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Title: President and founder.
Company: Clean Sciences Inc., in Fremont Cleans the parts of the machines that make integrated circuits.
1999 revenue: $1.6 million.
Founded: 1994.
Number of employees: 28.
Source of startup capital: Personal income, family loan and an SBA loan of $100,000 six months after starting out.
Background: Awarded a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri. Worked at Allied Signal Aerospace designing quality conformance equipment for weapons systems. Then worked in direct marketing for three years for water and air filtration companies, training a sales force of more than 3,000 people.
Age: 40.
Residence: San Jose.
Web site: www.cleanscience.com
Big Picture
Reason for starting the business: I started it because I always said if I found the right industry for me, I'd move. I came out from Kansas and went to Semicon West, the big trade show for the semiconductor industry. I saw the vastness of the potential of Silicon Valley. I made the decision right after that. I incorporated five weeks later. Hardest part of decision: You never know what it's going to cost I underestimated customers' willingness to come to a new shop.
Biggest plus of ownership: There are two. I love knowing my employees and take a big...