I started C3 Nework, LLC in 1997. I was 45 years old, with 5 children between the ages of 11 and 18. The oldest was entering college. I had joined Penske Corporation and its acquisition of Diesel Technology Company right at the end of 1988. After 8 years and some significant growth, we sold the company to Bosch. I suppose I could have moved to Detroit to work elsewhere in Penske Corporation with Roger but I had a strong urge to start something on my own. So I drove to his office in Bloomfield Hills and explained my plan to start a company focused on launching new products in the transportation industry and my desire to keep him as a customer. When Penske Corp. invested in new companies I could supply marketing and branding support. It actually worked! Roger agreed to buy my services and we started the new relationship with a project to launch the new California Speedway to the NASCAR and Indy Car communities. I was off and running and loving the work.

C3 has taken a lot of forms since then. Several of Roger’s projects were too big for my company and he needed me back within the Penske umbrella to manage Hino Trucks USA and provide admin and dealer development support for smart USA. I also formed a partnership called Kaufman Peters with Rich Peters and Dave Mitchell who have both been very instrumental in my working career.

Today, I am back home at C3 looking for new adventures and building the Great Business Communication Webinar Series.

It has been a wild ride — lots of ups and downs — and I’m glad I made that leap of faith in 1997 when I put it all on the line to do my own thing.