Bruce Gresham is president of Solana Beach-based Events Online, which offers Web development and training services and was founded in 1994. It also focuses on advanced programming languages, e-commerce and search engine marketing.
Its client list includes Hewlett-Packard, NASA and Qualcomm.
RESUM?p>?#8201;Name: Bruce William Gresham.
?#8201;Company: Events Online.
?#8201;Title: President.
?#8201;Education: Bachelor of Science, San Diego State University; M.B.A., National University.
?#8201;Birthplace: La Jolla.
?#8201;Age: 52.
?#8201;Current residence: Solana Beach.
?#8201;Family: Wife, Shirley; children, Peter, 21, a UC San Diego student; Whitney, 19, attends SDSU.
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
Essential business philosophy: Do business with integrity.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: In the Web world, ?ecome a citizen of the Internet.?Use social media, communication and remote access tools. Read.
Guiding principles: Focus on the people, both clients and vendors. Prioritize by asking myself, ?hat is the most important thing I can do right now??p>Yardsticks of success: Repeat business.
Goals yet to be achieved: There are still many opportunities for growth in the Internet. Right now, we are growing the Web-based training and search engine marketing areas of our business.
JUDGMENT CALLS
Best business decision: Starting an Internet business in 1994 and creating the first America? Cup Web site. This introduced me to many pioneers of the Web.
Worst business decision: Not selling all of my Internet stocks prior to the burst of the Internet bubble.
Toughest business decision: I often use the Ben Franklin Decision T to make tough decisions. Putting all positive points on one side and negative on the other usually provides an answer.
Biggest missed opportunity: Not being more aggressive about partnering with one of the early Internet startups, such as AOL, with whom we worked in 1995-1996.
Mentors: I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My father, father-in-law, grandparents and uncles were, and continue to be, great influences.
Word that describes you: Persistent.
TRUE CONFESSIONS
What you like best about your job: Seeing our work help a client? business. Hearing the enthusiasm of our clients when they see what we?e created.
What you like least about your job: Server crashes.
Pet peeves: People who don? do what they say they are going to do.
Most important lesson learned: Always budget more time than you think.
People most interested in meeting: Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. They are on top of the Web world and took $1 in salary in 2008.
Three greatest passions: Spending time with my family, competing in sailing, and stand-up paddle boarding with neighbors in Solana Beach.
First choice for a new career: Community activist; I would love to spend more time helping my community.
PREDILECTIONS
Favorite quote: ? year from now you will wish you started today.?p>Most influential book: ?ndurance: Shackleton? Incredible Voyage,?by Alfred Lansing. This is a fantastic story of leadership.
Favorite status symbol: Having work in the pipeline.
Favorite restaurant: Tony? Jacal in Solana Beach has great Mexican food and it? the first restaurant I remember going to as a child.
Favorite place for business meetings: San Diego Yacht Club.
Favorite vacation spot: Catalina Island. ?o near, yet so far.?p>Favorite way to spend time: Sailing with my family and playing the guitar.
?Andrew Schweizer