The Learning Annex
Encyclopedia
The Learning Annex is a private continuing adult education
school based in New York
. It was founded in 1980 by Bill Zanker
in his New York City
studio apartment with an investment of only $5,000. It is considered the largest adult education company in North America
.
The Learning Annex offers a wide range of classes, on topics as diverse as "How to Develop & Write a Winning Business Plan", "Intro to Pole Dancing", "How to Write a Book Proposal That Publishers Can't Refuse", "How To Talk To Your Cat", "How to Buy Foreclosed Property", "Make Contact with Lost Loved Ones", "How to Shoot Your Own Live Adult Video", "Kabbalah-Dating", "How to Create Magical Spells", "Discover Your Past Lives - Who Were You Before?", "How To Make Your Own Soap" and "How To Marry the Rich".
Learning Annex has enjoyed pop culture status with appearances on Sex and the City
and other shows as well as being a subject of monologue
s and a component of movie and television plots.
In 1991, Zanker sold the Learning Annex and repurchased the company 11 years later in 2002. At the time of his repurchase it had very little marketing and a roster of little known speakers. Zanker put millions into advertising and marketing and revitalized the company.
In recent years, the Learning Annex has concentrated its efforts on large-scale expos featuring notable speakers such as Donald Trump
, Robert Kiyosaki
and Anthony Robbins. Other high-profile speakers include Al Gore
, Rudy Giuliani
, Alan Greenspan
, George Foreman
, Julius Erving
, David Bach
, Joe Montana
, Bill Walsh, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
, Richard Branson
, Suze Orman
, Russell Simmons
, Barbara Corcoran
and John Demartini.
Trump reportedly receives $1.5 million for each one-hour presentation he does for Learning Annex.
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In September 2006, William Zanker paid $73,200 to purchase a used Lincoln Town Car
belonging to investor Warren Buffett
, reportedly in a bid to coax Buffett into conducting a Learning Annex class. In November 2005, Zanker paid $57,100 to have lunch with media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
The Learning Annex was No. 346 on the 2007 Inc. 500 (a list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies) with a reported 3 year growth of 794.1%, revenue of $102 million and 114 employees.
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
school based in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It was founded in 1980 by Bill Zanker
Bill Zanker
Bill Zanker is an American entrepreneur, best known for being the founder of the adult education company The Learning Annex. He is currently married to Deborah Zanker, and the two have three children, Ediva Zanker , Dylan Zanker and Vera Zanker . The family currently resides in Utah.Zanker grew up...
in his New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
studio apartment with an investment of only $5,000. It is considered the largest adult education company in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
The Learning Annex offers a wide range of classes, on topics as diverse as "How to Develop & Write a Winning Business Plan", "Intro to Pole Dancing", "How to Write a Book Proposal That Publishers Can't Refuse", "How To Talk To Your Cat", "How to Buy Foreclosed Property", "Make Contact with Lost Loved Ones", "How to Shoot Your Own Live Adult Video", "Kabbalah-Dating", "How to Create Magical Spells", "Discover Your Past Lives - Who Were You Before?", "How To Make Your Own Soap" and "How To Marry the Rich".
Learning Annex has enjoyed pop culture status with appearances on Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
and other shows as well as being a subject of monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
s and a component of movie and television plots.
In 1991, Zanker sold the Learning Annex and repurchased the company 11 years later in 2002. At the time of his repurchase it had very little marketing and a roster of little known speakers. Zanker put millions into advertising and marketing and revitalized the company.
In recent years, the Learning Annex has concentrated its efforts on large-scale expos featuring notable speakers such as Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
, Robert Kiyosaki
Robert Kiyosaki
Robert Toru Kiyosaki, born April 8, 1947) is an American investor, businessman, self-help author and motivational speaker. Kiyosaki is best known for his Rich Dad Poor Dad series of motivational books and other material published under the Rich Dad brand. He has written 15 books which have combined...
and Anthony Robbins. Other high-profile speakers include Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
, Alan Greenspan
Alan Greenspan
Alan Greenspan is an American economist who served as Chairman of the Federal Reserve of the United States from 1987 to 2006. He currently works as a private advisor and provides consulting for firms through his company, Greenspan Associates LLC...
, George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
, Julius Erving
Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....
, David Bach
David Bach (author)
David L. Bach is an American financial author, television personality, motivational speaker, entrepreneur and founder of . Bach, is best known for his Finish Rich Book Series and Automatic Millionaire Series of motivational financial books under the Finish Rich® Brand. He has written 12 books...
, Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
, Bill Walsh, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
, Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
, Suze Orman
Suze Orman
Susan "Suze" Lynn Orman is an American financial advisor, author, motivational speaker, and television host.Orman was born in Chicago and received her B.A. in social work. She worked as a waitress in Berkeley, California before becoming a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch...
, Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
, Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Ann Corcoran is an American businesswoman, investor, speaker, business consultant, syndicated columnist, author, and television personality. As a television personality, she is a "Shark" investor on ABC's Shark Tank.She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas College with a degree in education...
and John Demartini.
Trump reportedly receives $1.5 million for each one-hour presentation he does for Learning Annex.
Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
belonging to investor Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett
Warren Edward Buffett is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in the world. Often introduced as "legendary investor, Warren Buffett", he is the primary shareholder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is...
, reportedly in a bid to coax Buffett into conducting a Learning Annex class. In November 2005, Zanker paid $57,100 to have lunch with media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
The Learning Annex was No. 346 on the 2007 Inc. 500 (a list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies) with a reported 3 year growth of 794.1%, revenue of $102 million and 114 employees.