Wait till THIS Year!

by Ken Scherpelz
VP Sales & Business Development

I realize this is the time of year when those of us in winter weather areas should be preparing for snow by pulling out the shovels from the far corners of the garages we never got to cleaning out this past year—although we promised we would. I have to admit, while most are caught up in preparing for winter’s weather and the season’s many celebrations, I’m still basking in the warm glow brought about by my Boys of Summer.

And by “Boys of Summer,” I, of course, mean my Chicago Cubs. And by “Chicago Cubs,” I mean the 2016 World Series champions.

You may recall, in the fall of 2015, I wrote a blog post about the surprising success of the Cubs, the team identified as the owners of the longest championship drought in professional sports history. Although they made the playoffs that year, they couldn’t keep the momentum going to get past the National League Championship Series.

But this year—THIS year—they put on a show of talent and grit that raised the eyebrows of sports fans as they dominated their division and their opponents and most facets of the game on the way to their first World Championship in 108 years. The team in blue pinstripes that has let me down for the past 59 years finally—FINALLY—came through and won it all. I shared that moment of joy and relief with friends and family who had suffered alongside me, and I still replay highlights of that glorious Game 7 when the Loveable Losers became losers no more.

It’s been over a month since the Cubs came back from a 3–1 game deficit to beat the Cleveland Indians in a series that had something to please every fan of the game. And while snow is starting to gather on some ball fields previously covered in dust and chalk and sweat, Cubs nation is still reminiscing about a different season—baseball season. That final third-to-first out from Bryant to Rizzo presented the long-suffering and much-deserving fans of Chicago Cubs baseball with the greatest gift of all—their dreams actually coming true.

So go ahead with your preparations for and celebrations of winter. For me, those will just have to wait a little longer while I replay the dream-come-true of one spectacular summer.

Did You Know?
The number 108 held great significance in this year’s World Series championship. It had been 108 years since the Cubs last won the Series. There are 108 double stitches on an official Major League baseball. Before this year’s championship appearance, the Cubs had not won a World Series game since 10/8 back in 1945. The left and right field corners of Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, are 108 meters from home plate. And the principal business of the Ricketts family, new owners of the Cubs, is located on South 108th Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska. And—believe it or not—this paragraph is exactly 108 words. It’s fate!

“Wait till Next Year!”

by Ken Scherpelz
VP Sales & Business Development

Most people and events that gain a permanent spot among those we remember and honor are recalled because of the incredible accomplishments achieved, challenges overcome or substantial benefits made available to our country and world. Examples include Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics, Jonas Salk and the development of the polio vaccine, and the United States landing a man on the moon.

Unfortunately, many people and events are remembered because of the complete and utter failure involved in people’s actions or their poorly executed ideas. These “epic fails” have achieved an almost folklore-like status in our history. “Honorees” on this list include the Ford Edsel automobile, Harold Stassen’s nine failed presidential campaigns, “New” Coke and Kevin Costner’s dialect coach in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

One prominent entry on this second list has to be the Chicago Cubs baseball team, known for not winning on such a grand scale that they have become the loveable mascot to people who perennially support the underdog. They won back-to-back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908, but have since only appeared in one World Series in 1945, a year in which the world had more important things on its mind. That means for their 100+ total seasons (since 1903, if you start counting when they officially became the “Cubs”) they have been losers over 98 percent of the time (or—if you prefer a positive perspective—they have been winners almost 2 percent of the time in a league where, currently, each team technically has just over a 3 percent chance of winning).

For the last 58 years I have been a Cubs fan. Since my first trip to Wrigley Field at age 5 until today (less one recent year when I just couldn’t take it anymore), I have been a stalwart fan. There are many Cubs fans just like me. For us, the call “Wait till next year!” is more a warning than a cry of hope. We start anew each April with a new team and a new lineup, but by early July it becomes painfully evident (once again) that we’ll experience the “agony of defeat.” This is the way it has always happened.

Until now.

It’s September, and the Cubs—yes, the CUBS—are on their way to the playoffs. Most likely they’ll gain entry to the postseason as a Wild Card team, but who cares about meaningless labels? It’s the playoffs! Something must have happened with new ownership, a new general manager and much new talent that has brought the team to the brink of success. In just a few short weeks we’ll know whether or not this magic alignment of the planets has been enough to carry them over that brink to victory. I’m staying positive and checking scores every day, getting ready for what could be my once-in-a-lifetime moment, where a World Series win by the Chicago Cubs could change the arc of human history forever.

Or . . . till next year.

Go, Cubs!

Did You Know?

