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Howie Roseman’s Obsession

20 PHILLY ATHLETES TO WATCH IN 2026

George Anastasia’s

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Jillian Mele Celebrating OUR Men & Women OF THE Year Honorees

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FROM THE

PUBLISHER

JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 1

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BY KEN DUNEK

Sport has become transactional. As a boy, I followed my heroes in Chicago. I knew Ernie Banks and Gale Sayers would be in my town for their careers, unless they were traded.

Ken Dunek PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ashley Dunek EDITOR George Brinkerhoff ART DIRECTOR Steve Iannarelli

Bobby Hull of the Blackhawks broke the mold when he signed with the upstart World Hockey Association. This was unheard of, and I was shocked and saddened. The “Golden Jet” would no longer blast the puck in the old and rickety Chicago Stadium as the raucous fans would roar in approval.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS George Anastasia, Jan L. Apple, George Brinkerhoff, Sam Carchidi, Alexandra Dunek, Mark Eckel, Dei Lynam, Anthony Mongeluzo, Kevin Reilly, Mike Shute, Kurt Smith, Dave Spadaro

Now players change uniforms and organizations like they change their socks. And unfortunately, teams show no loyalty either.

Event Coordinator & Administrative Assistant Alexandra Dunek

Baseball players now sign contracts with one- and two-year escape clauses, virtually ensuring they will enter free agency the following year.

Website & Digital Coordinator Spartan Digital Solutions

College football is certainly broken. Coaches now leave their teams in the middle of chasing a national championship. I am not sure how the Lane Kiffin’s of the world explain this to their respective teams, or sleep for that matter.

Editorial gbrinkerhoff@jerseymanmagazine.com

In his case, there are probably 82 million reasons for abandoning the Ole Miss student athletes who worked so hard to get into this position. But I still tune in every day, and try to recapture the feelings about sports that I had in my youth. But the cynicism has dampened my enthusiasm.

Advertising 856-912-4007 Printing Alcom Printing, Harleysville, Pa. Controller Rose M. Balcavage Sales Associates Ashley Dunek, Terri Dunek, JP Lutz JerseyMan/PhillyMan Advisory Board Peter Cordua (Chairman). . . . . . . . . . Cordua Consulting, LLC Don Eichman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alcom Printing Bill Emerson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emerson Group Jerry Flanagan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J Dog Brands Bob Hoey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janney Montgomery Scott Kristi Howell. . . . . . . . Burlington Co. Chamber of Commerce Ed Hutchinson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hutchinson Robert Kennedy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waterworks Metrology Anthony Mongeluzo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCS Charlie Muracco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLM Advisors Ryan Regina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Sky Enterprises Scott Tanker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tanker Business Solutions Joe Tredinnick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fulton Bank Jim Wujcik. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Joseph Fund

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John Maxwell JerseyMan Magazine/PhillyMan Magazine, products of a partnership between Ken Dunek, Anthony Mongeluzo, and Alcom Printing Group, are published by New Opportunity Publishing, LLC, with offices at 5 Perina Boulevard Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. Copyright 2026.

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INSIDE

“You may delay, but time will not.” – Benjamin Franklin

JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 1

40 ON THE COVER

ERIKA ROTHENBERGER BY JAN L. APPLE –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

LEMONROSE GOLF BY MIKE SHUTE –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

LEGENDS REPLAYED BY KURT SMITH –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

JOE CONKLIN, CITY RHYTHM ORCHESTRA BY SAM CARCHIDI –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

HOWIE ROSEMAN BY DAVE SPADARO –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

20 PHILLY ATHLETES TO WATCH IN 2026 BY MARK ECKEL

COLUMNS Cover photo Jeremy Messler Photography

46 1 2 J O T T I N G S • 2 0 G E O R G E A N A S TA S I A’ S M O B S C E N E • 22 DEI LYNAM 24 KEVIN REILLY • 72 THRU THE LENS • 74 GET FIT • 78 TECH TIME

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JOTTINGS

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

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BY GEORGE BRINKERHOFF

– Japanese proverb

Estellville Glassworks & Bethlehem Loading Co. Photo Wikimedia Commons

Remnants of South Jersey’s Industrial Past in the Pine Barrens

Estellville Glassworks Historic District, Estell Manor, NJ

EEP WITHIN the quiet pine barrens of South Jersey are, somewhat surprisingly and incongruently, sites containing the remnants of vast industrial ventures of human endeavor, each with their own unique history. One such remnant is Estellville, New Jersey, on Route 50, a little over three miles from Mays Landing. Here you’ll find the stone ruins of the Estellville Glassworks, a glass factory which operated from 1825-1877 now slowly being reclaimed by the forest. The ruins are located in an Atlantic County park near other related historic sites of the town, including the Old Estell Manor House and a Methodist Church. At the Glassworks site, once presumably a beehive of noise and activity, there are now serene paths with signage explaining the different steps in early American

glassmaking. Each ruined foundation is evidence of a different step in the process towards the finished products which were hollowware (glass bottles) and windowpane glass. The sites include the melting pot furnace, the pot house site, the flattening house site, cutting house and lime kiln sites, and the workers houses site. In an adjacent locale within the same park, you can also check out ruins of an entirely different sort, but with no less of a fascinating industrial history. In the early 20th century, situated on some 10,000 acres, the Bethlehem Loading Company, a subsidiary of the Bethlehem Steel Company, opened a massive but short-lived shell loading operation towards the end of the fighting in the first World War. The Bethlehem Loading Company Historic District comprises what’s left of the 75mm, 155mm and 8-inch shell loading company, as well as officers’ quarters, a power plant, administration buildings, barracks, change houses

and stables. This plant and the related town of Belcoville just north of it on Route 50, where thousands of plant workers lived, were erected simultaneously. While only in operation for a short time (1917-19), the breathtakingly massive scale of both the plant ruins as well as the town is a reminder of the kind of monumental construction that was accomplished by that generation of American people on a war footing.

Loaded shells storage facility

Sources:https://www.atlanticcountynj.gov/government/county-departments/department-of-public-works/division-of-parks-and-recreation/historic-sites-in-atlantic-county/estellville-glassworks. https://www.atlanticcountynj.gov/government/county-departments/department-of-public-works/division-of-parks-and-recreation/historic-sites-in-atlantic-county/bethlehem-loading-company

Philly is Tasty In 2026, that great Philadelphia institution known as Tastykake, turns 112 years old! It all started February 25, 1914, when a baker named Philip Baur and an egg salesman, Herbert Morris, joined forces and opened a bakery in Philadelphia selling delicious small cakes. Their idea was to sell individually wrapped cakes baked fresh daily. The Tasty Baking Company’s now famous Tastykakes are the go-to snack of choice for many Philadelphians as well as fans around the region and the world.

Photo s TastyKake.com

By 2009, Tastykake made “over 4.8 million cakes, donuts, cookies, and pies every day. The processes are almost completely automated and nearly flawless. These snacks are produced in a facility that has ovens approximately 150 feet long, and devours over 135,000 lbs. of sugar daily.… The most popular selling item is Tastykake’s Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes, of which they make about 500,000 a day and over 130 million a year.” As the Tastykake President said at the century mark, “Operating any business for 100 years is no piece of cake—even for a bakery.” Tastykake’s success comes down to “a simple recipe,” he indicated, “delicious, fun snack cakes, a focus on quality and freshness, an outstanding team, and, of course, our fans. Tastykake would not be here without the 100 years of support we’ve received from our community.” Sources: Tastykake: Philadelphia’s Tastiest Cake, By Richard J. Varrasse and Kim Parry, Spring 2009 – Tastykake.com

A Very Jersey Solution

N NEW JERSEY, the solution to turning left across on-coming traffic and risking life and limb, was decided upon long ago. Called the jughandle, it’s a traffic solution that’s so unique to New Jersey, it warranted its own nickname, the “Jersey Left.“ Some say the first one was established in the 1930s, while others attribute it to the 40s or 50s. Whatever the case, by one estimate, there are over 600 currently helping the flow of traffic daily in the Garden State. Simply stated a jughandle is as follows: “Imagine a “mini detour” that guides you away from a direct left turn at an intersection. That’s essentially what a jughandle turn is—an off-ramp that veers off to the right, allowing vehicles to make a safer, more controlled left turn or a U-turn. More specifically, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) design manual (3) defines a jughandle as “an at-grade ramp provided at or between intersections to permit motorists to make indirect left turns and/or U turns.” There are 3 types of jughandle turns according to the NJDOT: • Type A—Forward Ramp • Type B—U-Turn Ramp • Type C—Reverse Ramp

TYPE A TYPE B

The rationale behind New Jersey’s embrace of jughandles lies in their ability to enhance traffic flow, mitigate congestion, and improve safety. By eliminating direct left turns at busy intersections, jughandles minimize the risk of accidents and keep the traffic moving smoothly.” While some out-of-state drivers and confused neophytes complain about having to turn right to go left (or make a U-Turn), the efficacy of the employment of the jughandle has been reinforced by a Federal Highway

TYPE C

Administration (FHWA) study which found that “jughandle intersections result in approximately 26% fewer traffic fatalities and injuries compared to conventional intersections with standard left-hand turn lanes.” Though forged in New Jersey, lots of other states have come to see the light and borrowed this approach, including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Vermont, Illinois as well as our capital, Washington, D.C. n

Sources:https://www.carrollengineering.com/the-jughandle-turn-navigating-new-jerseys-unique-traffic-solution. – www.fhwa.dot.gov, (Traffic Performance of Three Typical Designs of New Jersey Jughandle Intersections), 2016. – NJ Dept. of Transportation.

