The story of Harvey Eisenstadt, CAA, and Sheri's famous cookie recipe.
Many who knew Harvey Eisenstadt have fond memories of the wonderful man he was and the good work he did for the security industry. In remembering Harvey and paying tribute to his legacy, the Board of Directors at CAA unanimously approved the establishment of CAA’s Harvey Eisenstadt Sales Symposium in honor of the late, great sales professional and CAA member in 2022. The symposium was decided to be an annual event presented at CAA’s Palm Springs and Winter Conventions.
Harvey Eisenstadt had two themes. First, Harvey was a salesperson’s sales guy - he taught from the trenches, spoke in language that all understood, and made an impact. Second, he loved the CAA and was moved when the content and training sessions at meetings were useful, engaging, and enjoyed by all.
For Kirk, Harvey's passing was bittersweet. In 1982, Harvey sold him his first FBI intrusion panel. Old times...remember Fire Burglary Instruments (FBI)? Kirk's entire office at the time (yes, the corporate office) was so small that he had to stand in the doorway as Harvey and another gentleman demonstrated how the system worked. Harvey loved to tell that story, and Kirk loved to hear it repeatedly. Harvey went on to sell him Radionics panels as well. He was a relationship guy and Kirk loved him for that.
Kirk's wife Sheri would prepare some great holiday cookies each year for Harvey at the CAA Winter convention in San Francisco. If she was not able to attend, Kirk would personally hand-deliver the cookies to Harvey. This went on for 20+ years.
Kirk's wife Sheri would prepare some great holiday cookies each year for Harvey at the CAA Winter convention in San Francisco. If she was not able to attend, Kirk would have to personally hand-deliver the cookies to Harvey. This went on for 20+ years. However, mind you, he preferred Sheri hand deliver them to him. He and Sheri would usually sit for hours talking about life, kids, and Judy, Harvey’s wife who preceded him in death.
One year that Sheri could not make it to San Francisco, Kirk actually left the cookies on the kitchen island much to Harvey's disappointment! Harvey never let him forget it. And quite frankly, Kirk wasn't sure if he missed the cookies or his one-on-one time with Sheri. Sheri and Kirk loved Harvey and will miss him dearly. Holiday cookies will never be the same for them.
In Harvey's honor, Sheri renamed her famous "Grandma Gorsage Cookies" to "Harv's Cookies". They now share that recipe with you.
For more information on The Harvey Eisenstadt Sales Symposium, visit https://www.caaonline.org/harvey-eisenstadt-sales-symposium
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