presented.  I have been proud to be his mentor and friend and I look forward to future interaction with Tony as he continues to move forward with his career options-perhaps even in the political arena.”

Tom Glithero, VP of National Sales, Longacre Racing Products:

“As a team consultant, mentor and driving coach, I have enjoyed being part of Tony's family race team effort since the very beginning twelve years ago in the winter time indoor local karting dirt track series. 
           Over the years Tony has always focused on racing anything he can get his hands on to help get the seat time needed to learn how to drive a race car effectively.  Tony is one of the very few active northwest drivers competing in three of the top levels of northwest motor sports; late model stock cars, WMRA Midgets and winged sprint cars.  For Tony, it has been all about learning the various chassis dynamics, on-track race craft and diverse driving experiences to help prepare for future opportunities.
           Tony's professional conduct, motor sports marketing knowledge and focus on the teams internal "driver development program" has allowed him to be able to gain valuable racing experience across the region on a limited small team budget in his own equipment as well as for other car owners.
I look forward to assisting Tony as he continues his efforts to develop his professional motor sports career path.”

Nick Warrick, President, ACRAnet:

“While I’ve only known Tony Berry for about four years, I have known his father, Dan, for forty years. Dan and I flipped burgers for McDonald’s while attending college n 1964-65.  We had lost contact during the ensuing years.  Tony’s decision to attend Gonzaga University enabled Dan and I to renew our friendship.
              From a distance, I witnessed Tony’s progress as a student via communications from his proud parents. As he neared completion of his college career, I was asked to introduce Tony to some of my contacts in the legal community.  Tony’s interest in becoming an attorney and his success as a student made him a perfect candidate for a position as a legal intern.
              I met with Tony to discuss his career plans.  I was very impressed with his self-confidence and his ability to set and follow priorities.  I introduced Tony to the HR Manager at one of Spokane’s largest law firms.  At the same time, my company was in the process of hiring a regulatory compliance officer.  I asked Tony if he would be interested in applying for the position and pointed out how it would compliment his interest in a legal career.  Tony applied and was hired.
            Tony is a very bright young man.  He learns quickly.  He is punctual and conscientious.  Tony has demonstrated that he can manage projects and is responsive to management’s requests for progress reports.  He is respected by his peers and has established himself as an integral member of the team.”
 

Bruce Garber, President - Inland Northwest Super Stock Association:

“I have enjoyed working with Tony Berry in 2006 as a determined fierce competitor in our INSSA Late Model Race Series.  Tony and his crew work together very professionally on and off the track to get all the results that they can with what they have available to them.  In addition, Tony has been very helpful to our INSSA race association, as a volunteer, with local, regional and national media development and support with press releases, radio programs, race car displays and personal appearances.  As a driver, Tony has the car control, experience and focus to continue to successfully develop his professional motorsports career.”

 Sherry Oberst, Associate Director, Financial Aid, Gonzaga University:

“This is a reference for Anthony (Tony) from his financial aid advisor.  I am so impressed with Tony.  He is an energetic and innovative young man with lots of things going on in his life and yet he still finds time to prioritize his school work and focus on his goal of getting his college degree, and from a tough college with rigorous academics.
            I personally met with Tony last week and had the pleasure of finally putting a face to the many conversations I have had with him and with his father, Dan.  What a dynamite family, so supportive and there for each other.  This is not always the case with other students and families I have dealt with.  It is refreshing that everyone is working toward a common goal and in my opinion, this is a young man destined to accomplish great things in his life. 
            It is my pleasure to be asked to say a few things about Tony and I hope this helps him toward his future goals and dreams.”

First Sergeant Mike Kish, Idaho Army National Guard:

“Tony Berry and AJB Racing have shown what it is to be focused and aggressive in their accomplishments. The Idaho National Guard could not have picked a better team to partner with for the 2006 racing season. Tony Berry has shown that honesty, integrity and racing hard to reach his goal pays dividends in the end. His spirited racing style has earned him national notoriety that we are proud to be a part of. Not only has Tony impressed our IANG Team on the track, but off the track as well. His ability to advertise and market his team and the Idaho National Guard has been exciting. Tony and the Idaho National Guard have been on radio shows, multiple press releases and earned a representation in the region of an accomplished team. We are proud of his success and honored to share in his accomplishments as well.”

