Profession
Start-up entrepreneur. Founded, co-founded, or assisted clients to found well over 100 businesses in dozens of industries for over 40 years. Deeply experienced in all aspects of start-up entrepreneurship.
Current occupation - CEO and co-founder, Intiri, Inc, Santa Clara, CA
Intiri is a development stage company. The goal is to create a large complex retail and media lifestlye consumer products and design company with innovative concepts and designs. Developed a new conceptual framework for residential interior design that may improve health and well-being, including longevity (based on scientific research). 1999 to present. Most of the time was study of numerous disciplines needed for the project and trial and error research and development.
Working in over 40 disciplines including software development, Web technologies and skills, photography and videography, product design, conceptual design, marketing, etc.
Previous employers and businesses
Import-export of remodeling, interior design, and hardware store products - co-owner, International Trade Services, Inc., Vladivostok, Seattle, Anchorage, 1995 - 1998. Developed a proto-type hardware store but project abandoned due to business environment issues in Russia. Exported from Seattle, imported into Russia, construction materials, tools, decor, and hardware.
Remodeling contractor - co-owner, Amerikanski Remont, Vladivostok, Russia, 1996 - 1997. Interior design and remodeling.
Public accounting:
- James M Preston, CPA, owner, a small local firm in Anchorage, Alaska specializing in accounting and taxes for entrepreneurs (Alaskan and Russian), business planning, business valuation, litigation support, feasibility studies, private finance, help found and grow over 100 businesses in various industries, 1982 - 1994. Sold firm in order to work for Deloitte & Touche starting offices in Russia.
- Deloitte & Touche, Vladivostok, Russia, office founder and director, senior manager, involved in privatization issues, international finance, taxation, 1994 - 1995. Terminated when D&T figured out that they didn't have the resources or senor management skills for multiple offices in Russia. Moscow management team also terminated along with all satellite offices. Delighted to be rid of D&T and moved on to work on what became Intiri.
- KPMG, Anchorage, Alaska, staff accountant in audit and tax, 1979 - 1982. Left to start own firm and do the R&D necessary to bring desktop computing to public accounting and other industries. KPMG did not have an interest in personal computing at the time. When they finally figured it out they went the wrong direction.
Adjunct professor (accounting and business planning) - University of Alaska Anchorage, 1984 - 1986. Quit because it was boring and the pay was awful.
Underground pipeline construction - Preston Pipelines, Inc., Silicon Valley, California. Co-built this company with father during the challenging 1970's to one of California's largest in the industry and nationally known, skills include heavy equipment operation, mechanic, truck driving, surveying, finance, foreman, 1974 - 1979. Also a business student at San Jose State University. Left due to dislike of family and Silicon Valley workaholic health problems. Years in Alaska cured both issues.
Retail sales - Mel Cottons Sporting Goods, San Jose, and Skis & Such, Los Altos, 1974 - 1976. During college jobs. Helped set up Skis & Such and considered part owner. Left to build Preston Pipelines.
Overhead power line construction - Pacific Gas & Electric Company - apprentice lineman, General Construction division, 1972 - 1974. Left to go to college when massive layoffs were announced. Great company and job but not intellectual enough. Also studied law during this time.
Warehousing - National Can Corporation - subforeman, lift truck driver, cannery warehouse, 1969 - 1972, 1974. Good job but not a career.
Landscaping, septic system repair - self-employed beginning at age 10, 1961 - 1969, 1974 - 1976. Loved it but had severe hay fever at the time. Had to move on.
Other activities and ongoing interests
International - history, business.
Government - US, world, politics, law, foreign policy.
Design - architecture, interior, products.
Urban and international development.
Sciences - archeology, paleontology, anthropology, geology, physics, cosmology, physiology, neurology, psychology.
Economics - Keynesian, Milton Friedman was wrong.
Technology - Internet, computers, medical, mechanical.
Travel - 28 countries, US road trips, wine travel.
Languages - Spanish and Russian.
Outdoor recreation - mountain biking, backpacking, sailing.
Trail work - crew leader.
Education
Ongoing study in dozens of disciplines - well beyond MBA level.
BS Business Administration (Accounting) 3.5/4.0 GPA (while building Preston Pipelines, Inc), San Jose State University, 1977 - 1979.
AS Business Administration, 3.8/4.0 GPA, West Valley College, Saratoga, CA 1974 - 1977.
Law - 2 years of 3 year correspondence course, 1972 - 1974. Dropped out to attend college full time and never got around to returning.
Partial MS Business Valuation - completed most of this American Society of Appraisers sponsored program until it fell apart. Bad management.
Previous professional societies
American Society of CPA's
Alaska Society of CPA's
American Society of Appraisers - associate in business valuation
Previous civic activities
Rotary - Anchorage, Vladivostok, Seattle, civic projects worldwide, 1983 - 1998. A leader in expanding the Alaska and Yukon Rotary district across Russia to the Ural Mountains of Europe. Club treasurer.
Prince William Sound Association - founder, diverse user group with recreation and various other projects, 1982 - 1989. Quit to focus on rebuilding CPA firm from the effects of the massive Oil States Recession.
Alaska Reparatory Theater - board treasurer, 1988 - 1989. Joined the board as the theater was failing. Planned a successful shutdown that paid all creditors.
Anchor Foster Care Association - co-founder, foster parent for teens, Anchorage, 1983 - 1986. Loved this but former wife had depression and foster care didn't work out for her.
Junior Achievement advisor - Anchorage, 1981 - 1985. Worked with bright teens to help them form and operate tiny businesses. Most became company of the year.
United Farmworkers (Caesar Chavez) - organizer, Washington State, 1969 - 1970. Designed a new strategy for the grape boycott that seemed to push the growers to agree to unionize. Left to return to fruit cannery warehousing job. Worked with Gov. Jerry Brown subsequently to bring major farmworker health and safety laws to the big agriculture, the first in the nation.
Drug Crisis Intervention - co-founder, San Jose, 1967 - 1969. Co-founded and developed call center that saved lives. Also handled suicides and an interesting assortment of other calls.
High School teacher's aide - American government, history, girls P.E., San Jose, 1967 - 1969. Was the primary instructor for an American government class due to teacher's inability to grasp the subject. He was a tennis coach. Replaced him with administration permission and oversight.
Boy Scouts - troop co-founder at age 11, New Almaden, CA, 1962 - 1966. This rural troop lasted until 1989.