The first ballpark informally called “Wrigley Field,” was located on Catalina Island, just off the California coast. The island was owned by William Wrigley Jr., who used the location as a spring training facility. During the regular season the Cubs played their games at Weeghman Park in Chicago. Weeghman Park was renamed Wrigley Field in 1926.

Employee Spotlight: Ken Scherpelz

This month’s Employee Spotlight features PSG’s VP of Sales & Business Development Ken Scherpelz.

I have seen many changes in the industry since entering educational publishing in 1979. After teaching elementary school for five years—I was the big guy with the long hair and curly beard towering over the first and second graders—I moved to educational publishing, a typical career change for many teachers. I’ve worked for major publishers, including Scott Foresman (now Pearson), Zaner-Bloser/Highlights for Children and McGraw-Hill Education. I have also held management positions with several educational development houses.

I’ve been at PGS since 2006, the longest stretch with one company in my long career. I feel that PSG is the perfect fit for my experience, skills and personality. What we do here is important work when you realize the impact these products can have to help promote education and literacy. From my early days of teaching through my years in publishing, I’ve always been proud of the work I do, and I’m blessed to be able to work in an environment that’s supportive, creative and even fun. I really enjoy my work, as well as the people with whom I work—staff and clients alike.

My wife, Martha, has been a classroom teacher for almost 20 years, and education has always been a priority with my family. Dinner table conversations between us have less to do with paying bills and painting the trim and more to do with Martha’s students and my projects at PSG. Our three grown kids, of whom I am immensely proud, have always been involved with and continue to work in the nonprofit sector, contributing to Habitat for Humanity, advocating for rights for the disabled, and volunteering to teach English in underdeveloped countries.

Born and raised in the Chicago area and the third of seven kids, I have deep roots in the Midwest. Although not really a farm boy, I’m more comfortable among the open spaces of America’s heartland than the mountains or coastal shores. I’m also a long-suffering Chicago Cubs fan, a curse inherited from my grandparents, who took each of their seven grandchildren to the beautiful confines of Wrigley Field when we turned five years old. Regardless if the kids became Cubs fans, the real goal was to make us fall in love with the emerald green ivy in the ballpark and not become White Sox fans. I hope to see a Cubs World Series game (Heck—even a 10-game winning streak would be nice!) during my lifetime.

Little-Known Facts About Ken

A huge fan of classical music, Ken once conducted the Butler University Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a performance of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.” His one and only time on the podium remains a highlight for him.

Employee Spotlight: Meet Ken

by Ken Scherpelz
VP of Sales & Business Development

I have seen many changes in the industry since entering educational publishing in 1979. After teaching elementary school for five years—I was the big guy with the long hair and curly beard towering over the first and second graders—I moved to educational publishing, a typical career change for many teachers. I’ve worked for major publishers, including Scott Foresman (now Pearson), Zaner-Bloser/Highlights for Children and McGraw-Hill Education. I have also held management positions with several educational development houses.

I’ve been at PSG since 2006, the longest stretch with one company in my long career. I feel that PSG is the perfect fit for my experience, skills and personality. What we do here is important work when you realize the impact these products can have to help promote education and literacy. From my early days of teaching through my years in publishing, I’ve always been proud of the work I do, and I’m fortunate to be able to work in an environment that’s supportive, creative and even fun. I really enjoy my work, as well as the people with whom I work—staff and clients alike.

My wife, Martha, has been a classroom teacher for almost 20 years, and education has always been a priority with my family. Dinner table conversations between us have less to do with paying bills and painting the trim and more to do with Martha’s students and my projects at PSG. Our three grown kids, of whom I am immensely proud, have always been involved with and continue to work in the nonprofit sector, contributing to Habitat for Humanity, advocating for rights for the disabled, and volunteering to teach English in underdeveloped countries.

Born and raised in the Chicago area and the third of seven kids, I have deep roots in the Midwest. Although not really a farm boy, I’m more comfortable among the open spaces of America’s heartland than the mountains or coastal shores. I’m also a long-suffering Chicago Cubs fan, a curse inherited from my grandparents, who took each of their seven grandchildren to the beautiful confines of Wrigley Field when we turned five years old. Regardless if the kids became Cubs fans, the real goal was to make us fall in love with the emerald green ivy in the ballpark and not become White Sox fans. I hope to see a Cubs World Series game (Heck—even a 10-game winning streak would be nice!) during my lifetime.

Little-Known Fact About Ken

A huge fan of classical music, Ken once conducted the Butler University Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a performance of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.” His one and only time on the podium remains a highlight for him.

Ken is also a major fan of the Buckeyes (both the candy and the college football team) and was among many cheering late into the night when Ohio State won the College Football Playoff National Championship (CFP) on January 12, 2015.