Jeff Jefferson, Jefferson MotorSports, Three Time NASCAR NWTOUR ELITE CHAMPION:

 “I am pleased to assist Tony Berry with his on going race team development and as his driver and chassis coach.  I like Tony and his professionalism, focus, passion, determination and believe he will continue to develop his motor sports career to the next level.  I want to help him do that quicker.  I look forward to our mutual marketing race team development programs together as well.”

Butch Behn, Owner, South Sound Speedway:

 “I have enjoyed watching Tony Berry progress from racing karts as a young person to driving some of the highest level of race cars across this region.  Tony and his race team comes prepared to compete and win and always get all they can out of their equipment and themselves.  It is well known that Tony is prepared to drive any race car venue that he can in his on-going efforts to learn and obtain as much "seat time" as possible to continue his on track race craft and chassis development programs.  Very few northwest racers can pilot a late model stock car, open wheel midget or sprint car and always be competitive at any race track.  Tony and his race team are one of the most effective professional race teams in the region at marketing their programs in support of their marketing partners and race series. I look forward to supporting Tony's motor sports career development efforts on a national level and know he will do well on and off the race track.”

Cory Kruseman, Owner, Sprint Car School:

“In the sport of racing you “have what it takes” or you don’t.  The best trait that can set people apart is their ability to adapt to a new environment quickly.  Tony understands basic chassis issues, clearly respects the equipment and has the racing experience to make good on track decisions as well.  He is a bright, enthusiastic racer who speaks well and presents himself in a very positive professional manner.  I feel comfortable in saying that Tony Berry is a young man that has the ability to drive a racecar very competitively and represent his crew, team and sponsors very well.”

David L. Pollard, President, CommunIcan Consulting, Inc. , Speaker, Trainer, Coach  

 I have known Tony Berry literally all of his life - long before he was a "logo" known as AJB Racing - long before he had a great reputation. I have come to appreciate Tony on at least three levels:
(1) Competitor
(2) Resourceful/Creative
(3) Motivated (and motivator)

Competitor:
I have been to many of Tony's races; I have seen him win and lose. He is always thinking "strategy." If he has been at the back of the pack, he is always trying to figure out how to get to the front. If he is at the front, he is constantly working at staying there and he knows where he is, where others are and where he needs to be. His focus is NOT on the trophy or award he got the previous year or race; rather on THIS race.
 
                                         Resourceful:
There are not many activities that I know of where resourcefulness is as needed as auto racing. I have been around Tony when car parts have broken, equipment didn't work right, or people didn't do what they said they would. I have seen him go to another competitor and ask for help (and receive it). I have seen him make adjustments to his car in between races and go back on the track at the next race - and WIN. All of this happens because of the resourcefulness, creativity and passion to do what is needed to stay on top; no matter what the task. 

                                         Motivated:
I had an opportunity to work closely with Tony for more than a week when he was a High School Senior.  I coached him on a professional level while he was campaigning to be President of  DECA, a respected organization on both high school and college level. He was willing to commit a year of his life to represent that organization, traveling all around the country. It would have meant delaying his college education during that time. He ran the campaign as if he was running for President of the United States where similar skills are required. He had to do the planning, manage a staff of paid and unpaid people, develop a budget and convince people to vote for him. There were over 17,000 very talented high school marketing and business students in attendance. Tony lost this election by only 25 votes; I learned first hand what a "winner" Tony became in "defeat." I saw how motivated he was working around the clock achieving his goal; the amount of preparation he did to present his "vision" for the organization, and the amount of flexibility he displayed. He met with 100's of people from the sophistication of New York to highly professional people of Arizona from down-home approaches of Minnesota to seasoned people of Wisconsin and Texas. I saw a "boy" become a "man" right in front of my eyes at an auditorium of 1000's of people. Tony was required to debate his opponent and answer spontaneous questions on the spot. Tony won the debate because of his level of "real" motivation, even if he didn't win the election. He accomplished something even more valuable: he won the respect of everyone in the audience. At the end of his presentation, the team members of his competition (and eventual winner) came over to congratulate Tony for the degree of respect they gained for him.
                 I don't coach Tony anymore; he has become his own coach. He is still open to my advice; I just know his competitiveness, resourcefulness and his inner sense of motivation will carry him through. I was once told by one of my mentors that to be successful you have to motivate others to action and you have to be motivated BY others. Tony is that person.

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