The 1989 Inc. 500

Brief profiles of 15 Inc. 500 CEOs.

Visit the Inc. 500 site, which includes a fully searchable database of winners from 1983 to the present

Company Profiles

#17: JOHN LAU

Lautek Corp.

Sells computers to corporations

Growing Up

Mother Teacher, garment factory worker

Father Salesman, waiter in Chinese restaurant

Hometowns Hong Kong; New York City's Chinatown

Education M.S. physics

Jobs Vice-president of global data network at Shearson/American Express

Getting Here

"I had a lot of ideas in my mind, and I wanted to do them much faster than my management, so I decided, hey, I really need to do things on my own. So I started Lautek in the basement of my house."

My Company, My Self

Inspiration "It seems I have no choice. To drive as much as possible is part of my inner self."

Family in Business Wife, cofounder and VP; brother-in-law, chairman

What's Changed "When I talk to end users -- or sometimes to purchasing people -- they don't see me as the regular white-man majority. That continues today. It's not frustrating, just part of life."

Lose Sleep Over Cash flow

Workweek 75 hours

Last Vacation Haven't taken a week since starting company

Use a PC? Yes

What's Next May go public

Footnote

"There's so much I can do; looking back at things, I could have done so much better. In work and life, too. But there's no use in looking back. I've liked the momentum. There was nothing, then something was created -- something to the best of my ability. That's probably the driving force."

#35: ERIC KRISS
MediVision Inc.
Operates 30 eye health-care centers

Growing Up

Mother Marriage counselor

Father Physician and professor

Hometown Palo Alto, Calif.

Education B.A. music, M.B.A.

Jobs Started a music magazine; wrote music books; editor at a weaving magazine; consultant at Bain & Co. and cofounded Bain's VC arm

Getting Here

"Bain studied this business for Bausch & Lomb, which decided not to pursue it; I was at Bain Capital, read the business plan we put together -- which now had no company behind it -- and decided to buy the idea from Bausch."

My Company, My Self

Inspiration Ben Franklin -- his balanced approach to life

Family in Business None

What's Changed "We spent the first two years intensely following competitive developments, organizing a strategy to make it more difficult for competitors to enter. I'm not concerned about that anymore. If a company started next week it wouldn't bother me."

Lose Sleep Over Government regulations, especially Medicare reimbursement

Workweek 50 hours

Last Vacation "I don't think I've taken two consecutive weeks off since eighth grade."

Use a PC? Yes, and also at home

What's Next Have plans to sell company by the end of the year

Footnote

"I'm not a workaholic. I never work on weekends or at night. I always spend time with the family. I'm amazed at people who say they work 16 hours a day, because you know what? I think I've probably got 4 or 5 good hours a day."

#74: ERNEST PROVETTI

Trinity Products Inc.

Manufacturer of motors for model racing cars

Growing Up

Mother Homemaker

Father Longshoreman

Hometown Brooklyn, N.Y.

Education B.A. philosophy; seminary student

Jobs Catering, rental car agency

Getting Here

"Building engines was just something to subsidize my own hobby. I didn't expect to make a living at it. Eventually I talked my mother into letting me pull the furniture out of the house, and I built a factory in our apartment. My mother still lives in Brooklyn -- with furniture."

My Company, My Self

Inspiration Donald Trump. "I'd give up half my net worth to have lunch with him."