PSU Magazine Spring 1997

wired world. [First coined by New York Times Editor Tim Race <defined by Wired Style, ed. Constance Hale, 1996.] Brn Gates wasn't the only person dreaming of putting a personal computer on every desk back in the '80s. When prices began to fall dramatically, from $4,000 or $5,000 to $1,000, the "market opportunity" for selling P was obvious, according to Max C hau, found er of Northwest Mi cro Inc. Chau wa one of tho e who saw the potential. Diploma in hand, he began se lling PCs to fri ends and fa culty in a small shop on Sixth Avenue nea r the PSU campu . And right from the start, he hit on a strategy that ha been a key to the fast-paced growth of hi company, from a one- man how that first month to the current company of 30 employ– ees. People don't just want to buy a computer, they want to know what the latest and best options are fo r their needs, so that they can make an informed decision, according to Chau. Such a philosophy bu ilds trust. C ustomers know they can rely on you, he say . Equally important for his ucce s was seizing opportunities, "seeing what needed to be done that others weren't doing," says Chau, who in 1988 became the first local distribu tor of components for PC clones. Chau came to PSU as an MBA tudent from Taiwan, arriving here with a knowledge of English but with no xperience speaking the language. It was frustrating at first, he says, "but the best way to learn is to throw your– se lf into a situation." Chau credits his success not only to determination and a willingness to take ri ks, but also to his education. "A lot of companies grow fas t but then collap e because they' re miss ing some important elements," he says. Wh ile no bu ines degree can "teach you how to start a company from scratch," his cour ework at P U was essenti al for knowing how to balance all the differ– ent face ts of an operati on, he ays. Success as an entrepreneur also means building goo I re lations with emp loyees, "respecting people's fee l– ings, being open to new ideas, anJ working as a team," he says. Chau also believes in giving back to the community that has been so essen– tial to his success. In 1993 his company started a "Give to the G ivers" program that donate urplu PCs to local nonprofit organizations. C urren tly, Northwest Micro manu– facture and se lls cu t mized PC clone , computer components and "operations software"-tool that allow computers to work together– specializing in companies that me growing and expand ing. Major accounts include local government agencies, universities, and manufactur– ing and high-technology firms. "We develop computer systems that help a company manage its growth effective ly and communicate more effic ien tly at all levels, internally, as well as with suppliers and customers," he says. So far, the company has not been in the busine s of creating or selling application software, such as programs fo r accounting and inventory, but that may change in the future, says Chau. "A lot of this oftware is now so comp licated that people can't use it without hiring expert to teach them how it work ," ays C hau. He'd like to develop programs that are far more intuitive and easy to use. Never one to miss an opportunity, Chau is queued fo r the nex t challenge in the fast-paced business of h igh-technology. D (Jack Yost MA '7 1 , a Portland writer and filmmaker, wro te the article "Ahead of the Curve," which appeared in the winter 1997 PSU Magazine. ) PHOTO BY STEVE DIPAOLA MaA Chau MBA '86 President, Northwest Micro Inc. PRING l 997 PSU MAGAZINE 13