( article is a month old. Just saw it )
Former NorVergence Chief's New Venture Falls Just As Hard
Jul. 24 - A year ago Thomas N. Salzano stood at the helm of NorVergence, a multimillion-dollar telecommunications company on the brink of a spectacular flameout.
Three weeks ago, Salzano scuffled with police after he was unceremoniously booted from his Kenilworth (NJ) office that housed Charity Snack, his latest venture, for non-payment of rent.
On the surface, the companies couldn't have less in common: NorVergence was a reseller of phone service with hundreds of millions of dollars of leases; Charity Snack raised money for breast cancer by putting cardboard boxes in nail salons. But the similarities were striking.
Both companies relied on a high-powered sales force working from a script; employees described draconian work rules including docking pay for minor infractions; and when the business soured, some employees say they weren't paid what was owed to them.
And both companies fell hard ...
And federal agents are still scrutinizing the byzantine finances of NorVergence and its principals. ...
Interviews with former employees reveal that Thomas Salzano has started at least three new companies in the past year, one called Retail America Inc. and another called Certa Clean Inc. ...
The company's sales staff placed an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 (Charity Snack) boxes in nail salons, auto-repair shops and other walk-in businesses throughout New Jersey, according to former employees. By April, the business was growing fast, bringing in as much as $20,000 a week in cash, the employees said. ...
(After the landlord locked him out), Salzano returned and smashed through the plate glass door of the office using a hammer ...
About four hours later, police returned to find Salzano sitting behind his desk. He was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor to which he later pleaded not guilty, according to the Kenilworth police.
rest at (watch for line wrap ):