Legacy Club Event at Parx Casino’s Beer Garden - Bensalem, PA Photos by John Wilchek Photography

Legacy Club Holiday Party at Maggiano’s – Cherry Hill, NJ

Tix For Good Eagles Tailgate – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Chairman’s Club for the Eagles Game – LUCCA Ristorante, Bordentown, NJ.

Chairman’s Club Dinner at Eddie V’s – Cherry Hill, NJ

Legacy Club Event at Chickie’s & Pete’s – Marlton, NJ

MOB SCENE

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BY GEORGE ANASTASIA

The Economic Engine of Organized Crime

OMMY DELGIORNO said it best. “Gambling is the wheel that makes everything else go around.” This was back in 1985 when he was being questioned by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation during one of several debriefing sessions. DelGiorno and Nicholas “Nicky Crow” Caramandi were the two major mob turncoats whose testimony helped federal authorities dismantle the Nicky Scarfo crime family in the late 1980s. Scarfo died in prison. Most of the leaders of the Philadelphia mob who came after him ended up behind bars. Mob bosses come and go. But gambling remains the economic engine of organized crime. It generates cash. It provides customers and/or victims. It’s a form of networking that leads to other legal and illegal business opportunities. It’s a catalyst for the mob’s highly lucrative loan-sharking operations. Gambling is the pathway to racketeering. A series of events at the end of 2025 underscored that point. One was the highly entertaining and informative Netflix documentary series “Mob War: Philadelphia versus the Mafia.” I was fortunate to work as a consultant, along with my mob reporting colleague Dave Schratwieser, on the three-part series that focused on the war between John Stanfa and Joey Merlino. Electronic surveillance was a critical element in that federal investigation. Listening devices planted in the office of Camden defense attorney Salvatore Avena provided a treasure trove of evidence after authorities were able to establish that Stanfa was using his lawyer’s office to conduct mob meetings and mob business. But what wasn’t mentioned in the series was how that investigation began. It started, as so many mob cases do, as a gambling investigation. A student at LaSalle University had gotten himself in a jam betting on baseball

games with a mob-connected bookmaker. When he couldn’t pay a $3,925 debt, the mob began to put pressure on him. He panicked, went to his father and his father took him to the FBI. (A quick aside, baseball is the worst sport to bet. Too many variables.) So, when a mob enforcer began to threaten the student during a meeting on the LaSalle campus, the young, troubled gambler was wired for sound. “You went in and you bet thirty-nine hundred this week with no f—kin’ money,” the

the NBA and other professional sports leagues that have gotten in bed with the gambling industry ought to put pressure on the industry to do away with that piece of the action. Those bets, which are primarily built around individual athlete performances, are ripe for manipulation. If gambling is now a legitimate part of the American sports world, those types of bets need to be prohibited. If not, every time a player has a game in which his performance is subpar, there will be the

Federal authorities detailed a major gambling case tied to the NBA that, to date, has implicated a coach, a player and an ex-player. Some sources are saying this is just the tip of the iceberg… mob enforcer asked. “I mean, are you out of your f—kin’ mind or what?” The LaSalle investigation led to a major bookmaker in South Jersey who in turn led the feds to Stanfa and the meetings in Avena’s office. With that, the case was off and running. But it all started as a gambling probe. The Netflix series premiered in October. A few weeks later, federal authorities detailed a major gambling case tied to the NBA that, to date, has implicated a coach, a player and an ex-player. Some sources are saying this is just the tip of the iceberg, a look into how organized crime has tainted the “legitimate” gambling industry. The two-pronged federal investigation focused both on “proposition” bets which may have been manipulated and high stakes poker games in which the coach and other celebrities were used as so-called “face cards” to attract high rollers to rigged card games in which millions of dollars were lost. Proposition bets are bad for business and

suspicion that something untoward was involved. And each time the integrity of the sport will be questioned.

HE RIGGED POKER GAMES are another matter. This was the mob flat-out cheating. Using sophisticated devices like x-ray rigged tables and special eyeglasses used to read marked cards, the mob-linked player in the game was able to bet accordingly and walk away with tens of thousands of dollars in “winnings.” This, of course, flies in the face of a major concept in the world of organized crime and gambling. In the long run, the only way to sustain the business is to offer an honest game. No less an authority than Meyer Lansky established that principle when he was appointed the “gambling czar” of Cuba in the 1950s. Lansky’s plan to turn the island into an adult fantasy land built around casinos, lavish entertainment and beautiful hookers began with a simple premise. He said that the

casinos in Havana, which had a reputation for ripping off and cheating customers, would have to be run legitimately. Lansky knew that the house always came out ahead in a well-run casino. And to attract and, more importantly, keep serious gamblers coming the games had to be run honestly. The NBA scandal is certainly a black eye for professional sports. But it also taints any and every mob-run gambling operation. Whether you’re betting ten dollars or ten-thousand dollars you want to believe that you have a fair shot at winning. Why a high stakes poker player would seek out a mob-run game over a game at a casino is now a question that many high rollers will be asking. Finally, on the gambling front, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office brought two major gambling cases last year aimed at members of the Lucchese crime family. The first case revolved around back-room poker games and sports betting and targeted three major leaders of the crime family, including “Big Joe” Perna and his cousin John Perna. The second, announced two months ago, focused on an alleged two-million-dollar sports betting ring allegedly financed by “Little Joe” Perna, the brother of John Perna. The Pernas have been described as a crime family within a crime family. Defendants in the most recent case include Little Joey’s son, stepson and nephew along with a group of their twenty-something friends. Sports betting with college athletes allegedly playing a role in the business has added another troubling twist to the case.

HE BETTING RING was based in North Jersey but included operators in Rhode Island and Florida. The young Pernas’ involvement, if proven, would mark the fourth generation of the Perna family involved in mob gambling operations. An ironic disclaimer in all this. Unlike the NBA-linked scandal, there is no indication from state authorities that either of the Perna cases involved rigged or fixed games or bets. Millions of dollars were generated the way Meyer Lansky envisioned it. “Despite the proliferation of legal betting of all kinds, gambling remains a mainstay of members and associates of organized crime,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in announcing the indictments back in November. A mainstay, or in other words, “the wheel that makes everything else go around.” n 21

DEI LYNAM

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A.I. is in Maxey’s corner

HROUGH NINETEEN GAMES of this NBA season, Tyrese Maxey is third in scoring, averaging 32.3 points, and seventh in assists at 7.6 per contest. Every night, number 0 gives the Sixers a fighting chance at victory. He electrifies the crowds

Photos courtesy Dei Lynam

Maxey

with his speed, finesse, and ability to finish acrobatic shots, not to mention his threepoint shooting prowess. Sixers fans have not seen this kind of entertaining play from an individual since number 3 was going end to end, attacking the paint with the fearlessness this city loved and still applauds today. Allen Iverson set the highest standard for basketball entertainment, showcasing it from his first game as a rookie through the day he was traded in 2006. Almost 20 years have passed since Iverson’s Sixers career ended, but he remains a Sixer through and through, using the word “we” when describing the team’s current play. When he speaks about Maxey and his new backcourt mate, VJ Edgecombe, the admiration is undeniable. “I’m just excited. I’m their number one 22

fan,” Iverson said. “I love my team. I’m looking forward to great things. When we don’t do as well as we should, I always get flak. People talk badly to me. Because they know this is where my heart is at. But I’ve got something for them this year!” When asked if he sees himself in Maxey’s play, Iverson didn’t hesitate to answer. “That’s a fact,” Iverson said. “He’s just bigger and stronger, but with the same killer attitude. He has the same confidence. And I love it. I love everything about him. Iverson was a 6-foot point guard weighing 165 pounds. Maxey has him beat by two inches and 35 pounds. As Maxey’s game has grown into the all-star level it is, Iverson has constantly encouraged him to be the leader and star he is capable of being. “A.I. has been in my corner for a long time, probably since the day I was drafted,” Maxey said. “I appreciate him. He is a Philly legend. He is a Philly great, if not the greatest. He brings a lot of energy and positivity. He pushes me to be the best version of myself and to go out there and leave it all on the floor. That is what I try to do.” Iverson is not alone in seeing the greatness Maxey, now in his sixth NBA season, possesses. Maxey’s current teammates marvel at what he is doing and want to do their part to lessen his hefty load.

Dei Lynam interviews Allen Iverson

“He’s a warrior,” Paul George described. “There is no question about it. He is a warrior and a fighter. He takes so many hits. Teams continue to hold him and grab him. He hits

the ground so many times, and he bounces right back up. There is a leadership about him. When he’s out there, I play for him. I do everything I can to make the game easier for him. He’s our guy. For me, as a veteran, it’s inspiring. For him to consistently do it and be efficient with all the minutes he is playing, it is impressive.”

