Burke Franklin, Founder & CEO

Burke has a very strong background in sales, marketing and business development with both technology and consumer products. He worked for companies like Texas Instruments, CPT and a number of start-ups. He was also the electronics buyer for The Sharper Image catalog.

JIAN (originally named Tools For Sales) was founded in July, 1986, to develop sales promotion materials. Burke applied his experience as a successful field sales representative and marketing manager with his ongoing study of psychology and communications to produce ads and brochures. These marketing materials helped increase clients' sales by 140% to more than 300%. He also applied this experience to a number of business plans he worked on. The result was more descriptive, concise and easily understood proposals-the kind that are read and approved for funding.

It soon became obvious that the best materials from each of these projects could be combined to produce the "ultimate" business plan. Burke brought the best of each of his plans together, and the resulting product became BizPlan Builder® in March of 1988.

JIAN products are really part of a greater purpose. There are many useful products and services that never make it to market (or they don't last very long), most often due to their creators' inexperience with the business side of business. We provide tools that help entrepreneurs and business owners do business better—so they can focus on developing their products and ideas. Who knows? Their next great idea could benefit all of us.

Burke was elected delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business held in Washington, D.C., in June, 1995, where he met with entrepreneurs from across the U.S. to discuss issues every small business owner faces. (With appreciation for the support of the National Association of Women Business Owners.)

In April, 1996, Burke was nominated for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

We also reach out to share what we have learned. In May 1996, and again in 1997, the Brazilian software council flew Burke to Belo Horizonte to teach business planning to Brazilian entrepreneurs; in 1999, he addressed the Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs group; and since 2000, Burke has presented an ongoing series called The Thinking Behind Your Business Plan for Income Builders International (IBI) and other organizations.

Prior to founding JIAN, Burke worked independently as a marketing expert under “Tools For Sales.” Previously, he was a leading sales rep for CPT (word-processors), was the Electronics Buyer for The Sharper Image catalog, worked in sales for Texas Instruments, and several start-ups. A second-degree black belt in TaeKwonDo, Burke authored Business Black Belt, a book rapidly gaining popularity because it draws parallels from the martial arts to teach about building and running a business. Burke is also an instrument-rated pilot.

 

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Heidi Riege, Vice President Customer Service

Heidi is who you will most likely talk to when you call. She heads our customer service team and will often pick up the phone herself to field sales and technical support and customer service calls. Her skills and dedication to each individual come from 10 years of experience in medical social work.

Heidi also lends creative support to the website and product content. JIAN has never been healthier, as she has implemented a company wide wellness program that has changed how we work and play. Heidi has an affinity for women entrepreneurs and provides this growing community support for expansion and balance.

 

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Andrew Bloo, Chief Operating Officer

Andrew Bloo currently holds both the title of Chief Operating Officer (Interim) and Vice President of Online Marketing at Jian.com – Tools for Business while also maintaining active interests in several start-ups. Previously, Chief Executive Officer of SciTech Software, a company whose innovative-systems approach to device driver development were instrumental in providing the tools and cross-platform device drivers required by the world’s top hardware manufacturers (IBM, ATI, HP, Intel, ..) and early 3D game developers with products like SciTech SNAP and SciTech UniVBE.

Andrew holds a degree in Information and Communication Studies with an option in Visual Communications from California State University Chico and has been recognized by the SIIA for his software package design work (WinWay Resume).

Currently Andrew splits his time between Las Angles and Chico where he spends his time time away from the office with family, enjoying the local lakes, mountains, and trails. Andrew also runs a consulting business where he provides marketing and product development guidance to start-ups and seasoned companies looking to kick-start their product development and marketing efforts. You can contact Mr. Bloo directly by email or through Linkedin.com at the link below: View Andrew Bloo's profile

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Ray Palmarini, CPA, MBA

Ray has more than 30 years experience in small business accounting, financial management and planning as a CPA and Chief Financial Officer. Ray also is a key contributor to the BizPlanBuilder financial models. Prior to joining in JIAN Mr. Palmarini served as CFO for The Original San Francisco Toymakers, a $25 million international toy manufacturer and distributor, and Golden West Studios, a San Francisco real estate venture and multi-media production company. He is very familiar with and passionate about the needs of the small business community having worked four years with Arthur Andersen and 20 years in private practice as a CPA and financial consultant to numerous small businesses. His client base included manufacturers and retailers, real estate developers and managers, and numerous trade and service businesses. Mr. Palmarini is a graduate of Kent State University (MBA) and Golden Gate University (B. Sc. in Accounting

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Bob Johnson, Marketing Expert

Robert Johnson spent more than 25 successful years in sales, marketing and general management positions with Fortune 500 Corporations and small companies. He directed worldwide sales and marketing organizations, consulted to large and small businesses and operated his own small company.

Known as an innovator, Robert developed iMAP (Integrated Marketing Action Plan), the Buffalo Sales Communication Program, the technology adoption model and is a pioneer in bringing total quality to sales and marketing functions.

For the past 10 years, Robert has been assisting entrepreneurs and small business owners in a variety of industries including: Biotech, Electronics, Consumer, Food, Metals, Plastics and Software. Clients have also included larger enterprises like: NetLedger, Brio Technologies and Acta Technologies. His present focus is on helping entrepreneurs accelerate from their growth from idea through startup to launch by applying his marketing expertise to the acquisition of first customers and initial capital. Robert also has his own website: www.bizgrowthmasters.com

A frequent speaker at local business groups, Robert is an active participant in the Industry Council for Small Business Development, the SD Forum and Income Builders International. He is a certified training facilitator who has taught TQM, negotiation, consultative selling, and entrepreneur programs. He was a collaborator on the book, "The Secrets of Successful Ideas". Robert resides in San Jose, CA with his wife, Christie. They have four grown children, two grandchildren and enjoy traveling during their free time.

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Jim Burk, Securities Attorney

James E. Burk has been in the private practice of law for over 30 years. He specializes in assisting emerging companies in their initial stages of organization and then growing with the companies through the public offering stage. His firm prepares private placements and public securities offerings for a variety of emerging companies.

Jim began his career in 1969 as an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission investigating consumer protection matters. He then returned to his home town of San Antonio, Texas, where he served as Senior Law Clerk to the Chief Judge of United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. After completing his District Court clerkship, he was appointed Attorney-Advisor to a judge on the U.S. Tax Court in Washington, D.C.

His practice includes general business matters including corporations, contracts, mergers, acquisitions, venture capital financing, tax, asset protection, securities and franchise law. He has also assisted companies in securing seed and mezzanine funding for emerging companies. His serves on the board of several non-profits including the International Learning Trust. His is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin Law School and is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and Texas. Learn more about Jim's law form here: www.washingtonpractice.com

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Anne Caldwell, Human Resources Management

Anne Caldwell founded Outsourcing Solutions in 1993 in order to implement her vision of ethical and effective human resource management.

Outsourcing Solutions specializes in small businesses, especially those that do not require their own human resource department, but have leaders who recognize the need for the expertise. Another niche is working with rapidly growing companies that require an infrastructure to support the organization created to meet increasing customer needs.

Few HR professionals have such an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges posed by rapid growth, especially in industries like high technology. Outsourcing Solutions has built HR departments from scratch for several software companies.