Private-Equities

Jak has been in business since 1976. His career began after graduating with a BS in Economics from the University of Oregon. The business career had to wait for a short tour of Vietnam in the late 60’s before entering into a variety of fields including insurance, photography and landscaping while living in the state of Washington.

In 1970, he moved to Los Gatos, California where he has lived to the past 34 years with his wife Karen. They have three girls and one boy. It was here that he moved into the transportation and warehousing business, starting his first company in 1974, and the second in 1976.

Employment began with one person and ended with 175. The warehouse started at 1000 sq. ft. and grew to 125,000. Always an innovator and looking for a better way to do things, he was the first company in his field to utilize barcoding and online inventory management.

In the 25 years, he started 3 businesses, bought one, and sold four. It was the experience of starting, purchasing and selling companies that brought him to Private Equities where he thought he could contribute his knowledge to others. Early on, he had made the decision to grow the business for a sale prior to retirement. It was a decision that had its own successes and failures between the day the decision was made, and the day the sale became final. What could have take three years, went to 10, and he’s willing to share with you how you might cut down the process.

Jak was raised in a small town in the midwest where he picked up the Midwestern work ethic and penchant for helping others accomplish things they never thought they could do. While president of the rowing club to which he belongs, he was instrumental in starting the Outreach Program. He has set up and/or organized groups of kids from the California School for the Blind, as well as coached kids from the Foundry School of Santa Clara County, and a group of pre-high school girls from the inner city.

Jak’s Current Activities:
Competitive rower in national and international racing competitions; mountain biking; golf; weights; avid reader, not-so-avid gardener.

Always active and a believer in continuing education and associations, he has belonged to the following organizations:

Los Gatos Rowing Club (former President and Board Member)
California Moving and Storage Association (Board member)
California Trucking Association (Board member)
TEC (The Executive Committee)
IFMA (International Facilities Managers Association)
ARMA (American Records Management Association)
CABB (California Association of Business Brokers)
IBBA (International Business Brokers Association)

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