Profession
Start-up entrepreneur. Founded, co-founded, or assisted others to found well over 100 businesses in dozens of industries for over 40 years. Deeply experienced in all aspects of start-up entrepreneurship.
Massive mid-life pivot 1998 - 2007. Intense study and experimentation in preparation for inventing solutions to big industry problems and starting multiple technology-based companies in the second half of life. Developed an online product, WineQuesters.com, California's largest wine travel site, as a learning experience for larger projects and as a marketing platform to support future projects.
Working in over 40 disciplines including software development, Web technologies and skills, photography and videography, product design, conceptual design, marketing, etc. Have produced useful work in over 50 disciplines in life.
Current occupation - CEO and co-founder, Intiri, Inc, Santa Clara, CA
Intiri is an Internet business project development company. The goal is to develop innovative Internet-based solutions for big constraints in large industry categories. One business line operational and growing, one in prototype development, several synergistic projects in conceptual framework development. Pre-revenue stage company. 1999 to present. Much of this period was spent in study, research, experimentation, and prototype development of several major projects. Home iDesigner is the new flagship project. WineQuesters.com is mostly developed and operational. WineQuesters.com and the related iPhone app attract one of the leading consumer demograhics, wine travelers, and is available as a base for marketing other Intiri products.
Developed conceptual frameworks and prototypes for open business models, marketplaces, and platforms that impact dozens of large industries.
Currently seeking funding to ramp up development of Home iDesigner, the interior and architecture design online platform for the world, and bring it to market in 2011. Current staff of 9 part-time freelance contractors and helpers. The goal is to build a large world-class enterprise which is possbile with the currently identified lines of business.
Previous employers and businesses
Remodeling store chain feasibilty prototye - CEO and co-founder with wife, International Trade Services, Inc., Vladivostok, Seattle, Anchorage, 1995 - 1998. Four investors. The goal was to develop a chain of small remodeling stores across Russia. Developed a proto-type store in Russia but project abandoned due to adverse business environment issues in Russia. Exported from Seattle, imported into Russia, construction materials, tools, interior furnishings, lighting, decor, tools, and hardware. Setup supply chain, transportation logistics by truck, air, and ship, customs clearing, foreign market study and analysis, foreign sales. Large investors available for this project but didn't take their money after determining that the risk was too high.
Pivoted in 1998 to the emerging Internet, studied Internet tech at Microsoft, moved to California in 1999 to work on Internet solutions for major shelter industry problems. Company renamed Intiri (see above).
Remodeling contractor and interior design - president and co-owner with wife, Amerikanski Remont, Vladivostok, Russia, 1996 - 1997. Designed, planned, and built in severe conditions with a lack of heat in winter (the ocean was frozen), daily water and power shortages, Mafia threats and constant security concerns, complex and challenging supply and logistics issues, and 2500% annual inflation. Construction, marketing, payroll of 10 Russians, accounting, taxes, legal compliance (the Communist version of Civil Law), Foreign Corrupt Practices Act challenges. Survived, which is better than many business people did in Russia at this time.
Developed this business as a lab rat to test the market for the above retail stores project. Only one major remodel completed, a mall-quality store, as Russia began to block imports of needed materials. Abandoned due to Russia's developing import restrictions and failure to follow their own foreign investment laws (which is why they still aren't in the WTO).
Public accounting:
- Deloitte & Touche, Vladivostok, Russia, office founder and managing director, involved in privatization issues, international finance, taxation, 1994 - 1995. Hired due to reputation for starting businesses in challenging circumstances. Worked with a few large enterprises, foriegn investors, provincial governors, and emerging entrepreneurs. Built-out the office with electricity, telephone system, and plumbing alone. Terminated when D&T finally 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 quickly pivoted to a feasibiity study and prototyping for a chain of remodeling stores across Russia (see above).
Creatively and successfully trained a Russian staff of 15 in audit and tax consulting from scratch with few resources and extremely small budget provided by D&T, all of whom went on to successful careers and businesses. Developed a large region-wide economic development plan and feasibility study with Russian Far East governors. Survived in a harsh business environment and climate as Russians were trying to sort out what comes after the Soviet Union. Successfully avoided the office being ransacked by tax police commandos or Mafia as happened to competitor Price Waterhouse. Worked in severe conditions with a lack of heat (interior temperature less than 40F in winter), water and power shortages, poor food availability, Mafia threats and constant security concerns, and 2500% annual inflation.
