My career began in the early 70’s. As is common it would seem, a business opportunity presented itself while I was still in college. As a result, I founded a sales and marketing company in the consumer products industry focusing on upscale social stationery, greeting cards and related high-design paper and gift products. While a ‘company of one (me)’ in the early years, it grew to representing 20 national factories serviced by 16 highly skilled sales professionals in a 5-state region of the Pacific Northwest. Over the years I worked very closely with our client manufacturers to develop first and second generation innovative products with a high emphasis on both color and design elements. This entity was sold to a national sales and marketing company in 2000.