February 23 1999 7:00 am presentation of:

Internet Success Stories of Dallas-Area Entrepreneurs:

How companies with limited resources can compete successfully with large companies by using the Internet

Moderator

Mary Swensen, APR Swensen Communications .

Panelists

Steve Alford, Aircraft Ducting Repairs Inc.
Rebecca Anderson, SEA Medical Services, Inc.
Randy Frierson, RPM Records
Walter Hawley, Hawley's Billiard Store Inc.
Samuel "Ari" Reubin, Darwin's Beagle.Com, Inc.
Internet Consultant: Harry R. Tennant, Ph.D., Harry Tennant & Associates

Panel Overview

One of the great expectations of the Internet is that it will "level the playing field" for small companies that compete with large companies. Entrepreneurs with small companies can, supposedly, appear as if they are large companies on the Internet. As a result of perception advantages and because the Internet is automatically a worldwide channel to potential customers, the Internet is supposed to be a boon to small business owners. Many companies have prospered by using the Internet but many companies have failed to use the Internet effectively. On February 23rd, the emerging success stories of five small companies will be presented with a commentary from an Internet consultant. The surprising factors that have led to success of these entrepreneurs with limited resources can be useful for entrepreneurs and for companies that want to use their resources more effectively.

Company Profiles

Darwin's Beagle.Com, Inc.
Samuel "Ari" Reubin, co-founder and president, created Darwin's Beagle to offer a variety of consulting services online, worldwide, in a unique way. Darwin's Beagle was created specifically for the Internet and is not a spin-off or an enhancement of an existing company.

SEA Medical Services, Inc.
Rebecca Anderson, co-founder, offers drug testing equipment and services to companies that do routine in-house employee drug testing. Her Internet success followed a previously successful non-Internet business focus on outsourced drug testing services for companies needing that service.

Aircraft Ducting Repair Inc.
Steve Alford, president and co-founder, now offers aircraft component repairs through the Internet. His use of personalized, non-high tech interactions with customers brings a new dimension to use of technology. RPM Records Randy Frierson, founder and president, has been in business nearly 20 years. His award-winning business offers digital and analog entertainment to Dallas-area customers at his retail location and worldwide through the Internet.

Hawley's Billiard Store, Inc.
Walter Hawley, founder and president, knows the billiard business because of his billiard parlor in Dallas. His move into the Internet produced a whole new market for billiard products, resulting in two separate Web sites.