N DECEMBER 1ST, Tyrese Maxey was the only player in the NBA averaging 40 minutes a game. “He is elite,” VJ Edgecombe said. “He is so dynamic. He is really good at basketball, so I sit there and watch the shots he makes. Now I expect it. I am not surprised by anything he does.” The one teammate who can best relate to what Maxey is doing is Joel Embiid. It feels like a lifetime ago, but there was a time Embiid put together an MVP season. In the 2022-23 season, Embiid averaged 33 points and 10 rebounds. Maxey is in the MVP conversation for this season, and Embiid will do whatever he can to assist his point guard. The problem is his body will not let him do what his brain and heart want. “I do feel bad,” Embiid said. “It’s unfortunate, but I can only control what I can control. If anyone thinks I don’t want to play every game, that is their problem. I would give anything to play basketball. I feel bad for the minutes Tyrese has to play and the load that he has to handle. I have been there. But you have to trust in what you are doing and in God and be okay with the fact that whatever happens, happens. “I’m doing my rehab and trying to come back as soon as I can. He is having a champion-like season. I wish I could be part of it. It’s amazing what he has been able to accomplish this season. He has done a fantastic job.” Tyrese Maxey is a breath of fresh air in today’s professional sports world. His work ethic is unmatched, and his personality is charismatic. He deserves all the praise that is coming his way. n

KEVIN REILLY

Kevin Reilly is an author, motivational speaker, and former Philadelphia Eagle. To contact Kevin Reilly, visit https://www.kevinreilly52.com

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The Real New Beginning

Photos courtesy Kevin Reilly

EW BEGINNINGS” sounds like a gentle idea. Doesn’t it? Like turning a page in a storybook. In the NFL, we deal with violent, sudden beginnings: the snap of the ball, the crack of the pads. The language of the game is all about the comeback, the two-minute drill, the second-half surge. But a real new beginning, the kind that demands every ounce of your soul, doesn’t start with a whistle. It begins in silence after everything you relied on has been taken away. I played linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots in the 1970s. I wasn’t a superstar, but I was a captain. I showed up, hit hard, and my teammates knew they could count on me. My professional career ended suddenly when a doctor diagnosed me with a rare desmoid tumor in my shoulder. Three short years into a dream I had worked my entire life for, it was over. The “new beginning” I was handed wasn’t a gift; it was a crisis. The team let me go. The future I had envisioned was shattered. I underwent

Then, one morning, as I struggled to do the simplest tasks, a deep realization hit me: the“comeback” wasn’t a physical act. It was an internal one. a major amputation: my left arm, shoulder, and five ribs were removed to save my life. I was 29 years old. I hit rock bottom, facing a life that felt completely unrecognizable. I had always relied on my physical strength, my speed, and my ability to out-muscle the man across from me. That resilience was gone. The system had failed me, and I felt utterly alone. Then, one morning, as I struggled to do the simplest tasks, a deep realization hit me: the “comeback” wasn’t a physical act. It was an internal one. I had to build a new kind of resilience—self-reliance—a muscle I’d let atrophy while I was busy lifting weights. We’re in 2026 now, decades after my amputation. For most people, New Year’s is about making resolutions. For me, every day is a resolution. The daily challenges I face serve as the training ground for my ongoing comeback. Want to know how anyone can handle life’s daily challenges? You search for inspiration wherever you can find it and look for that grit in others. Take the Phillies’ catcher, J.T. Realmuto. That guy motivates me to push through my own daily pain and struggles. You see him get completely slammed in a collision at home plate, the kind of hit that makes you wince, and you think he’s finished for the season. But he 24

gets up, shakes it off, and keeps playing. That’s real, unfiltered resilience. It reminds me that pain is only temporary, but grit lasts forever. If J.T. can take that physical beating and stay focused on the next pitch, I can manage the everyday frustrations of living one-handed. That is the mentality that guides me into 2026.

How You Can Tackle Your Daily Challenges My Playbook for Resilience It does not matter if your challenge is physical like mine, a financial struggle, or a relationship that is falling apart. The principles are universal. Here are the four tips for building resilience and tackling your daily life challenges:

1. Acknowledge the Fumble, Then Focus on the Next Play I lost my limb. I acknowledge that reality every morning. But I don’t dwell on it. You might have made a mistake, failed an exam, or lost a

job. That is the fumble. Dust yourself off immediately and focus on the “next play.” The present moment is the only one you control.

2. Develop Your “4 F’s” Reliance Strategy I used to rely on a coach’s game plan. My new strategy is the “4 F’s”: Faith, Family, Friends, and Fortitude. Your team is your greatest asset. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help, so lean on your people.

3. Seek Out the Daily Win My goal for 2026 isn’t to climb Mount Everest. It’s to have a “daily win.” It might be a productive morning of work, a good conversation with my grandchildren, or simply managing a task that requires extra dexterity. The daily win builds momentum. It reminds you that you are capable. These small, consistent victories are how you win the season of life.

4. Find Purpose in Mentorship My comeback wasn’t about fame. It was about finding value in the quiet work. I found my purpose in speaking to groups, sharing my story of resilience, and helping others find their “next play.” When you help someone else, you give your own suffering a purpose. You can do the same. The journey from an NFL player to an amputee facing the unknown was like a crash landing. But the journey from that operating table to a life of purpose and inspiration? That’s the real story. The comebacks worth writing about aren’t about the final score on a board; they are about getting up one more time than when you fall. So, bring it on, 2026. Every sunrise is a new beginning. I’m ready for the daily challenge, and I know you are too. You have the grit. Use it. n

www.erikarothenberger.com 26

The Unstoppable Erika Rothenberger

BY JAN L. APPLE

Photos courtesy Erika Rothenberger

ivil engineer, motivational speaker, podcaster, author, wellness entrepreneur, creator of the Audacious Women’s Summit that debuted in October 2025 and more, Erika Rothenberger is all about the power of connections and inspiring women to reach their goals, dreams and unlimited potential. Speaking of inspiration, Rothenberger noted that the 2025 summit, held at Hotel West & Main in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, was so successful that she plans to offer it on an annual basis. With a sold-out crowd of 180 women, she said that feedback from the attendees has been phenomenal. “I truly believe that we have to lift others as we rise,” said Rothenberger, adding that the summit provided an opportunity to create a magical space for women to connect and take their lives to the next level. It also raised funds for Girls on the Run (www.girlsontherun.org). And since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, attendees were asked to wear a splash of pink: a scarf, lipstick, an entire outfit. “I couldn’t be more humbled and honored that these women trusted me, but also walked out of there with such invigoration, willing to make such drastic changes in their lives,” said Rothenberger. About a month after the event, the women met again on a Zoom call to catch up, reconnect and share stories.

At left, and above, Erika Rothenberger with guests at her sold out Audacious Women’s Summit.

Rothenberger explained that the summit, many of her speaking engagements and her soon-to-be-released (February 22, 2026) book, “Audacious Expansion,” grew out of a deeply traumatic, life-altering experience.

In June 2022, as she was getting out of her car in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, she was brutally assaulted by a man, a total stranger. “He punched me in the face, grabbed me by the hair, threw me to the asphalt pavement and proceeded to strangle me,” recalled Rothenberger. Although she survived the attack, it changed the trajectory of her life. She went to court multiple times in hopes of changing what she described as an extremely odd law. “If you are strangled by a stranger in Pennsylvania, it’s considered a (second-degree) misdemeanor, not a felony,” she said. The assailant, she elaborated, had recently been released from prison. He assaulted four women the night before in Philadelphia and escaped law enforcement. 27

Andy and Erika Rothenberger with children, Adelyn, 9, Drew, 12, and their dog, Argus.

Rothenberger has been in trauma therapy for several years and continues to work on healing while striving to share her strength with others. The 40-something Rothenberger resides in Montgomery County with her husband, Andy, and children, Drew, 12, and Adelyn, 9. A native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, she is the director of performance systems at Henkels & McCoy, a utility contractor. With headquarters in Blue Bell, they specialize in the utility construction space. This encompasses designing, building and maintaining infrastructure for the utility and communications industries. Rothenberger earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Villanova University, followed by an MBA. She has worked in the construction industry for 22 years and is considered a leader in the field.

As a civil engineer, Rothenberger shared that only about 10 percent of the industry is comprised of women. She knew this going in, but it never deterred her. “I’ve always considered myself an audacious trailblazer in the industry,” said Rothenberger, adding that when she started out, the number of women was far less. She is proud to have established two women’s empowerment groups in the industry, and many of her speaking engagements focus on the challenges of being a woman in a maledominated field. “I always have my hard hat and steel-toe boots in the back of my car,” shared Rothenberger, explaining that these are the boots required when entering a construction site. Interestingly, a pair of stilettos, a stark contrast from the steel-toe boots, is the logo for the Audacious Women’s Summit. Rothenberger’s keynote topics run the gamut, but she described them all as “inspiring talks that spark change.” She has given TEDx presentations and spoken at a wide range of places, including Merck Pharmaceuticals, PECO, the National Association of Women in Construction and Princeton

Photo courtesy Erika Rothenberger

“I truly believe that we have to lift others as we rise. I couldn’t be more humbled and honored that these women trusted me.”

University, to name a few. Why civil engineering? Rothenberger’s uncle and grandfather were both mechanical engineers. Even as a child, she was keenly aware that there weren’t many women in the industry. An experience in seventh grade sparked her interest. During a Take Your Daughter to Work Day, she accompanied a female civil engineer to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Boston. Instead of going to work with her mother (a schoolteacher) or father (in business), it was the parent of a student in her mother’s class who brought her to work. “I think that was the seed,” recalled Rothenberger. “I fell in love with the profession.”

