Failed Miserably as a Student
I just wasn’t meant to be in a classroom. I graduated at the bottom of my class in High School and got rejected from every college I applied to. When I finally got into college I dropped out as quickly as possible. I went to school with the intent of studying Theatre and being an actor in Hollywood. It didn’t exactly pan out.
Founded Blue Diesel
(Interactive Marketing Agency)
When I was 19 I started my first company, Blue Diesel. It was the dawn of the Internet era and I was starting a Web development company. Who would have guessed? Landed huge clients - BMW, Bank One, Best Buy and Eli Lilly, grew it to $65 million in capitalized billings, and sold it to inChord communications.
Co-Founded Kelltech Internet Services
(Software, Content Management)
While still running Blue Diesel in Columbus, Ohio, I decided to co-found Kelltech Internet Services in Cleveland, Ohio. We started off doing consulting and morphed into a company with a simple content management software platform. Running two companies in two cities wasn't exactly a picnic but Kelltech was later sold to GTCR at a value of about $10 million so we must have done something right.
Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
I became the finalist and recipient of the Ernst & Young and U.S. Small Business Association Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 1999 respectively. I think everyone in 1999 had +30 points added to their perceived IQ. They were all subtracted in 2001.
Joined inChord Board of Directors
(Healthcare/Pharmaceutical Ad Agency)
inChord went from being a tiny little ad agency when I joined to becoming one of the fastest growing ad agencies in the country. I had the privilege of sitting on the board while also growing one of the largest lines of business while at Blue Diesel (we sold Blue Diesel to them when they were small). Watched the company grow from $50 million to over $650 million in billings in five years.
Founded Powerhouse.com
(Residential Real Estate Startup)
Great idea, no opportunity. In 1999 I co-founded Powerhouse.com to help "roll-up" 185 unsigned real estate franchises to create a $8 billion national company. The idea made tons of sense to the founders, just not to the 185 unsigned real estate franchises. Hey, it was 1999.
Founded Atomica
(Not-for-profit Arts Organization)
Founded a not-for-profit organization to help promote the convergence of art and technology. Put on some amazing shows and events with some unbelievably talented artists. Still have a hard time understanding how to ask for money with no intent on giving it back! Not-for-profit fundraising is the world's hardest job.
Ohio Businessperson of the Year Award
Named one of Ohio's most distinguished business leaders among past recipients such as Dave Thomas (Wendy's), Robert Lazarus (Lazarus Department Stores), and John McCoy (Bank One). Unfortunately you don't get a billion dollars to go with it like they did.
Joined Swapalease as CEO
(Automotive Leasing Marketplace)
Joined Swapalease.com as the CEO and learned how the auto industry works. Within a few years we became the world's largest auto leasing marketplace with over $1 billion in vehicles listed. Also learned how to negotiate a better lease.
Opened a Nightclub
(Entertainment Industry)
Had a stupid idea while nursing a post-New Year’s hang over that it would be a great idea to have a party like New Year’s every weekend. Six weeks later we opened up “Status”, a nightclub that held about 1,000 people and was home to acts such as Danny Howells and the Crystal Method. Closed it the same year. Somehow working from 8 a.m. on Friday (at my regular job) and then on til 4 a.m. Saturday got old really quick.
Created Two Collegiate Scholarships
Created two collegiate scholarships for Washington State University and Marietta College. The irony being I could barely pay for my own tuition a few years prior and dropped out of college completely.
Launched LeasePower
(Financial Services)
After growing Swapalease we realized there was a great opportunity to lease new cars, not just transfer existing leases. So we launched LeasePower. You could pick a car, choose a lease payment, and apply for financing right on-line. It turned out to be a great service for people to get a price low enough to take to a dealer instead of using us.
Published LeaseAdvisor on Paperback
Wrote an entire book about how to lease a car. Sold pretty well, primarily through Swapalease.com. If you ever find yourself suffering from insomnia, I highly recommend reading (or writing) a book about leasing a car.
Launched the Go BIG Network
(Business to Business E-commerce)
Create the world's largest community of startup companies and entrepreneurs. Go BIG took off practically overnight and now tens of thousands of users turn to Go BIG to grow. That's a big deal to me.
Became a nationally syndicated columnist
In preparation for writing a book I asked American City Business Journals if they would let me author a bi-weekly column about starting companies and raising money. Within the first year the column would go on to get syndicated in 42 markets to over 4 million readers.
Published Go BIG or Go HOME
Wrote a book about how to grow a company as fast as humanly possible. Wrote 900 pages in one year which left me with 200 published pages (and a hangover from the amount of caffeine it takes to write 900 pages).
Joined the Board of the Columbus Symphony
Was pleasantly surprised to be asked to join the Symphony's Board. Partly because the other people on the board are so well regarded and partly because I'm nobody.
Joined the Board of the GroundWork Group
The GroundWork Group is helping bring technology to non-profits. Up until now the idea of "non profit" and "technology" was a fear of mine, not a goal.
Joined the Board of Young Isaac
Young Isaac is one of the most creative and energetic ad agencies in Columbus. I can't get enough of the work they've been doing, and their founder, Artie Isaac is a genius.
I'm a big fan of the Ohio State University ("let's go Bucks!"), but when I was there the Internet was just taking off and it wasn't a very good time to be hanging out inside a classroom. Besides, I was a terrible student.
Wil -- great Blog! I also grew up as a big Ohio State fan (My parents met there in the late 60s and were two of the first people in the country to graduate with Computer Science degrees). I am working on launching my own start-up and am also writing about entrepreneurship at my blog --GrandInnovation.com. Keep up the good work and I wish you luck with all your ventures. -Ryan
Posted by: Ryan Buckholtz | December 29, 2006 at 12:34 PM