Louie Katsaros, National Yellow Pages Manager

Louie heads up SMZ’s Yellow Pages and Internet advertising department. And in that capacity he’s developed some of the longest client relationships in the business. Here are just a few client names and their tenures: Arrow Uniform, 14 years; Ford Dealer Groups, 13 years; Flagstar Bank, 14 years; Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center, a whopping 20 years.

Do you feel that your job involves creativity?
In the Yellow Pages Division it’s more organizational. We have deadlines every single day of the year. There’s also a tactical approach in dealing with the publishers – making sure we negotiate the best deals we can for clients. You don’t need a creative thinker in this job, necessarily, but someone who’s more about the relationship and strategic thinking.

What do you like so much about your job?
In 20 years there probably haven’t been ten days when I didn’t feel like going to work. A lot of my clients have become friends. Some of them I’ve worked with for my entire career. They trust what I do, what SMZ does, because we’re straight and honest with them.

What’s your fantasy job? Besides being president?
Playing major league baseball, of course. I’d play for the Tigers, for sure. I’d be the starting pitcher in game seven of the World Series against the Houston Astros.