Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> May 28, 2001

Gordon Hoffstein – Be Free (bfre)

GORDON B. HOFFSTEIN, is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Be Free, Inc. A pioneer in the personal-computer industry, Mr. Hoffstein, created and led several technology distribution ventures. Prior to joining Be Free as Chief Executive Officer, he co-founded PCs Compleat, Inc., the nation's first super direct reseller of personal-computer products and services. Mr. Hoffstein negotiated the sale of the company to CompUSA, Inc., in 1996. Prior to founding PCs Compleat, Inc., he founded MicroAmerica Inc., one of the country's first value-added microcomputer distributors. In 1989, 1994 and 1995, Mr. Hoffstein was named a finalist for the Retail/Distribution 'Entrepreneur of the Year Award,' sponsored by Inc. magazine, Ernst & Young and Merrill Lynch. He was also identified as one of the '25 Most Influential Executives in the Personal Computer Industry' by Computer Reseller News in 1985, 1987 and 1988. He serves on the Board of the Massachusetts Software Council and has served on the Board of Directors of a number of industry leading companies, including AGS Computers, Inc., Professional Software, Inc., and Clearpoint Research. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration, magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Business Administration from Babson College where he currently serves on the Graduate Advisory Board. Profile
TWST: Could you please start off with a and short overview of your

company?

Mr. Hoffstein: Be Free provides an online marketing platform that allows

a company to cost-effectively attract,