A short and personal Biography

More from the desk of Thomas A. Persha Hello! My name is Tom Persha and I am the president of BCC, Inc. As I stated on my home page, I have been in business since 1976 selling software to a variety of users. My programs have been installed in about 500 locations nationwide with the greatest concentration here in Southeastern Michigan. Many of my clients have been with me for over 25 years a fact for which I am extremely grateful. If you are considering a purchase of my software, perhaps you might like to know something about me. Today is April 19, 2006 and it was 30 years ago this month that I started BCC Incorporated. I am writing this at my desk in my new office building thinking back on those years and marveling at all of the changes that have taken place in this enterprise of mine. When I started BCC there were no PC’s, no Microsoft and no computerized accounting software for small businesses like yours. No Internet, no CD’s and Windows were something that you cleaned in the spring and fall. I remember many of my first clients wondering whether or not I would be around in 3 years to service their accounts. Over the years I have leaned to use Fortran IV, Assembly, Cobal, PL1, DOS, Business Basic, Dbase I, II, III …., Lotus, Word, Excel, Access, SQL Standard, Windows, Novell Server, Windows Server (2000, 2003), HTML, Power Point, PowerBuilder Versions 3,4,6 and 8, Watcom SQL, Microsoft SQL, Active X Controls, Object Oriented Programming, Microsoft API (very familiar with that!), Debugger, Batch Files, OLE 1.0 and 2.0, DDE, and on and on and on. So many ways to program a computer that I can’t even remember them all. Many of them no longer in wide spread use but each and every one of them proclaimed by their creators to be the last word in advanced computer programming. Makes me smile to think about that! I have sold, installed and used every form of computer hardware known to man. Large IBM machines, small portables, Multi-user systems, single user systems, stand alone configurations, interdependent operations, the list is endless. You would think that I would be a bit jaded by this time yet I have enjoyed everyday that I have been given and look forward to each and every new twist on all these old themes with relish and anticipation. I enjoy almost beyond measure the challenge of a new idea or the solution of an intractable problem. I guess that make me the “perfect computer geek”. I was born and raised here in Michigan and I love this state. I attended Oakland University from 1965 thru 1969 from which I received my BS in Systems Engineering. I earned my masters in Systems by 1973 while I was working for Chrysler in Highland Park. I worked first as an Engineer and then in Contract Labor Relations. I left Chrysler in order to pursue a job in direct sales with a computer timeshare company called Cyphernetics. For those of you that don’t recall what timesharing was think internet with absolutely no picture or features just remote programming. After Cyphernetics I started BCC that was in 1976. I calculated that if I could sell for them successfully, I could do it for myself and fortunately it only took about 5 years to prove the point. Since starting my own company, I have had many business opportunities including selling my software nationally under the brand name InAccounting Software which was owned by Rick Inatone at Inacomp. Developing the first (as far as I can tell) full screen accounting program that used its own database system. A program that was developed by BCC personal before Microsoft introduced its first DOS operating system. That program was the start of what eventually became Job Manager. BCC Incorporated grew to employee more than 25 people with net sales approaching 1.5 million dollars by 1985. Unfortunately when it got to be that big I began to realize that size was not necessarily more profitable or enjoyable. From 1986 onward I began a program of reducing the size of my company and focusing exclusively on local sales. I decision that I have never regretted. Today I support a group of local companies that have been loyal to BCC. I enjoy what I do which is to support my current programs as well as to provide new programs to my clients as their needs change. Perhaps this would make sense for you. If so please give me a call on 248.879.1883 extension 103 and we can discuss your current programs and where I might be able to assist you. Thank you… Thomas A Persha