Most of Peter’s working life he either was an entrepreneur or planned to be one. He created many small firms, mostly in the marketing and PR space. I still have business cards from some of his endeavors, and I recall most of the others because Peter talked business—a lot!
This is the second in a series about his businesses. Some of you who read this may remember stories and anecdotes. Feel free to add them in the comments.
Following his first startup, Businesstech Communications, Peter worked for Rattray Publications as managing director from 1984 to 1986. It was an affiliate of International Data Group, the world's largest publisher of information technology publications and research data at that time. Rattray published Computerworld Canada, a weekly tabloid, and Micromanager, a monthly magazine.
In 1986, Peter co-founded Marketech with Joseph Zankowicz as a Toronto-based company that assisted developers of technology to bring their products to market. They had a classy office at 212 King St. West in Toronto. Within a block were two major theatres and many great bars and restaurants.
I moved back to Toronto late in 1986 to work at Graham Software, a firm that assisted software companies in development and distribution. Peter helped me get the job. Its office was in the same building as Marketech. Those were heady times. Peter and I were making the most money of our lives to that point, much which we spent within a block of the office.
Marketech’s client list included Alias Research Inc., Cognos Inc., Graham Software, Microsoft Canada, the Royal Bank of Canada, and Ontario's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology. Peter helped found and grow the Ontario Software Developers Association.
I returned to Ottawa in mid-1987 after Graham closed its doors. (The release of the first version of Windows killed it. The company’s offerings were all in DOS and it did not have enough money to retool.) Business at Marketech began to flounder. In 1988, Peter signed over his share to Joe and walked away to seek new ventures.
This is the second in a series about his businesses. Some of you who read this may remember stories and anecdotes. Feel free to add them in the comments.
Following his first startup, Businesstech Communications, Peter worked for Rattray Publications as managing director from 1984 to 1986. It was an affiliate of International Data Group, the world's largest publisher of information technology publications and research data at that time. Rattray published Computerworld Canada, a weekly tabloid, and Micromanager, a monthly magazine.
In 1986, Peter co-founded Marketech with Joseph Zankowicz as a Toronto-based company that assisted developers of technology to bring their products to market. They had a classy office at 212 King St. West in Toronto. Within a block were two major theatres and many great bars and restaurants.
I moved back to Toronto late in 1986 to work at Graham Software, a firm that assisted software companies in development and distribution. Peter helped me get the job. Its office was in the same building as Marketech. Those were heady times. Peter and I were making the most money of our lives to that point, much which we spent within a block of the office.
Marketech’s client list included Alias Research Inc., Cognos Inc., Graham Software, Microsoft Canada, the Royal Bank of Canada, and Ontario's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology. Peter helped found and grow the Ontario Software Developers Association.
I returned to Ottawa in mid-1987 after Graham closed its doors. (The release of the first version of Windows killed it. The company’s offerings were all in DOS and it did not have enough money to retool.) Business at Marketech began to flounder. In 1988, Peter signed over his share to Joe and walked away to seek new ventures.
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