Providence Author Unveils Corporate Greed and Broken Business Ethics in New Book
Thursday, November 12, 2020
The new book from Providence-based Stephen Griffin is half John Grisham-esque thriller, and half Harvard Business School case study. And, that is a compliment.
Griffin is the most unusual author, but he is the perfect guide that unveils the inner workings of private equity, corporate greed and failed business ethics in 2020.
The book titled, Front Row Seat - Greed and Corruption in a Youth Sports Company is a fast-paced read.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAt some points, it races at a furious speed; in other places, it is academic — who would think that a discussion of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) could be exciting, but when they are the tools to unveil fraud and corporate corruption, the content is actually quite dynamic.
Griffin should know how it all works — the good, bad and the greedy — as he has seen it all.
Griffin is a battle-tested C-suite executive whose career includes everything from transforming startup businesses, serving as CEO to multiple companies to being Governor Gina Raimondo’s first business partner in Point Judith Capital nearly 20 years ago.
The book is intoxicating and it is an amazing piece of work from an industry-insider that was trained as a big four CPA.
“I am a numbers guy. This came out of me after a challenging year,” said Griffin.
Griffin’s pronouncement is a wild understatement. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease — a brutal twist of fate for anyone —all while taking over a company that was in economic and ethical chaos.
The book states that the names, events and places are fictional, and tracks the events of "Epic Sports." It is the same type of disclosure you see at the conclusion of a Law and Order episode, like the one about the Station Fire or hundreds of other actual events.
Griffin writes, "If you identify with the personal attributes of certain questionable characters in the book, I would encourage you to reassess your code of ethics."
The book tears through the inner workings of business and human drama and then, takes a major turn when the U.S. Department of Justice raids one of the company's offices.
Griffin since 2018 has been the CEO of Legacy Global Sports -- a similar business to the company in his book. It is a company that has its own challenges and in 2020 was devastated by the coronavirus.
“I wrote the book in 60 days, writing each morning from 6 AM to 12 noon or so each day,” he said.
For Griffin, a high energy business combatant and former college baseball player, the impact of losing control over his life, energy, and his body has been transformative. "I have had to reevaluate everything in my life," said Griffin. "Parkinson's has forced me to slow down and really focus on what is important."
In the book, Griffin takes us inside negotiations, dealings and double-dealings few are ever privy to.
Front Row Seat - Greed and Corruption in a Youth Sports Company is a binge read and can be purchased on Amazon.
