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Wael Berrached, a native of Lebanon who grew up in the United Arab Emirates, came to the U.S. in 1993 with $300 and a three-week deadline from his parents to find a job.
He started at Uniroyal, putting his undergraduate chemical engineering degree to use, and then joined SAE International to work on its Intelligent Vehicles Program.
In 1999, during the dot-com heyday, Berrached launched his own Internet technology company, eView 360. Thanks to an early deal with Visteon to do a 360-degree virtual camera project for its mobile communication vehicle tour, Berrached’s 360WARE took off. Later, it was used to power an online collaboration of a global network of Ford dealerships. It also caught the attention of other auto manufacturers and individual dealers and dealer groups.
Thanks to the early business his software attracted, Berrached was able to survive the dot-com bust.
But the bursting bubble convinced Berrached to consider diversifying beyond technology. He looked to design and expanded eView 360. Now, the comprehensive multimedia agency offers print and online branding services, as well as interior design. Berrached believes that a good brand goes beyond the page to encompass physical space, as well.
In September 2007, he opened a second office in Dubai. While global expansion and diversification have fueled his company’s growth from a two-person start-up, Berrached still cares about the state of Michigan. He has refused to outsource, instead diversifying his staff to include everyone from architects and interior designers to marketing executives, brand strategists and graphic designers.
He even demands that all materials for his projects come from Michigan, even when it means turning down contracts that insist on finding cheaper material elsewhere.
How to reach: eView 360, (248) 306-5191 or www.eview360.com
