Technology >> CEO Interviews >> August 3, 1998
CURTIS PELTZ was appointed Timberline's President and Chief Operating
Officer in May, 1997. His first undertaking was to continue an
organizational transition begun by John Gorman. Through the development
of a new Product Management department, he shifted Timberline to a
matrix structure, thereby preserving the focus, direction and momentum
the divisions had provided while strengthening Timberline's overall
unity and cohesiveness. He also plans to maintain one of Timberline's
most important strengths ' it's free-thinking culture. Before Mr. Peltz'
career turned to computers he pursued an earlier aspiration in music. He
attended the music conservatory at Lawrence University and began
actively pursuing this career by directing two local choirs as well as
playing violin in a symphony and several professional ensembles. But in
the pursuit of his musical ambition, Curtis found his niche in the
computer industry. To support his education, he took a part-time summer
job with the State of North Dakota's Employment Division. He remained
there, gaining experience and education in computer technology, which
allowed him to move into a full time position as a programmer/analyst.
In 1976 he accepted a position as office manager for Develco, a home
builder and small commercial developer, where he selected and
implemented a Timberline accounting system. His experience and
accomplishments on the 'client-side' led him to pursue opportunities in
software consulting. Mr. Peltz started at Timberline as a support
representative while implementing there consulting service. Seven months
later he went to Atlanta to serve as a technical representative for a
new sales and support office there. He returned to Timberline
headquarters after five months to help start the company's first Quality
Assurance group. After a year, he joined the Systems group to lead the
development of a new Job Cost application for the Texas Instruments
minicomputer platform that Timberline had recently selected to resell.
Recognizing an emerging trend in the construction industry, John Gorman
approached Mr. Peltz to lead a team to develop Timberline's first
estimating software. And he did 'from basic market research, to software
design and project management, to sales training and product launch.
Then in 1982, thanks to his successful leadership, Timberline introduced
AccuBid, the company's first estimating product. With AccuBid's success
and as the popularity of PC's grew, Mr. Peltz saw an increased
opportunity for Timberline to develop and market a microcomputer-based
estimating system. This effort led to the first spreadsheet-based
estimating software that has become part of the industry-leading
Precision Collection, now well into its second generation, graphical
version. Mr. Peltz led the way in forming the Estimating Business Unit
which later became the Estimating Division. The division was, in effect,
a software company within a software company and included support,
sales, operations, marketing, product development, documentation,
quality assurance and information systems. This corporate 'incubator'
helped to hone and prove his leadership, organizational and management
skills. As a former choir director, Mr. Peltz knows the concept well
'cultivating and directing individual talents to blend in complete
harmony. Profile
us up to date on the company?
Mr. Peltz: Timberline Software is a vertical software supplier, as
opposed to what most
