Q&A with Ron Tannebaum
Ron Tannebaum Co-Founder, CEO/President of IN THE ROOMS
Ronald (RT) Tannebaum has 36 years of long-term recovery and has dedicated his life to helping make the recovery movement a positive, mainstream force in the world today. RT has been married to Phyllis for 32 years and she has over 35 years of long-term recovery. They have two children; their daughter Taylor is the Sports Anchor for WTHR, NBC-TV in Indianapolis, Indiana and son Jake is a Commercial Insurance Broker in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Taylor and Jake have reaped the benefits of their parent’s long-term recovery and have never seen either of them pick up a drink or a drug in their entire lives. In over 40 years as an entrepreneur, RT’s focus has been on sales, marketing, and promotions. RT created, owned, and operated The Sports Arena, Inc. a chain of retail stores in upscale regional malls, specializing in licensed sports products, sports memorabilia and collectibles including on-site personal appearances and autograph sessions by Hall of Fame sports hero’s from the past and current stars of today. The Sports Arena held partnerships with the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, and the Florida Panthers and promoted each team’s annual Fan Fest. After the sale of the Sports Arena, the business transcended into Extreme Promotions and Events, Inc. which eventually grew into South Florida’s premier indoor promoter of Arts and Crafts and Sports Memorabilia and Collectible Shows in South Florida until the launch of InTheRooms.com on October 6. 2008. Long before today’s ubiquitous Zoom meetings-ITR held virtual 12-step meetings from around the world for people who didn’t have access to face-to-face fellowship or wanted some “experience, strength and hope” anytime during the day. Today ITR has over 650,000 members, with live meetings, discussion groups, blogs and articles and even a REEL Recovery Movie of the Month.
Q. If you are in recovery, what was your Drug of Choice and when did you discontinue its use?
A. Heroin
Q. At which of the schools you attended did you learn the most?
A. University of Florida
Q. Do you believe leaders are made or born?
A. Born
Q. Which film have you watched the most?
A. The Godfather
Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?
A. Anthony Hopkins
Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, or mountaintop, or penthouse?
A. At the top of a mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
Q. What is your favorite hotel or resort?
A. La Sagesse Nature Center, Grenada – Lesser AntillesWindward Islands
Q. Where do you go to “get away”?
A. The Florida Keys or Asheville, NC
Q. What is your biggest or littlest pet peeve?
A. Hard butter in a restaurant
Q. How do you measure success?
A. By one’s Heart & Soul
Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?
A. South Florida Food Bank
Q. Who was your biggest influence throughout your life?
A. My older brother
Q. What is your current hobby?
A. Cooking and Kundalini Yoga
Q. What prominent fe/male figure would you most like to date?
A. Padma Lakshmi
Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, Living or dead, who would they be? (choose 4 if you think one might be too drunk or stoned to attend.)
A. Ernest Hemingway, James Clavell, Daniel Silva, Greg Isles
Q. What is your FAVORITE Radio show, news show, podcast?
A. Nicole Wallace, MSNBC
Q. What is your FAVORITE APP?
A. In The Rooms
Q. What is your FAVORITE TV/cable/digital series?
A. The Honeymooners, Justified, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Q. Who is your FAVORITE Director?
A. Martin Scorsese
Q. What is your FAVORITE Museum?
A. Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy
Q. What is your FAVORITE Band/composer/musical artist?
A. The Eagles, Mozart, Bob Dylan
Q. What is your FAVORITE Broadway musical/play?
A. Hamilton
Q. Who is your FAVORITE Psychologist or what school of thought as related to psychology?
A. Gestalt
Q. What is your FAVORITE Sport to watch? To play?
A. Football, I don’t play anymore
Q. What is your FAVORITE Snack?
A. Ice Cream
Q. What is your FAVORITE Cuisine?
A. Indian
Q. What is your FAVORITE Restaurant?
A. Casa D’Angelo
Q. What is your FAVORITE City?
A. Florence, Italy
Q. Have you ever been arrested and, if so, what for?
A. Yes, it is hard to remember. I was a drug addict at the time.
Q. Do you have any children?
A. Yes, 2
Q. Do you think the U.S. should adopt the Portuguese Decriminalization Model?
A. Yes, unless one kills someone for their next fix
Q. Do you take work home with you?
A. Yes, although I’m working from home now, Covid-19
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. To say what you mean and mean what you say
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given?
A. Be honest but be gentle
Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, a disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?
A. ALL
Q. What are five things you always carry with you?
A. Keys, money, credit card, driver license and a sense of humor
Q. What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?
A. Co-Founding InTheRooms.com
Q. What is your biggest mistake?
A. Getting busted way back when
Q. What is the proudest moment in your life?
A. My children’s births
Q. Is there a favorite “Quote” you would like to share?
A. Come from your heart not from your head
Q. What is your favorite Weekly News Bulletin?
A. The next one.