Member News

February 22, 2013

What it does: Transportation and logistics provider.

HQ: Pleasanton.

2012: $5 million.

Employees: 7.

Founded: 2005.

Source of startup capital: Bootstrapped.

Background: B.S. in political science from Washington State University. Worked for third party logistics provider C.H. Robinson.

Age: 35.

Residence: Pleasanton.

Web site: www.pacwestdistributing.net.

Big Picture

How’s business: It’s good. We work with a lot of small- and medium-sized businesses, and we’re starting to see some recovery out there.

Biggest challenge for your business at the moment: I would say, funding — capital to grow.

What’s going to change at your company in the next year: We’ll be working on our expedited and international business.

Hiring:We’ll be hiring three to five positions.

Business Moves

Reason for starting business: I was going to go to law school at night and I worked on freight during the day. I decided I would take a few of my customers and start a company. Within the first year, I was doing better at my part-time job than I would be spending $100,000 to go to law school.

Most difficult part of decision: The fear of going out on my own. I realized things that go wrong are challenges, but you get through them.

Biggest misconception: That you make all the money and you do all the work.

Biggest business strength: Building relationships, and problem solving

Biggest business weakness: Dealing with the media.

Biggest risk: It was when I started hiring people. It’s a good thing and a bad thing. You realize you have to have a culture and a way of doing things so a new employee understands the way to do things. The first couple employees are the biggest risk.

Biggest mistake: Probably, thinking the capital would always be available as you continue to grow. I came up before the crash when banks were willing to lend money.

Smartest move: Diversifying into multiple modes of transportation. We started out as a refrigerated transportation company.

Biggest worry: Maintaining stable growth with sufficient capital.

What do you wish you had known from Day 1: Navigating financing, getting investors, working with commercial banks — I didn’t know how to do that. The banks aren’t as easy to work with as I thought.

Work Routine

Most challenging task: Dealing with the uncertainty of following your instincts.

Favorite task: Problems inevitably come up, and I find it challenging to problem-solve and negotiate new deals with new and existing clients.

Least favorite task: Dealing with the paperwork and accounting.

Biggest frustration: When you’re running a business, sometimes it’s hard to turn it off.

Source of support in a business crisis: I work with a group called the Alliance of Chief Executives of seven to 10 CEOs in the East Bay. We have a weekly sit-down.

Dreams

Key goal yet to achieve: I’d like to, from a revenue standpoint, become a $20 million-plus company.

First move with capital windfall: I would set up a vendor quick-pay program.

Five-year plan: We’ll add more aspects of transportation and logistics, partner with a larger corporation and continue to build customer relationships.

Inducement to sell: We’d love to partner with a larger company.

First choice for new career or venture: I would like to start another business.

Personals

Most-admired entrepreneur: Tesla’s Elon Musk.

Favorite pastimes: I enjoy watching sports.

Favorite book: “Dethroning the King: The Hostile Takeover of Anheuser-Busch” by Julie MacIntosh.

Favorite film: “There Will Be Blood.”

Favorite restaurant: Bob Rossi’s Sunshine Saloon.

Favorite Bay Area destination: AT&T Park.

What’s on iPod: Metallica, Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam.

Automobile: Black Cadillac Escalade.