In 1999, Joseph Pascaretta and Aaron
Dowen founded Web site solutions
and consulting firm Alps Technology International with just $1,500.
The company grew rapidly, and two
years later, it had
15 employees and
was doing business
in seven states.
Pascaretta —
founder, chairman
and CEO of the
company — was 13
years old.
As the company grew, Pascaretta and
Dowen formed a joint venture, lawn care
company The Alps Lawn Co. It may
seem an odd combination, but technology has played a key role for Alps Lawn,
allowing it to show clients what their
landscape project will look like before
the first shovelful of dirt is dug.
And while that business does most of its
work in Michigan, Alps Technology is
doing business internationally, with clients
from large international companies to
small local pasta businesses in Italy.
Pascaretta believes being an entrepreneur cannot be taught; you have to experience and feel the pressure of being in
the field.
“I feel the experience is just as important as the education — especially in
business,” Pascaretta says. “It is great
learning about how to communicate
with business leaders, but to actually
‘communicate’ and interact with executives and Fortune 500 companies is
something I have learned with the business.”
However, he still believes in education
and is enrolled at the University of
Michigan. He is also a pilot, and does
motivational speeches to encourage others to succeed as he has.
HOW TO REACH: Alps Technology International/The Alps Lawn Co., (248) 709-4794 or
www.alpstechnology.com
