Hear about this guy?
Ya know, that guy, the one who’s been the board chair of Wheeling Health Right, the Wheeling Chamber of Commerce, and the Regional Economic Development Partnership who’s now the chair of the Wheeling Police Civil Service Commission and the Oglebay Institute Board of Trustees.
That’s right, the same gentleman who is president of the award-winning Beyond Marketing firm, and – for now anyways – is a past board member of the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority.
Yeah, that guy.
Wanna know more, don’t ya? More about this local volunteer named John Culler?
Well, he’s married to the former Ellen Varlas, an educator of Ohio County Schools and mother of their 32-year-old son, George. Culler was raised in Wadsworth, Ohio, and Bradenton, Fla., and he was a four-year football player for the Bayshore High Bruins. He then studied economics and marketing at a pair of Florida universities before moving to Wheeling in 1987.
And yes, as a matter of fact, Culler is a Pirates fan BUT he’s also a Browns fan, so, ya know, who really can be certain about the man’s sensibility when it comes to his sports fandom?
Right?
But, hey, as far as the man’s community service, Culler’s dedication to the citizens of his adopted city can’t be questioned by even the sanest of honest critics, and that’s because this guy is that guy who’s not just a sitting board member but one who actually serves.
Is one brand better than another brand?
Branding is an interesting area of marketing. Branding of a product is similar to a reputation for a person. The brand for a company is shorthand for the company or product it stands for, such as Southwest Airlines, they are known for two bags fly free, leather seating, no nickel and dime traps on fares.
When brands get outside their lanes, we call that brand incongruity. An example would be if McDonald’s started selling steaks and closed the drive-through. Since their brand is known for fast, inexpensive meals, as opposed to slow expensive meals.
What was the first thing about Wheeling you fell in love with?
I moved to Wheeling in the summer of 1987, I had just married my wife, Ellen, in July of that year. We came to visit Wheeling that summer, to be Godparents for our nephew, Jason, at the Greek Church. While we were in Wheeling, my wife was informed of a teaching position with Ohio County Schools.
After she interviewed and was offered a job, I had an interview with a marketing firm called Harvest Communications here in Wheeling. After we both secured jobs, we moved from Florida to Wheeling.
The first thing I fell in love with was how close everything was; in Florida, it was a 45-minute-to-an-hour drive to most anywhere.
Why is it you are willing to give up so much of your time to serve on the boards you do?
When I first moved to Wheeling, I only knew three people (my wife and her parents). My new employer felt that it was important to be active in the community, so she got me involved with the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce. It was a great way to meet people.
I was in the second class of Leadership Wheeling which was very helpful to me. I was able to do a deep dive into the history of the area. I learned from those experiences that one should be involved in their community to make it a better place.
Did you believe the story of Oglebay Park the first time you heard it?
After moving here and learning about Oglebay Park, the first thing I had to learn was the proper pronunciation!
The story of the Oglebay family is fascinating. I have been very fortunate from my time serving on the Oglebay Institute Board and the past 2.5 years as Chairman to learn the complete history of the Oglebay family. With their great success and wealth, they always understood where they came from, and when they passed, they gave to the citizens of Wheeling a great and wonderful legacy.
It is a legacy that is one of the many things that makes Wheeling a special place.
What makes a real sports fan a real sports fan?
A real sports fan is one who remains a fan when it’s hard to be a fan.
As a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan and season ticket member, I learned that lesson at an early age. Being a fan is kinda like life … it is rarely easy and many times there are great disappointments.
To have any success you can’t give up and you must keep going.
