He may be an international businessman who makes his home in Puerto Rico now, but Auxvasse native Rick Brown said his humble Callaway County roots played a role in getting him there.
"The kind of values and high character I grew up with are part of why I'm successful," said Brown, founder and CEO of Rock Solid Technologies, Inc., the largest Microsoft partner in the Caribbean. "One of my business partners grew up in Mexico (Mo.) and we've laughed over the years because we've gotten involved in projects that didn't look like they would work out, but being boys who grew up in small-town Missouri has stayed with us and made us not give up."
The guest of honor for the 107th Annual Kingdom of Callaway Supper on March 13, Brown said he intends to share the story of his success as well as the message that "anybody can do about anything they want to, you just have to go out and do it."
Mike Boulware, president of the 2012 Kingdom Supper, said he selected Brown as the guest of honor because, "he's a fellow I've known about and have known for quite a while."
"I think what he has accomplished with his business is impressive," Boulware said. "I'm looking forward to Rick's presentation about his business in Puerto Rico - what it is and how it's got to be."
A 1973 graduate of North Callaway High School, Brown graduated with honors from the University of Missouri in 1977 with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering. Along with a classmate and one of his professors, Brown moved to Austin, Texas where they started Cooperative Computing, Inc., where he served as vice president of sales and operations until 1994.
"We bought a mini computer and learned how to program it," Brown said of the first baby-steps of that venture. "I've been involved with (software development) in one way or another ever since."