Connections and Transforming Trauma into Positivity “When I think about audacity, I think about being brave and bold,” said Rothenberger, stating her philosophy on setbacks. “Trust the process, lean into the discomfort and know that this moment and your perceived setback is actually a setup for your most audacious becoming yet.” In revealing what helped her gain strength following the brutal assault, she shared: “It wasn’t the doctors, the nurses or even the therapy. It was the connections that I had and the people who were there for me during some of the darkest, hardest times in my life. I realized that I wanted to create a community for other women because we’ve all had punches, we’ve all had setbacks. Maybe their punch wasn’t a literal, physical punch. It could be that they went through a bitter divorce, their child had a terminal illness, they lost a parent.” According to Rothenberger, we’ve all had them; the challenge is how to use those “punches” or setbacks as a strength to not only build ourselves but to build other women. The summit, coupled with her book, is the embodiment of her goal to create that supportive community. “The first chapter is ‘Punch or Pivot,’” said Rothenberger, “Will you let it define you or will you let it refine you into someone more audacious, more expansive and more alive than you ever thought possible?”

Grit, Grace & Glitz Podcast Rothenberger’s weekly podcast began at the height of COVID. “At the time, it was a way to build connections with people,” she remembered. “It reminds us that we have to be gritty in life to go after our goals and dreams, give ourselves and others the grace we need and deserve, but celebrate the glitz.” The glitz to which she refers is not the Louis Vuitton bag or shiny new car, but rather the things we do daily to spark joy and connection for people. Since the assault in 2022, the podcasts, with universal appeal, have taken on new meaning. Her listeners continue to be both women and men, and she shares real-life stories of those who have overcome obstacles and are now using that as a light for others. “How are you spreading joy and goodness?” asked Rothenberger, who aims to inspire celebrating small feats on a daily basis. “Sometimes we wait for those monumental things,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s those small things that are pushing us forward.”

Boundless Energy To call Rothenberger energetic is an understatement. But how does she accomplish so much in her waking hours? There may not be one typical day, but she shared a standard timeline. “I get up between 3:30 and 3:45 a.m.,” she revealed. It’s a time dedicated to mindset work followed by a trip to the gym at 5 a.m. She is passionate about fitness and strength of mind and body. Rothenberger returns home at 6:30 a.m. to wake up her 30

children to get ready for school. Then it’s a full day – 9 to 5 – in the office. After work, it’s not unusual for Rothenberger to host a women’s networking event. On a recent November evening, for example, as a board member of POWER – The Power of Professional Women (www.powerw.org), a leadership development organization founded by women to serve women, she hosted a program entitled Tee Up for Success. Rothenberger also leads the organization’s Women’s Executive Roundtable Group.

What Keeps Her Going? “My biggest why is always my kids,” said Rothenberger. “Just showing them that the legacy we leave is not the money in our bank account or the material objects, but the life we want them to lead.” Her husband and children are the motivation that push her forward, even when times are difficult and she feels like throwing in the towel. “They’re the ones that make me want to jump out of bed every day,” she said. n

Jillian Mele (L) and Kristen Casey, founders of LemonRose Golf.

On Course with LemonRose Golf

BY MIKE SHUTE people know who we are and learn who they are. That’s going to be a big part of our brand… We’re starting this from scratch, and we put our blood, sweat and tears in this for a reason because we feel like it’s important and because it’s needed. We want women to feel like someone gets them and someone is building this with and for them.” “I’m so excited to get to Orlando and get to the PGA Show,” said Casey, who worked in advertising after graduating from LaSalle in 2005. “This falls under the category of things I never thought I’d be doing. But I’m so proud and excited to be doing it. Having that moment where we can have our booth designed exactly how we want it. Like our apparel, it’s super per-

sonal. Every detail has meaning to us and our booth will emulate that just as much as the clothing does. But to be able to have that first meeting, and that first conversation, I just have chills thinking about it.”

Growing the game for women As part of their brand building and grassroots marketing, the LemonRose ladies held a golf and networking outing for female golfers — Intentional Impact — at Merchantville Country Club, a private facility in Cherry Hill, NJ, back in October. For Mele and Casey, the risk was Jillian Mele, shown here anchoring the news in Philadelphia, is a two-time Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Award winner.

Photos courtesy Jillian Mele / LemonRose Golf

OR FORMER TELEVISION personality Jillian Mele and one of her best friends (and business partner), Kristen Casey, taking risks and making pivots in their respective professional lives has led them to a place neither thought they’d exactly find themselves when they first met on the campus of LaSalle University in Northwest Philly nearly 25 years ago. Later this month, this very dynamic duo will debut their golf apparel brand, LemonRose Golf. And they’re not just whipping out some drawings, designs, or swatches of fabric to post on social media for their friends and followers to glimpse and reply with messages of congratulations or applause emojis. Mele and Casey are going right into the belly of the beast. They’ll be debuting their clothing line at the world’s largest global gathering of the golf industry, the 2026 PGA Show, Jan. 20-23, in Orlando, FL. It’s a massive annual trade show where thousands of professionals from the golf industry gather to network, learn business strategies, check out the latest equipment, tech gear, accessories and, of course, apparel. This fashion quest has been years in the making. Mele would complain to Casey about the clothes she’d wear on TV and suggested they come up with designs for dresses and, later, blazers. Those ideas never materialized. Casey, who in one of her career pivots earned a master’s degree in Global Fashion from Jefferson University ( formerly Philadelphia University) in 2015, had keen insight into the industry from her grad schoolwork and traveling to study in Italy and China. Eventually, they found common ground on the fairways and greens of the golf course. Each woman has played golf and truly enjoyed it. What they didn’t like was what they called the “shrink-it-and-pink-it” approach to women’s apparel — basically taking men’s golf apparel, shrinking the sizes down and making it pink — and agreed they could do much better. “I just felt there was a big gap in the marketplace for women’s golf apparel and I felt like it was underserved,” said Mele, who got her start in television as an intern at then-Comcast SportsNet in Philly and last appeared on the airwaves as an anchor and reporter for 6abc’s Action News in early 2023. “We can’t wait to let

creating a line of women’s golf apparel, and he should carry it in the store. That’s the biggest compliment we could have ever received.” It’s no secret that women’s sports are booming right now. Golf is no exception. Mele cited a quote from Mike Whan, the CEO of the United States Golf Association in which he said, “If women’s golf was a stock, you’d buy it because it’s what’s driving our game forward.” In 2024, according to the National Golf Foundation, a record 28 percent of all on-course golfers were women and the total number of women golfers increased to nearly eight million, marking the fifth straight year that total has increased.

Pivot points Casey fitting an approved sample in Los Angeles.

recognized by a woman who was at their Merchantville event. “A woman came up to me and said, ‘I was at your outing in October, and I can’t wait for the next one. I want to be at everything you girls do.’ I was shocked and I was caught off guard,” Casey said. “She was just looking at clubs and when I walked in, she was telling the salesman in the store that she met us at our outing, we’re

Before going all in on their golf apparel business, Mele and Casey had other careers, but while in those other professions, they always came back to discussions about fashion. And they both found pivot points to lead them to the partnership they’ve always envisioned. Mele said she was told she was “crazy” to give up the television career that saw her on the air from 2001 at her first job in northern Maine to stops in Binghamton, NY, NBC10 and CSN in Philly, Fox News network in New York City, and then back to Philly (6ABC). Before

Photo courtesy Jillian Mele / LemonRose Golf

whether anyone would actually come. “There was this fear, ‘What if four people show up, what are we going to do?’” said Casey, a 2001 graduate of Wall Township High School in Monmouth County, NJ. “Then, the registrations started rolling in and within two or three days, we were selling out. That was the most incredible feeling.” They wound up not only selling out but adding some extra spots when a few women walked up to participate. They had 45 golfers on the nine-hole South Jersey course. “As a female, I don’t hit it that far,” Mele said of her own golf game. “I’m hitting extra shots every hole and I put extra pressure on myself. And I know a lot of women do it too, where we feel rushed or anxious. We don’t want to hold anyone up so we put this pressure on ourselves and that makes it not as enjoyable. Part of what LemonRose Golf is trying to do is say to women and girls, ‘It’s OK… you’re at a place where you belong. If you want to take your time, take your time. You want to use our clubs, use our clubs. If you’ve never picked up a golf club before and still want to try it, we‘ll stand right next to you and we’ll help you.’” Following the outing, Casey experienced a moment of pride. While shopping for a putter at a golf specialty store in the region, she was

jumping out of the media completely in 2023, she began the pursuit of her MBA part-time at LaSalle in 2021, eventually graduating in 2024. “For a few years, leading up to when I left the media, I just had this unsettled feeling inside, like something wasn’t right. I wasn’t where I was supposed to be,” said Mele, who graduated in 2001 from Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in Gwynedd Valley, PA. “Eventually, it became so much that I’d wake up in the middle of the night having anxiety and panic attacks. I couldn’t figure out why. I started to journal and write a lot down and I started to listen to myself. Eventually, the discomfort got so loud I couldn’t ignore it.” Meanwhile, a few separate factors — pursuit of grad school full-time, the birth of her daughter, and the COVID-19 pandemic — caused Casey to re-think her line of work on a couple of occasions. She had originally worked in advertising and after graduating from LaSalle in 2005, left that role and got her aforementioned masters, which led to her get a job as a personal stylist with the Anthropologie brand, a part of Urban Outfitters. “I took some time off to start our family and had my daughter,” Casey said. “Then I was starting my own business and had just gone through all of the steps. I had this dream of creating my own personal styling company for several years and then COVID hit and there was one thing no one did for a few years, and that was get dressed for the day. It was not what I intended, but I had to pivot.”

