John has worked as an owner, outside consultant or interim executive for ten companies ranging from start-ups to long-established businesses. These companies were experiencing everything from exponential growth to heavy losses. Clients have been small to mid-sized companies with 10 to 150 employees. Industries have included distribution, manufacturing, market research, food service, hospitality, printing, professional services, retailing, technology and environmental services.

Founder/CEO Earth Care Paper Inc, 1983 - 1993

In 1983, John started a manufacturing and distribution company which grew to become a nationally acclaimed environmental products company. Earth Care Paper was the first nationally known manufacturer and distributor of recycled paper products for home and office use and was a leader in environmental and social responsibility. Listed by Inc. Magazine as the 39th fastest growing private company in America for the five years ending in 1991 and again ranking 129th in 1992, the company doubled or tripled in size every year for eight years in a row. Managing that growth was almost like starting a new company every year -- doubling the employees, replacing computer systems and moving the company a total of six times. The company produced over 500 products and marketed through direct mail catalogs and retail outlets. As CEO and principle shareholder for eleven years, John created a very popular and efficient work environment with state-of-the-art computer systems and automated manufacturing and warehousing, processing over 2000 orders per day. The company was sold in 1993.

Founder/CEO Sustainability Source Inc, 1998 - 2001

Sustainability Source was an Internet company with the mission to advance the development and growth of environmentally and socially responsible businesses. The company launched Green Pages Store in 1998 in partnership with a non-profit organization (Co-op America). A Shopping Engine portal service was developed and launched in February, 2000. John was not only founder and CEO, but he also designed and authored all of the e-commerce and web systems for the award-winning web sites. Green Pages Store featured over 3500 products and services on 700 product pages from 55 suppliers and was one of the most well known "green" product web sites.

Interim Chief Operating Officer and Financial Officer, Distribution Sciences Inc, 1995 – 1996

This 20 employee startup catalog and internet marketing company needed a quick operational turn-around. John implemented all operational systems during a turbulent time of funding and ultimately recommended to close the operation.

General Manager / Transition Manager, Market Decisions Corporation, 1996 – 1998

Market Decisions is a 20 year-old 120-employee high-tech market research company. The owner wanted to retire and John enabled this through retooling all operational systems and redefining the management personnel and structure. John’s work was so successful that the company became easy to manage and the owner decided to stay as part-time CEO.

Interim Chief Operating Officer, ABC Technologies Inc, 1999 - 2000

ABC Technologies is a 150 employee software company providing accounting software to fortune 500 companies. The company lacked an operating officer and John filled in this role one day per week while the company was preparing for acquisition.

Business Manager and Co-founder, Aebi Systems, 1994 - present

Aebi Systems is one of the most successful executive advisory consultancies in Oregon. John continues to run all operations for the company.

Non-profit Experience

John founded Recycle North, a non-profit recycling association in Michigan, was the founder of Madison Area Businesses for Social Responsibility in Wisconsin, was co-founder of the Algonquin Chapter of the Sierra Club, and served as the Vice President of the Board for Co-op America, a national small business development and consumer interest group based in Washington, DC. Prior to going into business, John obtained a BS in Environmental Education and worked as a nature center naturalist for 5 years.