The Center for Association Resources Robert Patterson, CEO Horrible Boss, Horrible Person, worst work experience ever Schaumburg Illinois

All I can say is I wish I had discovered this site before my three month journey working at The Center and moreover for the CEO Robert Patterson. 

The interview process was grueling to say the least, three in person meetings that each lasted two hours in length where the opportunities and role was discussed and many promises were made. Rob extolled his resume and dropped many names. I received and accepted an offer. Right off of the bat Rob was trying to pressure me to not give my current employer any kind of notice but to just quit. This should have been my first clue of what I was heading into. I started and was very excited about the journey I was beginning. Within a week I was re-thinking my decision but I kept telling myself, there's a learning curve here don't give up so quickly. 

Rob and his other principal, a woman, routinely told me stories about how incompetent my predecessor was or anyone elese who worked there, with of course the exception of her son who left for greener pastures too. I didn't engage in too much of this and thought it was pretty unusual not to mention unprofessional but again, I just chalked it up to a learning curve.

Shortly after I was hired, the client whose program I was to manage dropped them. I had a feeling in the conference calls leading up to the official notice that was given that this was something set in motion long before I was in the picture but this did not stop anyone from making me feel like this was my fault. The next move was to box up their materials and send them to the new association management company they contracted with. I had been there a week and had no idea what should go to them and what was to be retained. I asked for an invetory list and was told that I should know and that no one should have to hold my hand. I had never worked with or created any materials for this group so I really had no idea what I was looking for. But I solidered on and by the end of the week, after the way this man thinks he can talk to people I nearly quit then. But pressed on. Other responsibilites involved sending me to a storage facility to inventory and box up the material for other clients. When I dared ask any questions about some of what I was looking at again I was made to feel like an idiot because I didn't just know how many types of t-shirts the client sold in there bookstore, all while I am climbing around a hot storage locker, alone in the heat of summer.

Next, because of the loss of this account, my role was changed to a sort of inside sales roll where I was to develop a list of leads and cold call them to solicit The Centers services. This was not what I signed up for but jumped in and made a go of it. 

The final straw was when the time came for me to develop a budget for another account and program. I had stated several times in the interview process that this was not something that I had any experience with and would need a lot of guidance my first time out. When the time came for me to ask for help, there was none there, in fact I was told to figure it out because no one helped me. Then when I had the nerve to get frustrated by this I was led into a meeting where I was told I was combative and needed an attitude change. That was it. I sobbed all the way home and felt like a complete failure. Everything I thought I knew I was questioning because I could not perform a function that I clearly communicated I did not have any experience with. By the end of the week I had drafted a resignation. I placed all of the blame on myself, I was in over my head and thought it best to move on. I was prepared to be told to leave now but Rob insisted I give him two weeks. Intersting because he wasn't so willing to allow that for another company. In hidsight I should have exercised beign "at will" and walked away but I didn't. I stuck it out and was talked into remotely working to help bring in clients. I repeatedly would mention that the role at the job I returned too had changed and I would no longer have time for this but he would not leave me alone. Then I figured I would hold on until I received my W2 because I could see that being an issue. Our relationship finally came to an end when I consistantly could not work on this project and I just stopped hearing from him. There was no greater feeling of relief than when I left on my last day and that building got smaller in the rearview mirror. To finally be through with this man after all of these months was the greatest feeling.

In my short time there, I witnessed everything that others have posted here exactly as it has been described. He is a mean and spiteful person. He is abusive to the point that I simply could not believe how he spoke to people on the phone or other colleagues in the office, including the other principal. I always had to ask him for my check on pay day and he routinely engaged in deceptive practices with colleagues and clients. It was all I could do to get away from the situation and him ASAP. This was a experience I could have done without. I hope that the Goolge ranking for this page stays right at the top to prevent anyone else from having to endure the sheer hell working for this man is. The fact that these stories are so consistant and span several years backs this testimony up.