Then in September 2024, Mele was again lamenting about clothing, this time the limited apparel she could (or couldn’t) find in stores and the two friends had their voila moment. They’d design golf clothing for women. From that point on, it’s been full-speed ahead for these two creative, driven friends. Casey explained: “A little over a year ago, Jillian said, ‘I think I have it. What about women’s golf?’ And that was it! We’re absolutely going to start creating something together. We started sketching that night, and we never looked back.”

On course Both Mele and Casey grew up playing sports, but they each sort of forced their way into the game of golf, taking up the game with male family members. In March 2015, while on a week-long vacation with extended family in Aruba, Mele said the men had planned on golfing a few times during the trip. “There was this one day where I just said, ‘You know what, I want to play. I’m gonna be the only woman, but I’m going to play.’ I wanted to see what it was all about.” She was hooked and her favorite playing partner is her dad, Tom. Casey started in the game a bit earlier, right after high school. She had a cousin and an uncle who played. “I’d beg my cousin just to ‘take me to the driving range, take me somewhere.’ I would tell him, ‘You’re good at the game and

Photo courtesy Jillian Mele / LemonRose Golf

“ Part of what LemonRose Golf is trying to do is say to women and girls, ‘It’s OK… you’re at a place where you belong.”

For more information about LemonRose Golf, visit www.lemonrosegolf.com or send an email to hello@lemonrosegolf.com. I just want to learn,’ because I felt it was a sport that I could continue to participate in for many years.” Now they’ve taken their love of golf, their various areas of expertise (business, fashion, media, advertising) and combined it all to create LemonRose Golf. They want to be in it for the long haul, creating not just clothing, but a place for women to both dress the part and find their way in the sport. “We want to be so much more than an apparel brand,” Mele said. “I look at us as a way to build confidence in women who want to play golf, whether they’ve picked up a golf club or not.” And Mele and Casey will make sure those women look good doing so. n

LemonRose Golf Outing at Merchantville (NJ) Country Club.

ur 10th Annual Unmasking “Tournament O of Champions” Event, presented by T.C. Irons Insurance, was a night for the books!

Photo: John Wilckeck Photography

With special guests like SWOOP, Harold Carmichael, Mike Quick, Garry Cobb, Jason Avant, Phil Martelli and more, we packed the house for a special 10-year anniversary Unmasking. osted by former broadcast journalist, Jillian Mele (below), JerseyMan H & PhillyMan Magazine recognized their six Men & Women of the Year Honorees for their dedication to both their profession and their community. For our 10th anniversary, we brought back our top winning honorees from the past for a special red carpet Unmasking event. With every ticket purchased came a “vote” for one of our Honorees and a charity that is meaningful to them. Because of the efforts of our 2025 Honorees, their charities, our silent auction, and the help of Tito’s Handmade Vodka and PayDay Employer Solutions, we donated a record-high amount of $35,000 to our Honoree charities!

Bill Brandt • Supporting Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

All six of our Honorees are WINNERS! Winners in their profession and winners in our community. But JerseyMan loves friendly competition and this was a contest, so we are proud to recognize our top two Honorees for 2025. Our runner-up was Bill Brandt, Partner at Traino’s Wine & Spirits who supported the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation which received a donation of $10,000. And our winner, for the second year in a row, is Marla Viturello, Partner at Synergy Pharmacy who supported the Eagles Autism Foundation, which received a $15,000 donation! Thank you to all our 2025 Honorees, our Sponsors and all 600 of our friends, family and clients who purchased tickets and came out to support our biggest event of the year. We can’t wait to see you all for year 11! 40

Suzy Pratowski • Supporting Bringing Hope Home

Photos: Jeremy Messler Photography

Jerry Flanagan • Supporting The JDog Foundation

Lloyd Freeman • Supporting Philadelphia Ballet

Kimberly S. Reed • Supporting Philadelphia Hope Lodge

Marla Viturello • Supporting Eagles Autism Foundation 41

Photos: John Wilckeck Photography

presented by

Photos: John Wilckeck Photography

presented by

Photos: John Wilckeck Photography

LEGENDS REPLAYED BY KURT SMITH

Photo courtesy Mike Gendler

Veteran music industry insider Mike Gendler takes readers inside the world of tribute bands through his podcast, Tribute Band Sessions.

that Pink Floyd used. “I know, being a musician, what it takes to put on a performance like that. The size of the show that it is, the production, the musicianship, the talent. It’s not just a tribute band, it’s a business. They have a full team behind them that manages what they do.” It’s more than a business, actually. As Gendler points out, tribute acts are a billion-dollar industry. Tribute Band Sessions features plenty of stories of performers who went from playing small clubs to selling out similar-sized venues the original acts played in.

Why are tribute acts so popular? Gendler cites two fairly obvious reasons. “One is, as we all know, to see the original artists is not cheap anymore. It’s an expensive venture, especially if you’re taking the family. What a tribute band gives you is a different experience. Seeing that artist you were going to pay a lot of money for, for two hours, you’re experiencing that artist. “The other thing you have to consider is that some bands, especially older bands, aren’t touring anymore. This allows you to experience what it’s like to see Led Zeppelin. Is Photo courtesy Mike Gendler

F YOU PULL UP EVENT CALENDARS for many venues these days, you might be surprised at how many acts you can see recreating stage shows of legendary artists. Just at the Keswick Theatre, as this sentence was written, you could order tickets for The Machine Performs Pink Floyd, Lez Zeppelin, Let’s Sing Taylor, and acts recreating the live experience of Chicago, Bob Seger, Johnny Cash, and Rod Stewart. Mike Gendler, a Philly native and lifelong veteran of the music industry, has noticed the rise of the replica rockers. Gendler’s podcast, Tribute Band Sessions, chronicles well-known tribute acts and their growing success in duplicating the experience of musical legends. The show occasionally features current Chicago drummer Ray Yslas, who can certainly speak to the challenges of playing classics on stage, as a co-host. This business goes well beyond mere cover bands. As an example, Gendler cites The Australian Pink Floyd Show, the subject of a recent episode. “They were talking about the days when they started out, playing Pink Floyd in a small pub without the light show,” Gendler says. “They played pubs for years, but the one thing they got was, ‘you sound exactly like the record.’ “That particular band is selling out Red Rocks now. If you see their show, they have the screens, they have the light show. They have the amount of people it takes, musician-wise, to sound like Pink Floyd. They even have floats

Philly native Mike Gendler in the recording studio.

Photo courtesy Mike Gendler

‘‘

This allows you to experience what it’s like to see Led Zeppelin. Is it exactly Led Zeppelin? No, of course not. But the sound of it, the experience of a live show in a concert venue, is as close as you’re gonna get.”

it exactly Led Zeppelin? No, of course not. But the sound of it, the experience of a live show in a concert venue, is as close as you’re gonna get.” So, at the risk of us fifty-somethings becoming our parents, maybe the musical artists of our youth really were that great. “The music that they wrote, it resonates,” Gendler says. “And it resonates across different generations. During these interviews, they say they are so surprised at the youth that comes to shows. They’re getting an experience that they wouldn’t have gotten, or can’t get, going to see a band like Led Zeppelin.”

ENDLER KNOWS A BIT about how bands earn a living. He’s lived every corner of it, from playing in bands to building and managing them. “I grew up in Philadelphia, with the Philadelphia music scene. I was playing around the city with an original band (So Sydney). We had really good management, good opportunities.” Those opportunities included playing a post-concert show for the actual Pink Floyd. “Our band packed up our gear within a three-hour call, headed to, I believe it was called the Phoenix Club in Philly, and set up. They came over there, and next thing you

know, we’re doing a set for Pink Floyd. Just such a cool night.” Despite having played in front of Pink Floyd, Gendler was realistic enough to recognize the big record deal wasn’t happening. He made a career pivot, founding EBE (Events Beyond Expectations) in an office on Delaware Avenue. “Music was something that I loved. I wanted to see if there was another avenue to make money. I quickly learned about the private event scene

and decided to start a company that did private events. Started with one band in a basement, back in, I think it was the 2000s. I had a partner; we both came from business backgrounds.” How do you stand out in such a business? By building acts, not just booking them. “I wanted to create a higher-level product than what I saw out there, to actually produce bands. Build them from the ground up, and then shape them with production the way I wanted to, so I could tell them what songs to play. “What it allowed me to do was, if the music changes, the bands aren’t still playing the same old, same old. We could shape it and shift it. I built 17 bands from the ground up, everything from three piece to 15-piece bands with big horn sections.” People with budgets to throw big parties appreciate that level of dedication. EBE became the biggest entertainment company on the East Coast. “We got to play for major corporations, Apple, Microsoft, NFL, NASCAR, Fortune 500 companies. We had celebrity guests like Taylor Swift, Dave Grohl, the Chainsmokers. We even

got to play when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl in Arizona. “It was a super successful company,” he reflects. “I could have probably had an easier job if we were just an agency, but I’m not sure that we would have had the success.” After 24 years, his partner wanted to retire, so Gendler sold the company. “I did not see myself doing it with anybody else.” Mike Gendler still loves music and is staying involved in it. He founded Purple Star Music Group for that purpose, even before departing from EBE. “I built that so I could produce original music, and work with TV talent. We’ve been pitching reality shows. I was able to do some work with the NFL music team. They’re based in New Jersey, and I did some soundtrack work.” Another element of Purple Star Music Group’s venture is a podcast celebrating exceptional tribute artists.

