Badass for “Movember”
How do you pronounce your last name?
Rhymes with page.
What’s the D in “JDH” stand for?
You’ll never guess. It was my grandfather’s name.
What do you do for a living?
I lead the Medical Devices Group, the world’s largest medical device community. It is also the industry’s only spam-free, curated forum for intelligent conversations with medical device thought leaders.
We host a once-a-year conference called the 10x Medical Device Conference. Join me there if you’re in the industry.
My background is marketing and I do medical device marketing for hire at Medical Marcom, the company I founded.
Most of all, these days I’m kind of a “professional networker.” Basically, I get a lot of energy by connecting people.
Why do you have a 917 cell phone number?
It’s my own little way of saying, “Hey, I’m a New Yorker.”
Where in New York?
Born and raised in Brooklyn, youngest of three and the only boy. We moved into our house on my third birthday. We sold the house when I turned 40. Our Lady of Angels was my parish and grammar school. I went to Xaverian High School on Shore Road.
How do you like living in Washington?
It’s a great place to raise the kids. We have a backyard, the dog can run around, and Beth loves it here.
It must be a pretty big change from living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan!
It was a much bigger change to go from a NYC apartment hallway to a swing set in the backyard.
What was important to us then (Broadway, traveling) isn’t what’s important to us now (Zach, Luke, their development, and our family).
Are you keeping up with your acting?
I was in a 2010 production of “It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show” and a 2011 production of “War of the Worlds” with Twelfth Nigh Productions after a 16-year absence from the stage.
Now I sing bass with Northwest Sound Men’s Chorus and my church choir.
I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I uploaded my favorite Wharton Follies clips onto YouTube. But clearly not so embarrassed that I don’t want you to see them!
How did you like Wharton?
Loved it. Two of the best years of my life. I keep in touch with a number of my classmates and report back quarterly for the Wharton Alumni Magazine.
What are you doing with that gun in your hand?
I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?
You have a lot of content on the site now. What should I read first?
I think The First Three Questions is the most “important” thing I wrote; Those other Joe Hages, the most amusing; Everything Happens, for perspective, and Dear Employer, for honesty.
Thanks for reading!
Joe
“What are you doing with that gun in your hand” in a JDH FAQ. Brilliant.