CEO, AMF Media Group

Vintage Foster

Consulting

Be true to yourself and to your work.

Contact Me

Bio

Meet Vintage

Vintage Foster started AMF Media Group, a media strategy and communications firm, after two decades of success in the media industry. As a newspaper publisher he was also an entrepreneur, establishing a record of successfully reengineering underperforming companies and returning them to profitability. Vintage most recently served as Publisher and CEO of the Silicon Valley Business Journal, leading the paper to its largest revenue growth in nearly a decade and for two years led its 41-paper corporate chain in the largest change to the bottom line. Today at AMF Media Group, Vintage works with a variety of companies from technology to healthcare to finance including HP, Kaiser and First Republic Bank.

Contact Vintage Foster

Experience

Professional History

Associations

  • East Bay Leadership Foundation, Founder
  • Currently sits on five other nonprofit boards

Experience

  • Detroit Free Press
  • Charlotte Observer
  • Knight Ridder
  • East Bay Business Times
  • Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal

Q&A

Q. Why did you decide to partner with Armanino to create AMF?
Several factors played a role in my decision to partner with Armanino. I had already worked with the firm closely and I loved the people; specifically, Andy Armanino, Lori Colvin and Tammy Ferraez. Working with them piqued my interest. When Andy suggested a potential partnership, we had several discussions about the benefits for both parties. We concluded that a partnership would add value to the firm. It’s a wonderful working environment and we have a phenomenal staff at Armanino. In the end, the people are what really made me feel at ease about my decision.

Also, it didn’t hurt that the office is conveniently three miles from my kids’ school and my house. That’s compared to my former commute – 45 miles one way.
Q. How would you compare your work style with that of your peers?
Historically, there is a persona that accountants lack pizzazz and aren’t very dynamic. I can tell you nothing could be further from that idea at Armanino. I really like my partners. They are creative. They think outside the box and they constantly look for ways to make sure that people are valued. I have the same philosophies. Occasionally, I will break a rule, but mostly I simply enjoy having the flexibility to bend them. This is where I probably differ from my peers. They work in a much more regulated capacity.
Q. What’s your proudest moment?
My children, undoubtedly, are my proudest achievement. Although, I would say they are wonderful despite me. My second proudest achievement would be the creation of the East Bay Leadership Foundation. EBLF provides educational opportunities and scholarships to students from under-served communities in the Bay Area. We have over 100 students in our program.
Q. Who is (or was) the most influential person in your life
There are two people. Rolfe Neill, the publisher for the Charlotte Observer and my father. Both told me the same fundamental thing - Be true to yourself and never apologize for doing so. My father taught me how to walk in that advice in life. Rolfe taught me how to apply it in business.
Q. If you could pass on a nugget of wisdom to aspiring accountants or consultants, what would that be?
It’s simply not worth it to compromise. Office politics and dishonesty might help you get ahead in the beginning but you will lose in the end. Be true to yourself and to your work. Value people and you will find fulfillment and success.
Read More
Industries Served
Vintage's Thought Leadership
Blog articles
Article
The companies that will be successful in this new era are those that communicate with clarity and win back the hearts a...