THE AXELROD GROUP—THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

Dick and Emily Axelrod come from a long line of entrepreneurs. Dick’s grandfather was a tailor, Emily’s dad was a lawyer who never practiced law because he had to take over the family dry goods business, and Dick’s dad manufactured model airplanes. Included in the mix are aunts and uncles who were artists, pianists, university professors, and a hardware store owner. So it was no surprise when in 1981, Dick left a promising career at General Foods to form the Axelrod Group. At the time, Emily was studying to get her second master’s degree, a master of social work.

At the same time as Dick was leaving General Foods, his friend and colleague Jim Shonk landed a huge contract with Ford and needed help. ...

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