How quickly a decade can pass by, especially in byline years for anyone in the career of journalism.
This week marks a decade since this Of Notoriety column debuted with baiduhai Media in 2016, anchored in the flagship Post-Tribune.
Previously, an earlier incarnation branded as “OffBeat with Phil Potempa” ran daily in The Times of Northwest Indiana from April 2004 until November 2015.
Connecting with readers for a shared familiarity is just one of the wonderful aspects of penning a published column.
Readers will ask from time to time if there are certain “checkmarks” I’ve aspired to while writing my column over the decades, usually posing the question attached to whether there’s been a particular famous or newsworthy name I’ve always hoped to interview.
An inspired columnist writes from the mind, imagination and heart, but with the reader ranked as the top priority rather than oneself, always keeping in mind the precious use of print landscape, or equated to today’s cyber universe of seemingly limitless online space, upholding that same pledge to write tight and concise rather than needlessly taking up the time of readers by “overwriting.”
While researching and fact-gathering, early web searches during the first half of my career always confused my byline with a toothbrush-wielding counterpart with the same name: Dr. Philip W. Potempa. Silly as it might sound, it has always remained my desire to meet the man behind the name sharing such a close-call identity.
I am Philip M. Potempa, with my middle initial representing “Matthew,” while this dentist and would-be doppelganger has a middle initial for his middle name, “Walter.” I was born Aug. 13, 1970, and he was born Aug. 11, 1942, with a longtime dental practice dividing his time between Lockport and Wilson, New York, practices.
Alas, though, it was a meeting I suppose was never meant to be. In more recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, my online searches have moved the New York dentist’s name further down, replaced now by celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa and her Beachwaver haircare products line at the top of search algorithms.
Last month, publicist Sarah Agate of Autumn Communications arranged something fun and magical during her marketing task to promote a TikTop Shop seminar in Chicago on March 20 featuring panels, products and promotional opportunities “to celebrate and connect regional and Chicago-based creators, founders and brands in TikTok’s ecosystem.”
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My social media platforms do not include TikTok, but Sarah Potempa has found great success and expansion with her own name and brand since she discovered it as a communication tool and sales arena.
Publicist Agate acknowledged that Sarah and I share the same last name and arranged for a lunchtime meeting for me with Sarah, whose long flowing mane of strawberry-blonde or “pink” hair has become her signature look.
Sarah founded her Beachwaver brand in 2010 and has sold more than a million products on TikTok Shop since the social media sales platform launched in September 2023.
Among Sarah’s famous clients are Reese Witherspoon, Emily Blunt and pop singer Camila Cabello, all of whom have strutted red carpets sporting Sarah’s signature elaborate braids and her signature hairstyle “the beachwaver,” the latter of which has inspired a line of custom-designed pink “rotating” curling irons which allow clients to recreate the look at home.
Sarah’s family roots (which haven’t been traced to my own family tree connection, or at least not yet) are based in Libertyville, Illinois, the daughter of Gary and Mary, with her attorney-sister Erin, who helps her run her business along with their sister Emily, and their brother Tom, who manages the company’s vast inventory and shipping warehouse in Waukegan, Illinois.
“My dad won the national championship when playing football at Notre Dame, and he was even on a cover of ‘Sports Illustrated’ magazine,” Sarah said.
“I never thought about changing my last name to something that might align better with a brand. My name is who I am.”
Sarah, 45, even opted to keep her maiden name for business and branding after marrying her dentist husband, Patrick Kennedy, in 2009. Today, her husband owns and manages Sarah’s father’s dental practice now that her dad has retired. Sarah and Patrick have two children, Grayson and Lauder.
“This says so much when thinking of our name,” Sarah said.
“My married last name is Kenned,y yet I’m still keeping my Potempa. We have a great last name.”
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at [email protected].