Sanibel resident worked with Trump in early days

By MEGHAN McCOY
A career that initially began as an assistant textbook editor for Prentice-Hall eventually lead to starting his own public relations company, and later becoming a consultant and merger, acquisition facilitator for PR agencies.
Art Stevens, part-time Sanibel resident, said when he shared he was becoming tired of editing textbooks, his friend suggested he apply for the corporate public relations department. The interview turned into a job and a year later, at the age of 25, he became the public relations director.
A few years later, he began his own firm, Lobsenz-Stevens, in New York City, at the young age of 28.
“That firm became very well-known . . . top 25 independent public relations firms in the country. My firm got to be a fairly large size. I had about 60 people,” he said. “My clients were wonderful Blue Chip companies from different cities.”
The Lobsenz-Stevens firm helped in spawning many stars to be.
“Every so often we have alumni get togethers. I am still friendly with a lot of people that used to work for me and I am very proud of that,” Stevens said.
At the same time Stevens was getting his new firm up and running, President Elect Donald Trump was getting started in the business world as well. The two began working together through a referral of a mutual colleague. The 21 Club in New York was among the first places they began to get to know one another.
“I worked with him for about four years. I was working with him to market him and get him well-known. He took off and became the household name that he is now,” Stevens said, adding that Trump is “a guy that I saw was determined, gritty, but developed a unique ability of bringing people together and getting things done.”
Several press conferences announcing plans to build were organized for Trump by Stevens. Trump did not use his own money, Stevens explained, adding that he tried to get funds from insurance companies and banks. Those deals would often transpire because Trump was so well-known the companies would underwrite him.
The business relationship also afforded Stevens with the opportunity to watch Trump make deals as he sat in on meetings.
“He was really outstanding at bringing parties together and finding ways to get things done. When he set his mind to something he really did it. I feel on that basis, his ability to really negotiate in the art of the deal, I think will serve him very well,” Stevens said.
When he heard that Trump was running for president, he was surprised like many others. Stevens said he does not believe Trump is either a true Republican, or Democrat, but rather a programmatic individual that will look at a problem.
“I think he will get a job done the best way he sees fit,” he said, adding that he hopes he puts the skill of getting things done to good use to help make America great again and achieve the goals that are the good ones, rather than the campaign rhetoric.
In addition to working with Trump, while Stevens owned Lobsenz-Stevens, he also created special events for corporations, worked with pharmaceutical companies in launching prescription drugs, worked with consumer product companies, as well as working with other well-known brands in helping them promote their product.
“I was very idea focused and came up with creative ideas to help tell the story of many brands,” Stevens said.
The New York native also worked with the New York State Lottery for 12 years where he launched the idea to use famous celebrities – Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope – to present prizes to the lottery winners.
The Great Grownup Spelling Bee also began because of Stevens, as well as a women’s professional tennis challenge for Playtex bras. He said if one of the top women pro players won on all four tennis court surfaces throughout the year they won a million dollars.
Stevens was also involved in helping to put the Broadway Tony Awards on national television. He said he worked with the League of Broadway Producers to help gain recognition for the annual Tony Awards to performers, musicals and plays motivating one of the television networks and a major sponsor to give the proper recognition to Broadway achievements.
Stevens also began a scholarship for City College of New York students majoring in public relations 10 years ago. One student has been chosen each year based on their grades and character.
While he owned Lobsenz-Stevens, he and a group of colleagues entertained individuals at senior citizen centers in New York once a month for 10 years. They would each perform a solo act, which Stevens said was very gratifying.
“I once made an album of American standards,” he said.
Throughout his career, Stevens has received numerous awards – several lifetime achievement awards from the Public Relations Society of America.
Stevens sold his firm to a big French international company and eight years ago became a consultant and merger, acquisition facilitator for PR agencies. This new career affords him to work out of his home.
Twenty percent of his business is devoted to helping CEOs of public relation agencies run better by streamlining the business and helping them make decisions to achieve greater profitability.
“Eighty percent of what I do is being hired by agencies that want to sell their agencies to bigger firms,” Stevens said. “I am hired by buyers who want to acquire smaller agencies in particular cities and niches. I’m sort of a match maker. I have had some good successes. I’m very proud of the matches that I made.”
Thirty years ago Stevens began visiting Sanibel as a vacation with his wife before they purchased a condo. Fifteen years later they sold the condo and purchased a home, where he still resides today. He began writing a column for the Sanibel-Captiva Islander 30 years ago.