FTER SELLING EBE, with time on his hands, Gendler found himself seeing tribute bands. He became fascinated not just by how faithfully they reproduced the

experience, but by how popular they’d become. Tribute Band Sessions is dedicated to telling their stories. “When I built the podcast, my goal was to research it for a year, and just see if there’s anything there. The last thing I wanted to do was put out something that I personally do not feel is interesting, and will keep an audience interested. So, I went and interviewed about 20 bands, management and agents. What I found was every story was fascinating to me. “I started to shop it around, and got a call back from Spotify, from their whole team, that they wanted to sign a show.” The first episode was fitting. Gendler interviewed Paul Hammond, the lead guitarist for Get The Led Out, a Philly-based Led Zeppelin tribute act. Get The Led Out currently plays 130 shows a year, with a 14-person crew. Other interview subjects include Adrian Conner, the lead guitarist for Hell’s Belles, an all-female AC/DC tribute act, Rich Kosak, frontman for a Kiss clone called Mr. Speed, and Mo Royce Peterson of Tragedy, an all-metal homage to the Bee Gees(!).

From Covers to Creation While Gendler asserts that there’s a definite distinction between cover bands and tribute acts, he does note that both got their start playing someone else’s music. “Tribute bands have been around for a long, long time. I remember in our high school shows, students would come up with, say, a Doors tribute band. “Even original bands that we know to be super famous today started out as a tribute band one way or another.” He’s not wrong. The Beatles, arguably the most groundbreaking artists in musical history, reproduced “Twist and Shout”, “Roll Over Beethoven”, “Money (That’s What I Want)”, and many other classics on their early albums. Van Halen’s first five records each featured a cover; “Diver Down” had four. You can find a fair bit of online discussion about the compositional origins of nearly half of Led Zeppelin’s first album. Every musical artist is influenced by their own favorites, and as a result, they help pass the torch of not just musical performance, but musical composition across generations. One example is YYNOT, one of the more popular Rush clones, who have released several albums of their own original songs. Their music isn’t a direct Rush knock-off, but it does feature the haunting melodies and virtuoso musicianship that helped to grow Rush’s fanatical cult following. Gendler also points out that many of the popular tribute acts of today have a much easier path to becoming established artists in their own right. “If you want to venture into writing a song on your own and releasing it, you have a built-in fan base now that you can release it to, versus somebody starting out in their bedroom, releasing an original song, then having to really hit the pavement and get it out there any way they can.” So, check out a tribute act for your favorite artist. From the live experience you miss to new and exciting music that’s up your alley, there are multiple ways to experience the goosebumps that you crave.

“Doing these interviews has just been fascinating,” Gendler shares, “because everybody has a different story of their success. “The Taylor Swift artist we had on the show (Charity Eden), she basically quit her job and put her life savings into costly costumes, production, paying her band, and music videos she put out. After four or five months, she didn’t get one call. She was like, oops, I might have made a mistake. “Then one day, she gets a call from an agent. Two years later, she’s touring Japan.” Tribute Band Sessions is already being very well received; Gendler says 90% of the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. He envisions it growing into other arenas, like reality shows or TV competitions, “sort of like American Idol or the Voice, but for tribute bands.” “I’m pulling back the curtain behind the scenes for people to take a look and listen to stories of how they got to where they are. The struggles that they had from the very start, to what it takes to produce a money-making machine that this business is today. I think it’s an educational podcast, not only for fans, but for musicians that want to know how to be successful in the business. “I just appreciate all the work that these guys and girls are putting into a show. I love hearing the stories, and I love live music. “And I love going out and hearing these bands do it.” n

Joe Conklin, City Rhythm Orchestra Take Sports Show to Another Level BY SAM CARCHIDI

Joe Conklin (center) performs with the City Rhythm Orchestra.

OE CONKLIN, whose spot-on impersonations of Philadelphia athletes have lightened the mood on WIP radio for nearly 35 years, has gone big time – with a show that is both laugh out loud and classy. Hard to believe, Harry. Oh, his show still centers around the wildand-crazy Philadelphia sports scene, and Conklin can still be his old, crass self. In a hysterical way, of course. But the no-holds-barred comedian added another layer of entertainment four years ago, thanks in part to his singing, his talented relatives and the award-winning City Rhythm Orchestra. Put it all together and you have a rebuilt show that has been filling buildings on both 52

sides of the Delaware River. “I always like to say the show is about the psyche of the Philadelphia sports fan, the feelings of the fans, the ups and downs of the teams – and mostly the downs until recently – in my lifetime,” Conklin, 63, said. “I had an idea for a long time to have music behind me because I’ve always wanted to add some singing. I’ve done singing impressions and singing parodies on the radio forever. But I’ve never had a band” until now. In one recent show, with Mister Softee’s theme song playing, Conklin impersonated Joel Embiid (Get it? Mister Softee. As in soft or always injured) as he sang about the 76ers’ often-sidelined star. The theater’s screen showed Embiid serving ice cream from the Mister

Softee truck and then holding Mister Softee ice cream cups while on the basketball court. Another song featured the orchestra and three female singers – Tricia Gozzi, Deb Toscano and Jackie Conklin ( Joe’s niece) – performing a parody of Rent’s “Seasons of Love” that, in this case, was based around the number of losses by the Phillies in their history. (They change the number, when needed, on a daily basis.) In another skit, Conklin – who, like his relatives, has a great singing voice – imitated iconic broadcaster Harry Kalas as he crooned “High Hopes” with backup singers and the orchestra. For fans who remember the Connie Mack Stadium days and one of the Phillies’ sponsors, Conklin and others sang the old Ballantine

Photos courtesy Joe Conklin / City Rhythm Orchestra

beer commercial while it was shown on the large screen. At one point, Conklin paid tribute to the team’s one-time announcer, Bill Campbell, by imitating him midway through the Ballantine routine. Conklin used a popular wedding-reception song in the show. To the tune of YMCA, he imitated Donald Trump as he sang E-A-G-L-E-S and added some creative verses. The audience loved it. Ditto the other irreverent skits created by Conklin, who refined some parodies he’s done on the radio.

Roasting and Toasting Before the orchestra show’s creation in 2021, Conklin mostly roasted Philly athletes. Now it’s more of a roast and toast. It’s a Philly sports/variety show with music behind it, thanks to the orchestra, which is under the direction of Pete Spina and Nick Vallerio. Spina’s easy-going temperament is beneficial, Conklin said, because he frequently asks him to make changes. “Pete,” Conklin said, “is a genius. He writes the arrangements for every one of my crazy ideas. I may only want to use three lines from a song, or we cut something out. All the parodies are cut down. We re-arrange everything,

Joe Conklin’s revamped show has been a big hit. L to R: Casey Conklin, John Conklin, Tricia Gozzi, Vince Valentine (with hat), Deb Toscano and Joe Conklin.

and Pete does it without blinking an eye.” Conklin paused. “At least that’s how it is from my point of

view,” he said, smiling, “but he probably curses me as I walk out the door because he has to do all the work and put them (the band mem-

Photo courtesy Joe Conklin / City Rhythm Orchestra

“ With this, it’s all interactive with what Joe’s material is and we’re constantly changing it and tying it into his humor and the parodies he does.”

Casey, Joe, Jackie and John Conklin. Fathers and daughters make the show special for each other. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

bers) all on the same page. But these guys are extremely talented pros who have been together for a long time.” Spina, a saxophonist who doubles as the band’s co-director, and Vallerio have led the

City Rhythm Orchestra for more than 40 years. Their eight-piece band has played in many impressive venues, including the Kimmel Center, New York’s Lincoln Center and the Birdland Jazz Club. “When we do theater shows, it’s all music. With this, it’s all interactive with what Joe’s material is and we’re constantly changing it and tying it into his humor and the parodies he does,” said Spina, whose band is accompanied by Steve Ritrovato, an internationally known singer who specializes in Frank Sinatra songs at Conklin’s shows. “The hard part is we have to come in and out throughout the whole show and catch his delivery and it’s a lot to coordinate.” Spina wasn’t complaining. He enjoys the challenge, “and Joe is fun to work with, and he treats the band great.”

