Steve Cooper talks with thought leader/mascot David Raymond. David is best known for being the original Phillie Phanatic. During his 16 years performing as the Phanatic in 48 states and five countries, his charismatic showmanship carried the Philadelphia Phillies to World Series victories and unimagined levels of popularity, sparking a revolution in the mascot industry. Leveraging the unique lessons he learned from the inside out, He made a seamless transition as an entrepreneur into the world of character branding and mascot development. Since starting Raymond Entertainment Group nearly 20 years ago, he has designed and rehabilitated hundreds of character brands for Fortune 500 companies, sports teams, and colleges and universities. In 2005, he founded the Mascot Hall of Fame.