Robert A. “Bob” Sproat has spent most of his working life in positions of sales and marketing management at metropolitan newspapers in California, Texas and Connecticut.  He worked in the advertising departments of The Los Angeles Times, The Dallas Times Herald and The Hartford Courant for more than 32 years, 30 of those years were in management.  His BS degree is in administrative management from California State University at Los Angeles.  After leaving The Courant in 1995, he founded his own business, The Idea Place, Inc., a marketing services and training company.  He has a reputation for exploiting opportunities, solving problems and bringing a sense of calm to otherwise difficult situations.  He has been the chairman/president of numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations and continues to serve in board positions.  Since founding The Idea Place, Inc., in the spring of 1996, he has served a wide variety of clients and has specialized in public relations, developing media relationships, business consulting, training, marketing and business plans.  A client list and brochures available upon request.