Valentine’s Key Role Comedian Vince Valentine, who has an extensive theater background and has starred in the one-man hit Defending the Caveman, also plays a major role in the production. Conklin credits him for showing him how to turn a comedy act about Philly sports into a theatrical production. Valentine produces and directs the orchestra show and also emcees many of Conklin’s one-man, stand-up comedy performances. Conklin and Valentine had effusive praise for technical director Charlie Kulzer, calling him the group’s unsung hero because he is in charge of the lights, sound and videos. Before the orchestra show was put together, Valentine said, there was a meeting at Spina’s apartment among several key people as they tried to create a format for the production. “It was like magic. We were finishing each other’s sentences,” Valentine said. “It was like we were all looking through the same Kodak viewfinder you had as a kid. We were all seeing the same picture.” Valentine’s experience with Caveman, he said, helped him turn Conkin’s show into a

Photos courtesy Joe Conklin / City Rhythm Orchestra

Pete Spina (left) and Nick Vallerio, band leaders of the City Orchestra and accomplished saxophonists. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

theatrical event. “Every show has an arc, and a beginning, middle and end,” Valentine said. He said he drew from author Joseph Campell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces to get some structure for the project. “We’re taking you on a journey… The basic through line throughout the show is how Philly sport touches everyone,” Valentine said. “It’s not so much the sport itself, but Philly sports is a catalyst for us to spend time with our friends and family. We create memories that way. And delivering that in a theatrical presentation is the experience I had from Caveman. Caveman is based on a standup act, and a lot of Joe’s standup act is in [our] show. We’re telling the story through music.” Valentine said he “had this vision” for the show, one that has friends and relatives popping over at someone’s South Philly house on a Saturday afternoon as they drink a beer or sip coffee while in spirited conversations. “And I hope we convey that when we’re on stage,” he said.

The idea has spawned a highly successful run, one in which Conklin and the City Rhythm Orchestra have performed 50-plus shows. And counting. The next show is scheduled for Feb. 21 at the Broadway Theater in Pitman, N.J., and another show will be held April 18 at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa. Conklin, who grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, still does one-man productions at various locations, along with The Greatest Moments of Philadelphia Sports show, which he performs with Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger. But the show with the City Rhythm Orchestra has a special place in his heart. It’s more work than his one-man production, but also more rewarding. And he enjoys singing with many of his relatives, including his brothers, John and Jim, his daughter, Casey, and his niece, Jackie. Casey usually does two or three solos in the show. “I always wanted to perform with my brothers,” Conklin said. “Both my parents were singers, and my grandfather was a Vaudeville performer.” Nearly 30 years ago, Conklin’s family, including his mom, sang a pseudo-Christmas tune on WIP that had “Mike Ma-mula” as its chorus. “Most of my siblings were in the choir growing up, and my oldest sister, Joan, probably has the most talent in the family,” Conklin said. “She leads the choir at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Southampton; she’s probably been doing that for 40 years.”

Professionalism ‘Beyond Reproach’ As for the entire orchestra, it “lends a degree of professionalism that is beyond reproach,” said Valentine, the director/producer. Unlike Philly’s favorite football team, the orchestra never has an “off ” day, per Valentine. “You watch the Eagles, and we can be talk-

ing about how great they are one week, and how bad they are the next week,” Valentine said. “There are some things we [always] include in the show, but there are some songs that we fit into what’s going on [with the teams] that week. We’re changing things at rehearsal, and

Joe Conklin and special guest Bernie Parent, the late, great Hall of Fame Flyers goalie. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

it’s really great to watch the band work – not only the technical stuff in the music, but Joe can say, ‘I want to do a song about Bernie Parent to ‘Bennie and the Jets,’ and we’ll change it to ‘Bernie in the Nets.’ And then the orchestra will get that and change things. And maybe at the rehearsal, Joe will say, ‘I want to speed that up a little bit,’ or maybe he’ll slow it down. And, boom, Pete makes his adjustments, along with Nick and the whole band. That’s the professionalism of them.” Having the band in the act gives the show an old-time vibe, Valentine said. “Someone always opened for Sinatra,” he said. “They had a comedian there and they had the band there, and (the comic) played along with the band. That old-time, supper club feel. The audience is in on the fun. That’s what the band brings. It invites the audience to be in on the fun.” n

An Idea with Legs According to Conklin, the genesis of the show started when he and Mike Baldini were hosting a weekly comedy night at Parx Casino. He said Baldini was an “old soul” and a fan of shows performed in the days of the then-popular Catskills and Dean Martin roasts, back when comics performed with an orchestra behind them. 55

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Tax and Financial Consultation

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Howie Roseman’s Obsession BY DAVE SPADARO

He isn’t finished. That’s the running joke (It isn’t really a joke, because it’s true!) around the NovaCare Complex about Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. Whether it’s toward the end of a season or in the freeagency days or the NFL Draft period or at any time in the summer or early fall, that is the expectation for Howie Roseman. He isn’t finished.

Photo Philadelphia Eagles

T This is an obsession,

a very real one, for the man who crafts and curates and looks for ways to make the Eagles a better football team now, two months from now, a season away. He has balls in the air all day, every day, and if your dream is to become an NFL general manager and you want to follow in Roseman’s footsteps, you need to understand that if you aren’t living it, breathing it, ruminating in it every day, then you just aren’t going to succeed. “I go to sleep, and it’s literally what I’m thinking about, and then when I wake up, it is the same thing,” Roseman said. “This is my responsibility, to do everything I can to make this football team as good as it can be. To do my part. We have a lot of people here working hard to win football games, and I am doing everything I can to hold up my end and give us the best chance to win football games.” The body of work Roseman has put together in his time with the Eagles is impressive, and he is known for good reason as one of the very best at what he does in the extremely competitive world of the NFL. He’s been with the Eagles for 26 seasons, after writing letters to every NFL team asking for a job upon his graduation from Fordham Law School, starting as an intern and then joining the organization as a salary cap staff counsel when the team was headquartered at Veterans Stadium. 59

Photo Philadelphia Eagles

Roseman, you see, has been along for the franchise’s rise through the Andy Reid days, the brief jaunt with Chip Kelly that changed the course of Roseman’s career, and then through the triumphant days of Doug Pederson (Super Bowl LII!) and now Nick Sirianni (Super Bowl LIX!). He learned every bit of the way a football franchise works along the way – how to build a roster and work with a coaching staff, how to evaluate talent, the right way to structure contracts, the power to navigate the trade waters, and so much more.

The low point of his career was

when Kelly, the head coach in Philadelphia from 2013 until 2015 who was fired with one game remaining in the regular season, relieved Roseman of his roster-building powers and moved Roseman’s office to the other side of the NovaCare Complex, away from the football operations side of the building. Instead of sulking and brooding, Roseman used the time wisely, visiting sports teams around the world to see how they operated. He gained from the demotion. And when Kelly was gone, Roseman rose back to power. Two seasons later, the Eagles won their first Super Bowl. “I didn’t put my head in the sand and just

Howie Roseman has been with the Philadelphia Eagles for 26 seasons.

say, ‘Everyone’s wrong.’ I felt like I had to look into myself and figure out a way to make people know I cared about them and make time for relationships,” Roseman said. “Sometimes

when you’re in your job, when you’re in a busy job, you kind of overlook some of those things, and I felt that that wasn’t the right thing to do, and how was I going to work on that, and I

‘

‘‘

This is my responsibility, to do ever ything I can to make this football team as good as it can be.” thought that was the most important thing because I care about a lot of people here. They’re family to me. So, for people not to know how you feel whether that’s your friends or your family, that’s hurtful to me.” Twice, Roseman has been named the NFL Executive of the Year, and he and former New York Giants general manager George Young are the only men in league history to both win that award and multiple Super Bowls. He wins in trades, free-agency additions, in-season moves and long-range planning. Not every season ends with a Lombardi Trophy, of course. The Eagles have had a roller-coaster 2025 and Roseman is on the case. Always on the case. He wants more. He wants success. He wants it all. Obsession is his middle name. “I feel a responsibility to our players to do whatever I can to help them,” Roseman said after making a trade-deadline deal to acquire edge player Jaelan Phillips. “The players work so hard and make so many sacrifices, and to not do everything I can to help us would be a disservice to them, to everyone. We have a chance here and I’m excited we were able to get some things done that I think, we all think, will make us a better football team.” The job isn’t done. The job is never done. There is another game, another season, another mountain to climb. For Howie Roseman, the challenges never end. The goals never change. n 61

20 in‘26 What better way to welcome in this New Year than with a list of Philadelphia’s top 20 athletes 26 or younger? BY MARK ECKEL

N THIS LIST are eight Eagles, five Flyers, two Sixers, three members of the Union and two players who hope to be Phillies sooner than later on the list. Here we go with the list that had just one rule: the athlete had to be born in the 2000s to qualify. Yes, the rest of us are getting old.

Carter

Tyrese Maxey, G, Sixers, November 4, 2000

Maxey is the face of the franchise now and going forward. The 2020 first-round pick out of Kentucky averaged 25+ points and 6+ assists the past two seasons and he’s bolstered both of those numbers this season. Through a quarter of the 2025-26 season, he was averaging 32.3 points and 7.6 assists to lead the team in both categories. He may also be the Sixers most exciting player since some guy named Iverson.

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Eagles, July 18, 2001

The Eagles were very fortunate that Mitchell fell to them with the 22nd pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The first cornerback selected in that draft, he’s played like it. As a rookie, he was tasked at times with shadowing the opposition’s best wide receiver and he’s responded with shut down efforts. It’s hard to believe that in almost two full seasons, he has yet to have an interception. His 14 pass breakups in 12 games this season was among the league leaders.

