Bill Meyers Bio

Bill Myers started the Myers Research Corporation at age 26 to perform economic, real estate and marketing research studies. Three years later it was the third largest company on the West Coast in the market research business. To prove the validity of one of his company’s studies to a doubting client, he was the founding partner of Air California. This required going public for $2.5 million before they owned their first airplane. The company ended up with 28 Boeing 737 flying the Western half of the United States and was acquired by American Airlines in 1987 for $174 million plus the indebtedness on the aircraft.

The same year he cofounded a short haul airline called Cable Commuter Airlines connecting Los Angeles International Airport with 16 outlying cities with 14 DE Havilland Twin Otters. He raised $7.5 million through a private placement to launch this airline. It was sold for $17 million two years later to C. Arnholt Smith of the Westgate California Corporation and U.S. National Bank.

Mr. Myers next turned his energies to the residential, commercial and industrial construction businesses. Through Myers Building Industries, he built shopping centers, auto dealerships and industrial tilt-up projects in the Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. He retired from this business in 1995 and spent several years on the golf courses at Glendora Country Club and Bermuda Dunes Country Club. During this time he became fascinated in studying the Bible. In time he became a licensed Premarital Counselor and Family Counselor at Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, California.

In late 2005 Bill and his wife, Caren, moved to Fresno where Caren took over as the General Manager for Fresno Lexus for the Oremor Corporation out of Ontario, California. Bill was asked to join the Board of the Central Valley Business Incubator and the Lyle Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Within a year he was asked to become the Chairman for the Fresno Metro Score Chapter of the Small Business Administration.

In June 2010 Bill decided to go back to school in Canton, Ohio, to become a licensed Professional Business Coach through the Professional Business Coach Alliance (www.pbca.biz). In September 2010 he opened this business called Fresno Strategic Business Coaching to help business owners grow their businesses, enjoy their businesses more, and plan for their exit strategy.

George S. Vozikis Bio

George S. Vozikis brings over 20 years of academic teaching and professional business experience to Fresno Strategic. He currently serves as the Edward Reighard Chair in Management at California State University, Fresno and the Director of the Institute for Family Business. Prior to joining California State University at Fresno, he taught at the University of Tulsa where he was the Davis D. Bovaird Endowed Chairholder of Entrepreneurial Studies and Private Enterprise, and the Founding Director of the Family-Owned Business Institute, as well as, the Tulsa University Innovation Institute. George has also taught at the Citadel Military College, University of Memphis, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the University of Miami, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of North Texas. His major teaching and research topics include; Entrepreneurship, Family Business Management, Strategic Management, International Business, Organizational Behavior, and General Management.

Mr. Vozikis business experience includes several roles as the Founding Director of institutional programs including; Institute for Development and Entrepreneurship in Alabama (IDEA), Center for International and Regional Development at The Citadel, Family-Owned Business Institute at the University of Tulsa, and Tulsa University Innovation Institute (TUI 2).

In addition to numerous journal publications, conference papers, and books, Dr. Vozikis has conducted executive development seminars and served as a consultant for many organizations, such as Aramco, LG (formerly Goldstar), McDonnell-Douglas Corporation, GTE, the Medical University of South Carolina, the U.S. Army Missile Command, the Williams Companies, and many family firms. He has also served in the past as Chair of the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management, and as Track Chair for the Southern Management Association.

James Gordon Bio

James Gordon has over forty years of experience with community development in both the private and public sector. Mr. Gordon has served as a management consultant to and developed business plans for more than fifty private businesses. He currently serves as the City Economic Development Coach in the city of Firebaugh where he has raised close to $25 million to support his projects. His professional experience includes assignments and consultancies with international, federal, state, and local government offices. Most notably Mr. Gordon has worked with the Office of the President of the United States, The United States Economic Development Administration, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, The Office of the California Governor, The California Employment Development Department, and The California Department of Commerce, among others. Mr. Gordon has in depth experience working with various community based organizations and boards on various appointments. He was appointed by the California Governor to; The California Rural Competitive Task Force and The California Rural Council. He also served on the Board of Directors of: The Storack Corporation (Vice President and General Manager), Chairman of The Fruitridge Community Center, President of The Orange Cove Area Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of California Association of Resources and Training, among others. Mr. Gordon is also a recognized author of publications focusing on economic development and fiscal oversight.

Michael Cardenas Bio

A graduate of California State University, Fresno with a Bachelor's degree in Business, emphasis in Accounting, Mr. Cardenas has over 35 years of experience providing services to businesses and government entities in areas such as taxation, business management, auditing and other advisory services.

Michael was appointed Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration by President Reagan. He served in Washington, D.C., and since has continued providing services with local accounting firms and remains active on community boards.