- 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 (last case was the Exxon Valdez spill, feasibility studies in Alaska and Russia, private finance, help found and grow over 100 businesses in various industries, brought a food processing company to IPO as outside CFO, 1982 - 1994. 2 to 5 employees.
There were two founding goals: 1) Put all work processes on desktop computers and 2) create a lifestyle business that allowed world travel and Alaskan adventures. Exceeded both goals. The first goal was highly innovative thinking in 1982 and few business people were thinking that way. Used firm as a lab for creating innovative business processes and desktop computing software for about a dozen industries. This IP is part of most business software now. Sold firm in order to work for Deloitte & Touche starting offices in Russia. Memberships: American Society of Certified Public Accountants, Alaska Society of CPA's, American Society of Appraisers - Business Valuation Associate Member.
- KPMG (then Peat, Marwick, Mitchell), Anchorage, Alaska, staff accountant in audit and senior accountant in tax, 1979 - 1982. Left to start own firm and do the R&D necessary to bring desktop computing to public accounting and other industries. Successfully prototyped personal computing power at KPMG but they were not interested at the time. When they finally figured it out they went the wrong direction with Apple products then had to change to IBM compatible.
Adjunct professor (accounting and business planning) - University of Alaska Anchorage, 1984 - 1986. Quit because it was boring and the pay was awful.
Oil spill cleanup - Spill Response Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska. A short-lived effort to contract with Exxon to clean the Exxon Valdez oil spill, March - May 1989. Quickly formed a company with four investors to respond to the spill. Politically supported by the US Forest Service, Coast Guard, and local governments due to years of Jim's work with them on various issues in Prince William Sound. Secured critical resources such as containment boom around the world, the only warehouse in the oiled zone, and US Navy skimmers through Rotary connections. Unfortunately the oil washed into the Gulf of Alaska and was beyond anyone's ability to catch it so the project was abandoned. Didn't want to clean rocks which was the next response stage.
Underground pipeline construction - Preston Pipelines, Inc., Silicon Valley, California. Co-built this company with father during the challenging 1970's (two recessions, high inflation, two oil crises) to one of California's largest in the industry and nationally known, skills include project management, supervision, heavy equipment operation, mechanic, truck driving, surveying, finance, 1974 - 1979. Also a full-time accounting student at San Jose State University. Left due to the intellectual boredom of putting pipe in the ground and Silicon Valley workaholic health problems at age 28 (severe stomach pain). Five doctors recommended moving somewhere relaxing with few possibilities to work hard. Moved to Alaska as a CPA and recovered from stress. Three years living in Russia with several businesses proved stress was permanently cured. Also left because personal vision for the company, compete with Bechtel, was not possible with this family. Wrong partners to build an international company with.
Retail sales - Mel Cottons Sporting Goods, San Jose, and Skis & Such, Los Altos, 1974 - 1976. College jobs during winters. Helped set up Skis & Such and considered part owner. Left to focus more on 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 - including developing a plan for the Russian Far East.
Sciences - archeology, paleontology, anthropology, geology, physics, cosmology, physiology, neurology, psychology. Special interest in ancient Maya and explored hundreds of sites deep in the jungle for evidence of true arches. Also tried to understand why the Mayan rooms were all under corbel arches. What was the significance of these narrow windowless rooms when nearby cultures made more practical rooms? About a year total time in Mayan studies focused on architecture, iconography and meaning, history and glyphs, 1989 - 1996.
Economics - Keynesian.
Technology - Internet, computers, medical, mechanical.
Travel - 28 countries, US road trips, wine travel.
Languages - Spanish and Russian.
Outdoor recreation - mountain biking, backpacking, sailing (offshore, coastal, and inland, California, Mexico, Alaska, Greece, Russia), remote fly-in white water rafting adventures in Alaska.
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.
This isn't the whole story but most of it.