Sanibel resident worked with Trump in early days
A career that initially began as an assistant textbook editor for Prentice-Hall eventually led to starting his own public relations company, and later becoming a consultant and merger, acquisition facilitator for PR agencies.
Art Stevens, a part-time Sanibel resident, said when he shared he was becoming tired of editing textbooks, a friend suggested he apply for the corporate public relations department. The interview turned into a job and a year later, at the age of 25, he became the public relations director.
A few years later, at 28, he began his own firm, Lobsenz-Stevens, in New York City.
“That firm became very well-known . . . top 25 independent public relations firms in the country. My firm got to be a fairly large size. I had about 60 people,” he said. “My clients were wonderful Blue Chip companies from different cities.”
The Lobsenz-Stevens firm helped launch many stars to be – including one who now is waiting to assume one of the most important public positions in the world, president-elect Donald Trump.
At the same time Stevens was getting his new firm up and running, Trump was getting started in the business world as well. The two began working together through a referral of a mutual colleague. The 21 Club in New York was among the first places they began to get to know one another.
“I worked with him for about four years. I was working with him to market him and get him well-known. He took off and became the household name that he is now,” Stevens said, adding that Trump is “a guy that I saw was determined, gritty, but developed a unique ability of bringing people together and getting things done.”
Several press conferences announcing plans to build were organized for Trump by Stevens. Trump did not use his own money, Stevens explained, adding that he tried to get funds from insurance companies and banks. Those deals would often come together because Trump was so well-known, the companies would underwrite him.
The business relationship also afforded Stevens with the opportunity to watch Trump make deals as he sat in on meetings.
“He was really outstanding at bringing parties together and finding ways to get things done. When he set his mind to something he really did it. I feel on that basis, his ability to really negotiate in the art of the deal, I think will serve him very well,” Stevens said.
When he heard that Trump was running for president, he was surprised like many others. Stevens said he does not believe Trump is either a true Republican, or Democrat, but rather a programmatic individual that will look at a problem.
“I think he will get a job done the best way he sees fit,” he said, adding that he hopes he puts the skill of getting things done to good use to help make America great again and achieve the goals that are the good ones, rather than the campaign rhetoric.
In addition to working with Trump, while Stevens owned Lobsenz-Stevens, he also created special events for corporations, worked with pharmaceutical companies in launching prescription drugs, worked with consumer product companies, as well as working with other well-known brands in helping them promote their product.
“I was very idea focused and came up with creative ideas to help tell the story of many brands,”Stevens said.
The New York native also worked with the New York State Lottery for 12 years where he launched the idea to use famous celebrities – Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope to present prizes to the lottery winners.
The Great Grownup Spelling Bee also began because of Stevens, as well as a women’s professional tennis challenge for Playtex bras. He said if one of the top women pro players won on all four tennis court surfaces throughout the year they won a million dollars.
Stevens was involved in helping to put the Broadway Tony Awards on national television. He said he worked with the League of Broadway Producers to help gain recognition for the annual Tony Awards to performers, musicals and plays motivating one of the television networks and a major sponsor to give the proper recognition to Broadway achievements.
Stevens also began a scholarship for City College of New York students majoring in public relations 10 years ago. One student has been chosen each year based on their grades and character.
While he owned Lobsenz-Stevens, he and a group of colleagues entertained individuals at senior citizen centers in New York once a month for 10 years. They would each perform a solo act, which Stevens said was very gratifying.
“I once made an album of American standards,” he said.
Throughout his career, Stevens has received numerous awards – several lifetime achievement awards from the Public Relations Society of America.
Stevens sold his firm to a big French international company and eight years ago became a consultant and merger, acquisition facilitator for PR agencies. This new career affords him to work out of his home.
Twenty percent of his business is devoted to helping CEOs of public relation agencies run better by streamlining the business and helping them make decisions to achieve greater profitability.
“Eighty percent of what I do is being hired by agencies that want to sell their agencies to bigger firms,” Stevens said. “I am hired by buyers who want to acquire smaller agencies in particular cities and niches. I’m sort of a match maker. I have had some good successes. I’m very proud of the matches that I made.”
He’s also proud of the fact he has stayed in touch with some of those he helped get their start.
“Every so often we have alumni get togethers. I am still friendly with a lot of people that used to work for me and I am very proud of that,” Stevens said.
He began writing a column for the Sanibel-Captiva Islander, a sister paper of The Breeze, 30 years ago.