Trevor Zegras, RW, Flyers, March 20, 2001

Acquired by the Flyers from Anaheim before the season and so far it looks like a great move. Through about one-third of the season, the Bedford, N.Y. native was tied for the team lead in goals (9) and led in assists (15), points (24), power play goals (3) and power play assists (6). 64

Jalen Carter, DL, Eagles, April 4, 2001

From purely a talent standpoint, Carter could be No. 1 on this list. But episodes such as being ejected before the start of the season opener against Dallas drops him a few notches down. The big lineman from the University of Georgia is the Eagles main cog up front and is the key to the entire defense. There’s a good chance the Eagles don’t win last year’s Super Bowl if Carter doesn’t get to the Rams Matthew Stafford in the final seconds of the second-round playoff game.

Tyson Foerster, RW, Flyers, July 18, 2002

The Flyers first-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft, Foerster scored 25 goals in his second year and was off to a better start in his third year. Through about a third of the season, the right wing was tied for the team lead in goals with nine and had the best shooting percentage on the team at 23.1 percent.

Nakobe Dean, LB, Eagles, Dec. 13, 2000

Ask most any player on the Eagles defense who the team leader is and it will be near unanimous that it’s Dean. He also makes his presence felt on the field as well. In last year’s Super Bowl season, he had 128 tackles, forced four turnovers, had three sacks and nine tackles for a loss. Despite missing the first five games of this season, he still had three sacks, four tackles for a loss and a forced fumble in seven games.

Nolan Smith, Edge, Eagles, January 18, 2001 Michkov

Matvei Michkov, RW, Flyers, December 9, 2004

One of the youngest players on the list, the 2023 first-round draft pick hasn’t taken a lot of time to establish himself as one of the Flyers stars. After scoring 26 goals in his rookie season, Michkov was off to a good start for the team in his second year and was a main reason the team also got off to a good start. He had eight goals and six assists, and his 16.7 percent shooting percentage was second best on the team.

Jordan Davis, DL, Eagles, Jan. 12, 2000

The big man came to camp this summer in the best shape of his career and garnered extended playing time up front because of it. Pigeonholed as a one-dimensional run stopper by some when he came out of Georgia, he’s shown the ability to collapse the pocket as well. As the defense carried the Eagles this season, Davis was one of the reasons why.

Another first-round pick out of Georgia, Smith made his name in last year’s postseason on the way to the Super Bowl. He had four sacks in four playoff games after a six-and-a-half sack regular season. His 2025 season has been marred by injury, but the soon-tobe 25-year-old should be heard from a lot over the next few years.

Jovan Lukic, M, Union, January 20, 2002

Considered by MLS followers to be the best overall young player on a Union team that finished atop the Eastern Conference in the regular season. Lukic, who played for the Serbia national team, is a key to the Union’s future.

Bobby Brink, RW, Flyers, July 8, 2001

In his fourth year with the Flyers, the 5-foot-8, 169-pound Brink had 10 points (six goals, four assists), including four on the power play through the first third of the season. Edgecombe, Maxey

Cooper DeJean, DB, Eagles, February 9, 2003

One of the Super Bowl heroes for his pick-six of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, DeJean, in his two seasons out of Iowa, has emerged as one of the NFL’s best slot corners in the league. Eventually he could move to outside corner, or even to safety, and that kind of versatility is valuable, too.

VJ Edgecombe, G, Sixers, July 30, 2005

The rookie from Baylor is the youngest player on the list. Taken with the No. 3 pick overall by the Sixers in this past draft it hasn’t taken VJ long to become a factor for the team. Through the first third of the season, he was averaging 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. The future looks bright for him and a backcourt of him and Maxey. 65

Jamie Drysdale, D, Flyers, April 8, 2002

The Flyers traded for Drysdale from Anaheim in the middle of the 2024-25 season. In his first full season with the team, he led the defensemen in points and assists a third of the way through the season. He was also a key to the defense being third in the league and second in the East in goals allowed.

Bruno Damiani, F, Union, April 18, 2002

The Uruguay native Damiani finished third on the team in goals with eight, and also added an assist for the first-place finisher in the East.

Jihaad Campbell, LB, Eagles, February 24, 2004

The 2025 first-round pick out of Alabama was a fixture on the Eagles defense to start the season, but saw his playing time dwindle when Dean came back from injury. Not to worry, his future with the team is bright. Sullivan

Quinn Sullivan, M, Union, March 27, 2004

One of the youngest players on the Union, Sullivan finished second on the team with nine assists. The USA-born Sullivan also chipped in two goals on the season.

Aiden Miller, SS, Phillies, June 9, 2004

A shortstop with decent power, Miller could find his way onto the Phillies 26-man roster. Last year he split his time between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley and had 14 home runs, 27 doubles, 82 walks and an OPS of .825.

Andrew Painter, P, Phillies, April 10, 2003

Once considered the best pitching prospect in all of MLB, Painter missed 2023 and 2024 after having Tommy John Surgery. He came back and struggled a bit in the minors in 2025, but his future is still bright, and 2026 spring training will be a key.

Tanner McKee, QB, Eagles, April 27, 2000

He may never see it with the Eagles, but the team’s backup QB has shown during preseason play he belongs in the NFL. It will be curious to see if he’s dealt this offseason, or if the team holds onto him to have a really good backup. n 66

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GET FIT

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BY ALEXANDRA DUNEK

Built by Reps

O YOU FIND YOURSELF doing the same 10-12 reps during your weight-lifting workout? Have you hit a plateau? It might be time to implement different repetition schemes. Besides the conventional/normal rep, here are three schemes you can try during your next workout.

PAUSE REPS

TEMPO REPS

A pause rep means you are holding the repetition at a specific point during the movement or exercise for at least three seconds. For example, if you are squatting, then you will pause at the bottom of the squat for three seconds. If you’re doing the leg press, you will pause at the bottom of the press.

Tempo reps are about the speed and timing. They are written as a four-digit number and each one refers to the four phases of movement, eccentric (lengthening phase), isometric (pause phase), concentric (shortening phase) and isometric again (pause phase). There are many different combinations of tempo reps you can do. For example, a 3010 tempo for a squat will mean you are lowering the weight for three seconds with no pause at the bottom and exploding back up.

ONE & ONE QUARTER REPS This rep scheme is a full repetition followed by a quarter repetition at the toughest part of the movement or exercise. For example, if you are doing leg extensions, you will do one full rep, then slightly lower the weight a quarter of the way and come back up again. n 74

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TECH TIME

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BY ANTHONY MONGELUZO

The Year Technology Stops Asking Permission F THE LAST DECADE was about innovation, 2026 will be remembered as the year technology crosses the line from “impressive” to inevitable. Everywhere you look—from your driveway to your desktop to the very shape of your workforce—the future is no longer sneaking up on us. It’s kicking down the door. Let’s take a glimpse at four revolutionary arenas that will define life for men in business, tech, and leadership in 2026.

1. Tesla’s Software Revolution and the Road to Autonomous Dominance It’s no secret that Tesla has transformed vehicles into rolling supercomputers, but 2026 marks a turning point. Forget minor tweaks like improved touchscreen interfaces—this year will be defined by full-scale behavioral upgrades to your vehicle. Expect Tesla to release software that allows cars to communicate with each other, anticipate traffic patterns, and negotiate intersections without human intervention. We’re no longer talking about “hands-free driving.” We’re talking mind-free transportation. Your morning commute becomes a productivity sprint: emails drafted, calls taken, workouts planned—while your car handles the road like an elite chauffeur with nerves of steel. Some states are predicted to adopt dedicated autonomous lanes, and that’s when Tesla’s promise stops sounding like marketing hype and starts looking like the future of transportation logistics, supply chain delivery, and even personal freedom. In short: Your next upgrade won’t be a new car. It’ll be software that makes your current one smarter than you are before your first cup of coffee.

2. Artificial Intelligence: The New Business Partner You Didn’t Hire 2026 is the year business leaders stop treating AI as a novelty and start viewing it as an indispensable asset. What’s unfolding is not the replacement of humans, but the replacement of inefficiency. AI will remember everything, forget nothing, and will do in seconds 78

what used to take teams of analysts weeks. Instead of Googling for data, executives will ask their AI systems, “What should we do next?”—and receive actionable steps, market predictions, legal risk assessments, and competitor counterplay, all in one breath. But here’s the twist: the smartest people won’t be the ones who master AI—they’ll be the ones who learn to ask it the right questions. The winners in 2026 will be those who treat AI like a consigliere, not a calculator.

3. Humanoid Robots: Your New Coworkers Humanoid robots have graduated from pop-culture notoriety to realworld practicality. This year, they will begin filling roles in warehouses, hospitals, restaurants, and—brace yourself—homes. Imagine a robot that never calls out sick, never forgets instructions, and learns faster than any intern. These machines won’t just perform tasks; they’ll improve themselves through iterative software updates. Need someone to unload freight? Clean? Provide elder care? Guard a property? They’ll do it cheaper than human labor and with fewer liabilities. This doesn’t eliminate jobs—it reshapes them. Men who thrive will be those who direct robots, not compete with them.

4. The Wild Card: Hyper-Personalized Health Tech The coolest disruptor of 2026 won’t be what drives your car or manages your data—it’ll be what optimizes you. Wearables and implants will analyze your biology in real time: glucose, hormones, inflammation, stress, and more. Your watch won’t just tell you why you’re tired—it will recommend supplements, micro-adjust your diet, and even predict illness days before symptoms appear. We aren’t becoming cyborgs—we’re becoming optimized humans.

The Bottom Line

2026 is not the future—it’s the launch pad. The modern man doesn’t ask whether technology will change his life. n