Troubleshooter.com – The Internet Home of Consumer Advocate Tom Martino
Tom Martino has been fighting for consumers more than 30-years utilizing Radio, TV,
Newspapers, Magazines and the Internet. His well-known brand “Troubleshooter” has
garnered millions of loyal fans. He has recovered millions of dollars for consumers in cash,
merchandise, exchanges, refunds and services.
Radio
On radio Tom can be heard weekday afternoons from 9 to noon on Denver's popular AM
talk station 630-KHOW. This high-energy radio show is unlike anything you’ve ever heard
on radio. Each show is filled with calls from people needing consumer help, information and
advice. He and his team also do live on-air investigations of consumer rip-offs and fraud.
Television
Tom has appeared on Denver TV for the past 30-years, most recently with MartinoTV on KDVR Fox-31. Tom recently left Fox to pursue other TV opportunities which he will be announcing soon.
Internet
In addition to this site, Tom hosts other high-traffic websites: His famous ReferralList.com
dedicated to helping people find reliable merchants and service providers and Seniorreferrallist.com
a companion site dedicated to helping seniors.
Tom’s Referral List has become Colorado’s most utilized and respected “list” of reliable
merchants, contractors and service providers. All members are extensively background
checked and continually monitored for adherence to Tom’s strict code of ethics and conduct.
He calls this venture “Advertising with Accountability”. It is the only form of advertising that
offers recourse to consumers through arbitration, public testimonials and suspension of
members who do not measure up!
Other Activities
In addition to his radio, television and internet work, Tom consults top corporate executives
and business owners around the country on topics concerning business strategies, branding,
marketing, advertising and customer service. He also serves as a commercial spokesperson
for a select group of companies that he personally endorses for outstanding customer service
and consumer value.
And one of Tom’s favorite activities is public speaking for business, educational and charitable
gatherings.
Background
Tom’s career spans more than 30 years beginning with a small town newspaper in Catskill,
New York. While at the “Catskill Daily Mail” Tom created one of the first-ever “Consumer
Action” columns where readers wrote to him for consumer help, information and advice.
In the early 70’s Tom moved into broadcasting at WHUC Radio in Hudson, New York where he
hosted America’s first consumer call-in show. Shortly thereafter he launched his TV career at
WRGB in Schenectady, New York.
From New York, Tom worked in TV and Radio in Fort Myers, Tampa, Raleigh and Denver.
Tom began his Denver career at KCNC-TV and 850-KOA Radio. He also had a long-running
column in the Rocky Mountain News and wrote independently for several national magazines.
In the late 90’s Tom’s radio show became nationally syndicated for several years on more than
300 radio stations from coast to coast including WABC in New York City.
Personal
Tom is married to his wife Holly and has four children. He is an avid airplane and helicopter
pilot and enjoys playing drums, target shooting, horseback riding and RV camping.
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Holly Martino
Holly MartinoBiography: Holly Martino never set out for a career in media and broadcasting but she has been fighting for consumers in other ways. She began working, while still in high school, in the customer service department at a bank. After attending Harding University in Arkansas, she began a career in the health care finance industry.
Holly’s mom was a pioneer in the field of auditing medical bills and collecting from insurance companies for patients and health care facilities. Holly assisted her mom in that business right out of college and later started her own branded company.
When Tom met Holly, he immediately recognized her talent for investigating consumer problems and getting to the heart of issues. He also saw her organization skills as a much needed asset in his organization. Holly then assumed her official capacity as Director of Operations for the Troubleshooter Network, where she began assisting in the production of Tom’s radio show. After Tom launched MartinoTV, Holly found her new passion as a feature reporter for the TV show.
In addition to their mutual love for consumer advocacy, it was obvious that their relationship was far more than just business. They also shared a love for children, music, dogs, horses and aviation. One year to the day of their first date, they were married.
Holly loves golf, yoga, boating, flying, camping and most of all: family time.
During Holly’s last pregnancy, she was shocked at the lack of practical “hands on” reports and information regarding products for expectant mothers, newborns and young children. She also saw a need for real-life experiences with child-friendly restaurants and other businesses. That’s when she decided to concentrate her TV reporting to women’s issues and the female perspective on products and services. She wants to do more than provide facts and figures. She wants to “live the experience” and report on it.
“I am not trying to be another Troubleshooter. I don’t want to tell people what they should or shouldn’t do. That’s Tom’s job,” Holly says. “My job is mostly opinion based, taken from my actual experiences and the experiences of my friends and associates.”
