Nick Warnock, an alumnus of the hit NBC reality television show The Apprentice drew laughter from more than 100 human resources directors and managers when he told them he knew something about being fired- on national television, no less.

"He fired me with a smile," the 28-year-old former Xerox photocopier machine salesman said of Donald Trump during his speech yesterday at a human resources conference at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Toledo.

Mr. Warnock, a native of Bayonne, N.J., kept his audience spellbound in what was part stand-up comedy and part motivational speech.

The finalist in competition for a job as president of a company in Mr. Trump's real estate empire told attendees that all they need to do to succeed in life and in business is to "plan, have a vision, and take control."

The son of a personnel manager, Mr. Warnock talked about his first management job experience running Nick's Authentic Italian Ice, an ice cream business operated during summer vacations in college. His sisters worked for him, but didn't make minimum wage, he said.

The importance of networking, Mr. Warnock said, was one of the lessons he took from his experience on the television show. "It's like living in a dream. I have been on Jay Leno, Larry King, the cover of People magazine, and once rode on one of Warren Buffet's private planes," he said.

His photocopier-machine selling job long behind him, Mr. Warnock now spends his days on the speaking circuit.

"I think women get a bad reputation when they take a leadership role," he said, responding to a question about what he thinks are the stereotypes about men and women in the business world.

Contact Karamagi Rujumba at:

krujumba@theblade.com

of 419-724-6064.

First Published November 4, 2004, 11:57 a.m.