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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Geoff MairFounder, president and CTO, Constructive Media Inc.Age: 39 Not too many companies can claim Microsoft Corp. and Research In Motion Ltd. as their most loyal customers. Vancouver’s Constructive Media Inc. can. It can also make another claim that is equally rare in the technology industry: 12 consecutive years of profitable growth, sprung from only $250,000 in equity financing. Geoff Mair founded Constructive in 1997 at the age of 27 after a brief stint with a Seattle-based web-development firm. He witnessed the success of the Seattle firm and thought he could tackle the fledgling market for Internet services on his own. “The web was new enough that if you knew anything about it you could get a contract,” said Mair. “We didn’t have to be niche at the time.” Constructive scored early successes doing a broad range of web-development services for Microsoft, Sierra Wireless Inc. and other, larger, established technology players. Steady contracts with such players helped the company survive and thrive as other dot-coms imploded at the turn of the decade. “We had a very successful services business that was profitable,” said Mair. “But we always said we were going to look for product opportunities because that’s what makes a scalable business.” Recognizing from Constructive’s relationship with Microsoft the importance of managing vendor relationships, Mair and his team began developing partner management software. Today, the company designs private networks that are used by technology vendors to manage their channel partner network. In addition, the company has launched a free and open social network called Partnerpedia, on which individuals and businesses can build and manage partnerships. Think if it as a LinkedIn or Facebook for businesses that rely heavily on relationships with resellers, suppliers, distributors, vendors and other businesses. • Birthplace: Vancouver Where do you live now: Vancouver Highest level of education: Master of journalism from Northwestern University Car or chosen mode of transport: Jeep Cherokee Currently reading: Free: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson Last CD bought or music downloaded: Swoon by the Silversun Pickups Favourite movie: Garden State Favourite local restaurant: West Person you would most like to meet (living or deceased): Jay-Z Profession you would most like to try: Heli-ski operator Mentor: My father, Robert, and Haig Farris, co-founder of Ventures West and director of Constructive Most memorable career milestone or event: Launching Partnerpedia.com Toughest business or professional decision: Leaving the comfort of a steady job to start a company with no money and no customers What’s left to do: Build a massive community in Partnerpedia.com, grow our product sales significantly and complete the transition from a services-focused business to a highly scalable products-focused business. Raise my two sons as best as I can This article from Business in Vancouver December 29, 2009-January 4, 2010; issue 1053 Business in Vancouver (www.biv.com) has been publishing in-depth local business news, analysis and commentary since 1989. The newspaper also produces a weekly ranked list of the biggest companies and players in a wide range of B.C. industries and commercial sectors, monthly features and industry-focused sections that arm its subscribers with a complete package of local business intelligence each week. |
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