I grew up in a modest neighborhood in Roseville, MN with my parents and brother, Brent, who is 3-1/2 years younger than I am. We traveled just about everywhere during long summer vacations: 38 states, 6 Canadian provinces and Mexico, and that was before I was 19! Our family moved to Mendota Heights in 1987, where I went to Henry Sibley High School, graduating seventh in my class in 1991.

I was introduced to Macintosh computers in 1989 while working on the yearbook and school paper. By my sophomore year at the University of Minnesota (1992), I had become a self-taught Mac expert and freelance graphic designer, which led to me working for the Minnesota Student Association (the U student government) as head of public relations, advertising, corporate identity and communications.

In that role, I was charged with equipment recommendation, and also handled installation and maintenance of the Macs, file server, and network. Soon, other student organizations began to use me for similar tasks within their organizations, and my reputation within the University community grew. So much so, in fact, that in 1994 the prestigious Mithun Center for Advertising approached me to act as an independent technology consultant. I jumped at the chance.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. In the fall of 1992, Apple Computer's on-campus higher education rep, Eliot Axelrod, visited me to discuss co-marketing opportunities with MSA. During the course of that conversation, he mentioned his need for capable Mac-familiar students to revitalize the Campus Student Representative program, which demonstrates, evangelizes and in any way possible helps sell Macs to staff, students and organizations at the U. I expressed interest in the opportunity, and within two weeks was on board and charged with finding three more Mac zealots to fill out our ranks. This I did, and during the 1993-1994 school year increased Mac sales by 55% year-on-year, the largest increase (by far) of any school. All of a sudden, Apple middle and senior managers were all over my team trying to develop cookie-cutter programs all over the country based on the programs, demos, and expertise we were offering to the U of M community. One such manager sent an email to the entire Apple Higher Ed upper management team that said, "The types of demos Brian is accomplishing are above and beyond what we are having our reps do throughout the country. If we can clone this for other reps, we will certainly raise the bar nationwide."

Eliot also farmed me out to his Apple colleagues to work trade shows, the Newton (remember those?) retail product launch, Macintosh Performa demos in mass market retailers, and other events. Then, in October 1995, my friend Mike Skoglund called with an opportunity at a company called Cybernet which was going through an ownership change and serious financial problems, but which needed talent desperately. Mike said, "My boss asked me if I knew anyone who would make a good Mac tech. You were the first person I thought of." One week later I was in an interview with the new owner of the company. He never once looked at my resume, saying only that it would be a long and difficult road with no promises and no sure success ("we could be out of business tomorrow") but that anything was possible where we were headed and with all the opportunity that was staring us in the face. It would be us against the world (the owner, Mike, and myself, plus one part time employee). He offered what he could afford to pay me, saying "Mike speaks very highly of you. That's all the convincing I need."

Halloween 1995, I arrived for work at Cybernet for the first time. I spent nearly the next 5 years there, helping build a company of (at one point) more than 40 people and building an enviable resume and a deep reserve of skills and experience. The years at Cybernet were enjoyable and provided many of the good things in life - recognition, fun times, and the income to buy a big home in Brooklyn Park (May 1998) and travel all over the country during my vacations. Unfortunately, Cybernet could not weather its early years; it closed its doors in May 2000.

I spent eleven months in a similar position at WAM!NET working for many of the same Cybernet customers, but WAM!NET's precarious finances led to them eliminating my position and those of nearly a dozen former Cyberneters who had been hired en masse shortly after Cybernet's demise. Following that surprise layoff April 27, 2001, I went into business for myself: Escape, my own Macintosh systems integration company, was incorporated in June 2001. By that time, I had decided that it would take far too long to ramp up Escape's revenues to support my existing financial commitments (mortgage and so on) -- so I sold my home in Brooklyn Park to pay down the extensive debts I had incurred starting up Escape.

It took a lot of hard work, but Escape has become a successful Macintosh systems integrator locally and has been an enjoyable career for more than eight years now.

What I believe

The only thing worse than wasting your time is wasting others' time in the process.

It is excellent to have the strength of a giant, but it is tyrannous to use it like one. (Shakespeare)

Hard work will always be rewarded.

People are a company's greatest asset.

Don't underestimate the value of investment: investing in yourself, others, a cause.

Without integrity, you have nothing.

Words are the sharpest knives.

False character attacks are the worst attacks possible. It doesn't matter if they're true, it's the lie that hurts.

The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it. (As much as I'd rather not quote him, Hitler said that.)