The Interview – the Swopes
Briefly describe yourself and what you do/did.
Steve: I am a longtime Newnan resident. I moved here with my family 40 years ago, and with Marie, raised our family on College Street. We moved to the county in 2007. I am a husband, Dad to Matthew and Jennifer, and grandfather to Eleanor and Henry (Washington DC), and Baxley (Newnan). I have a wonderful son-in-law, Toby, and daughter-in-law, Orren. Right now, I am a Catholic Deacon, Board Member at the Samaritan Clinic, Member of the Coweta Public Facilities Authority, Bailiff in the Superior Court, Poll Manager at Panther Creek, volunteer, community supporter, and helping the fight to prevent the rezoning of Rural Conservation land for data centers. I am also a golfer and banjo player with the Straynotes. Prior to my “retirement,” I was the CEO of The Rubicon Group, a company that served the travel industry, helping them determine and set prices to maximize revenue. My start in that field was in 1982 when I oversaw the development of Delta Air Lines’ first Revenue Management System. At the time we sold Rubicon, we had over 18,000 customers worldwide, and I had around 4 million miles on Delta (not to mention many miles on other airlines).
Marie: Marie Swope, eldest of eight. BBA in marketing from Georgia State University. Married to Steve Swope. Mother of two successful children and grandmother of three grandchildren. I worked for many years at Delta Airlines as an analyst in Properties and Facilities and Legal. Currently a full-time volunteer as a mentor for Elevate Coweta Students and the Samaritan Clinic. I also on the foundation board of West Georgia Technical College and Stepping Stones.
Proud Coweta Citizen of the year, 2019.
Best piece of advice you’ve received.
Steve: Treat other people well. If they work for you or even if they don’t, always try to be kind, firm and fair.
Marie: Because I am a worrier, EVERYTHING WILL BE OK IN THE END, IF ITS NOT OK ITS NOT THE END
If I had it to do over …
Steve: I would have started my company (Rubicon) five years earlier. It was the best professional experience of my life, thanks to the good people at the company and the good customers. I was miserable in my job for the five years leading up to starting Rubicon.
Marie: If I could do it over, I wouldn’t. My life has been wonderful.
You are going on an extended solo trip. What three albums and three books would you take?
Steve: For albums it’s really hard because I like a lot of different music. I guess I would pick: Leonard Cohen – Live in London, Jimmy Buffett – Essentials, The Highwaymen – The Essential Highwaymen
For books, that is even harder since I love to read. So rather than list three that I have read, here are three I have purchased and would take with me: Take Me to Your Leader – Neil deGrasse Tyson, The Gales of November – John U. Bacon (currently reading), and American Struggle – Jon Meacham
Marie: Going on a trip, albums anything by Elton John, I own most of his vinyl going back to 1974. Books, I generally don’t re-read so I would go to NY best sellers list and pick the top ones. Currently reading the new Mary Kay Andrew’s and the newest Elizabeth Strout
Tell us one thing about yourself that few people know
Steve: As a senior in high school, I came in 3rd place in 1 meter springboard diving in the State Meet and was a diver in my first year of college.
Marie: One thing people don’t know….I really struggled as a student, college was so difficult, i vowed never to return to school after graduation and i have kept that vow
You are hosting a dinner party for six. What five people, living or dead, would you invite and why
Steve: Steve Martin – We have to have some humor
Matthieu Richard – Buddhist monk who wrote Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World
Abraham Lincoln – dealing with hard challenges
Isaac Newton – the greatest scientist who ever lived
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks – philosopher, author, TED Talks
Marie: Dinner party, my great grandparents who came from the Ukraine, 4 of them and my grandmother because I miss her
Name an as-yet unfulfilled dream
Steve: Visiting the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica
Marie: Being tall and thin
If you weren’t doing what you are, you would be …
Steve: A professional golfer on the Champions Tour (dream on).
Marie: If I wasn’t doing what I am doing, I would love to live in NYC for a year and go to a different play and restaurant every day
Your go-to food.
Steve: Steak, medium, grilled out.
Marie: Anything sweet, especially cookies from Natalia’s Cake House
Favorite movies(s)
Steve: Saving Private Ryan, Young Frankenstein, Caddyshack, Casablanca, The Godfather
Marie: I am not much of a movie person, but I did love Grease
Dogs or cats?
Steve; Even though we have owned cats for a long time, I have to say dogs.
Marie: Cats, they are so incredibly independent but so interesting
Your favorite quote and why
Steve: Jesus: “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” Because the Christian life is guided by love of God, and we show that love by keeping his commandments, which were: Love God with all your mind, all your heart, and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Marie: Love tenderly, act justly and walk humbly with God. It’s a great measurement for living a productive life
Name something that you are extremely glad you did or accomplished
Steve: Aside from my marriage and family, I would say having the courage and support to start and run Rubicon
Marie: I am so glad I stuck college out and graduated and very proud of accomplishing 48 years of marriage
What advice would you give your younger self just starting out on your own
Steve: Don’t be in such a damn hurry. You have a lot of time ahead of you; take more time to enjoy what is right in front of you.
Marie: The advice I would give my younger self is to be patient, not everything has to happen at once, and waiting for success is a virtue, not a vice