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Mike Bassett
Mike BassettBiography: Mike has worked in radio since graduating High School … in and around the US, including Hawaii.
He came to Denver in 1992 when he was driven from the island of Kauai (Hawaii). He started at Clear Channel as the technical producer for The Tom Martino Show in 2002 and was named the Show Producer shortly thereafter. He also owns a Real Estate Agency and is a Travel Agent specializing in trips to Las Vegas.
Mike is also Tom’s on-air sidekick and fill-in Host.
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Andrea McMillen
Andrea McMillenBiography: Andrea studied applied mathematics and computer science at University of Miami and Metro State College. Through her college career and beyond, Andrea became somewhat of an expert at real estate development, particularly in the areas of zoning, entitlements and property management. She worked for Tom in his real estate venture for many years before joining him at the Troubleshooter Network and is now a real estate broker.
While in College she also worked with at-risk youth mentoring them in outdoor activities.
Andrea is crazy about all kinds of outdoor activities including white-water kayaking, rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, skiing, skeleton, spelunking and water skiing.
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Rick AShton "BEAK"
BeakBiography: “Beak” (aka Rick Ashton) got his start in radio volunteering for his school’s college radio station at Fort Lewis College in Durango. He has been working in the field since 2000.
His first paid radio job was in Burlington, Vermont where he engineered The Motor Racing Network. He has been the Technical Producer for The Tom Martino Show for three years. Beak also helps out on other TalkRadio 630 shows and also on 850 KOA and AM 760.
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Carl Diperna
Carl DipernaBiography: Carl's experience spans more than 32-years in sales, marketing and management. He began with IBM as a Transportation Specialist and ended his IBM career as a Senior Program Manager in Boulder, Colorado.
Carl completed his undergraduate studies at Penn State and the University of Colorado earning a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business. He then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Project Management from George Washington University.
Carl retired from IBM in 2008 after 29-years of service. He then started his “second” career with Troubleshooter Network.
Carl is the proud father of 3 Daughters and Grandfather of 7 Grandchildren. He is married and has lived in Colorado for 22+ years.
Carl and Tom grew up together in Catskill, New York and have been life-long friends.
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Bart Womack
Bart WomackBiography: Bart’s original career was operating a highly successful auto body shop specializing in collision repair and show-quality refinishing. After 20-years in the industry, wanting to change careers, he moved to Colorado in November of 1996 with his Colorado-born wife and 2 daughters.
He was afforded the opportunity to sell furniture for a small luxury furniture company and realized he loved sales! Wanting to further his career, he made an upward move to the biggest furniture company in the State of Colorado – American Furniture Warehouse. After six-years as one of American’s top salesmen he was promoted to sales manager, and shortly thereafter, corporate sales trainer. He stayed at American Furniture for a total of 9-years, and then joined the Troubleshooter Network.
Bart was born and raised in San Diego, California where he was an avid surfer and enjoyed ocean fishing!
Bart’s hobbies include golfing, fly-fishing, motorcycle riding, and camping with family and friends.
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Julie Genovesi
Julie GenovesiBiography: Julie originally studied photography, then moved into broadcasting and went to work for the Troubleshooter Network after broadcasting school. Prior to joining Tom and crew, she produced “The Italian Show” on TalkRadio 630 KHOW. Her passion is “all things Italy” which lead to opening her travel agency in 2002. Her agency, Bella Italia Tours, books extraordinary adventures throughout Italy. She continues as a travel consultant to this day.
Shortly after joining the Troubleshooter Network, Julie created Wedding ReferralList.com for Tom as a subset of the original Referral List. Tom and Julie believe the wedding industry needed more direction and referrals.
“Almost anyone can get in the wedding services industry with little or no experience,” Julie said. “Our goal is to keep the wedding day from becoming a wedding nightmare.”
In addition to her other duties, Julie handles Tom’s social media and has since branched out to help other small businesses and professionals in the field of social media management.
She is dedicated to helping small businesses through the maze of choices when it comes to marketing and expansion.
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Ted Scott
Ted ScottBiography: Ted has been in radio for 44 years in various roles including sales, marketing, programming and on-air. He is a graduate of Colorado State University. He was a program director for 12-years of his career before moving into sales in 1978. Prior to working with the Troubleshooter Network, Ted was one of the top advertising executives at TalkRadio 630 KHOW.