Lifestyle of a Serial Entrepreneur

As a 1976 Trinity business and communications graduate, I was like most of my peers, not sure where that would take me! One hint should have been that the reason I chose Trinity in the first place was the small size that afforded a big personal impact. Not surprising therefore, that many years later, I have always preferred smaller organizations that I could play a large role in establishing and growing. With my Trinity undergraduate degree, I felt I wanted more depth, specifically in business operations and finance, so I got an MBA from TCU. That also afforded me several internships that led me through banking, government and technology.

Technology looked interesting, so I took a position back in San Antonio at a rapidly growing company called Datapoint. Similar to Wang, DEC, Data General and Motorola at that time, Datapoint had complete hardware and software solutions for mid sized businesses. They actually split the company into smaller, more entrepreneurial units that had the effect of letting all of us have greater visibility, depth of experience and exposure to other seasoned entrepreneurs. This was in the days of leveraged buy outs, and Datapoint was subjected to that. As it was dismantled, many of my peers and mentors moved to different places in the technology industry. I went with one fellow to a small software company in Austin to run the marketing. Then I was asked to take control of another software company based on Datapoint technology, to get their customers moved to PC environments. Over the years, many of my Datapoint contacts had moved to Dallas….so Carol and I decided we would too! Carol and I had met the first week at Trinity as freshman, and she had graduated from Trinity’s MBA program. She also had great business experiences in Dallas, so it was an excellent move.

I got involved as the Marketing VP with a company called Recognition that was in the document management market. That became an interesting industry. 30 years ago, Datapoint wanted to push for a “paperless” office, and this industry is still working on it long after Datapoint has disappeared. I learned about mergers and acquisitions at Recognition. We bought several companies and then sold the whole thing to a competitor. I learned how to finesse the SEC and Justice department too!

Well, once we sold Recognition, I went to another company in the document management industry called Optika, to help them in taking the company public. This gave us a chance move to Colorado and to learn some more new things. I recruited several folks from other companies I had been with, and hired a new Trinity graduate to do our marketing communications. Once we took the company public, I was recruited by a partner from Recognition to take over a small software company in Colorado focused on the not-for-profit market. Interesting new arena for me, but it dovetailed with all of the work that Carol and I had been doing for Trinity over the years. Universities were some of our customers, so it was good to see how others were doing it!

By now I had gained an interest and expertise in taking over smaller companies that needed a catalyst to get them growing up to the next stage, and generally needed an “exit” strategy, to facilitate founders or venture capitalists that wanted a monetary return. I took over Optimus, a private company in Colorado, which was back in the document management marketplace and a strong defense department contractor. This was another new market to learn, and quite interesting in the 9/11 era. I tried to merge it with a friends company, IMR, but found it more interesting to team with my friend, bring some of our expertise from Optimus, and then try to build and sell IMR to a public company as part of a roll up of document management companies. That was fun.

Now it was time to just help some of the smaller companies that have started up from several of the teams that I have lead over the years. I am a board member for a document management software company and Chairman of a technology start up in London. Carol and I also felt it was time to get back to San Antonio, both for the advantages of being near Trinity, and to be closer to family in Austin, Houston and Dallas. We have finally finished building our house in San Antonio, but we can’t resist spending our summers and winters back in Colorado!

Dave Mansen is a Trinity business graduate (Class of ‘76) and serial Entrepreneur, who along with his wife Carol (Class of ‘83) have served on many Boards - and currently serve on Trinity’s National Alumni Board. Dave can be reached via email at: dave_mansen@excite.com.