10 years at Stardock
From "office staff" to VP of Operations in 10 crazy years.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005 by KarmaGirl | Discussion: Internet
Today marks my 10th year of working at Stardock. It's been 10 crazy years of learning the business and changing the business.
When I started, Stardock was *very* new. I spent the first days before I was officially employed helping build furniture. I was the first official employee of Stardock...my how things have changed. I had no idea how much my life would change, or how much Stardock would change over the following 10 years.
We started out as an OS/2 ISV. We didn't have a network in the building. We went months with dial up before we could get an ISDN line installed. We took all orders over the phone, and when "online order" technology came out, it meant that the online order was faxed to us. The "internet" was new, and it was a big deal to have free Compuserve accounts.
We quickly grew out of our first office, and found a new office where we currently are. We grew...then we fell. In 1998, the bottom dropped out of our market when IBM decided to drop OS/2. We went from a dozen people down to 4 in a matter of months. At this point, I took the most perfectly planned maternity leave and was away for 8 months.
But, Stardock didn't die. Through the vision of our CEO Brad Wardell, and the brilliance of Neil Banfield (WindowBlinds only at the time), Stardock picked itself up and dusted itself off and was reborn as a Windows developer. After seeing WindowBlinds in action, and being asked by Brad a few times: "so, when are you coming back?" I rejoined the very small Stardock crew. The day I came back, one of our staff members left (he returned a year or so later) and a new staff member started (who now works at Microsoft). Things were really changing.
The Stardock that we now know is really only about 6 years old. The Windows market is nothing like the OS/2 market was, and the staff that we have is a lot different (mainly, larger). I can remember everyone that ever worked here, even Tamra who only worked here for one day back in 96, because we have such a low turn over rate. We've lost a few to larger companies (mainly Microsoft) and we lost a few due to downsizing, but we still have managed to maintain our great company culture.
So, today I am remembering the past, and looking forward to the brilliant future that is ahead. We are growing like crazy, and we are about to move into a new building (buying this time instead of renting). It will be interesting to see what the next 10 years will hold.
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Reply #2 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 9:47 AM
Reply #3 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 10:36 AM
). Looking forward to being a part of it!
Reply #4 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 10:38 AM
Reply #6 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 11:19 AM
Myself, first as an ardent OS/2 supporter who when I discovered Object Desktop for OS/2 thought I died and had gone to heaven ! OD for OS/2 was *that* great of an application.
These days I still support Stardock by keeping my OD for Windows subscription up-to-date, but believe it or not I am still running OS/2 as my primary operating-system. Today though, the OS is now being marketed as eComStation by Serenity Systems. And while it is still a small, niche player in the overall computer universe eCS still brings some things to the table that Microsoft via Windows XP has yet to do.
While I and others miss Brad and Stardock, we are still appreciative of the many years and wonderful software he brought to OS/2 and its small but loyal community.
Congratulations, and here's hoping you have 10-years more of success and fun times at Stardock !
Gregory L. Marx
gregory.marx@verizon.net
Reply #7 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 11:25 AM
Reply #8 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 12:00 PM
Reply #9 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 4:14 PM
Reply #10 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 4:27 PM
Reply #14 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 11:06 PM
| And some of us users have been along for the ride as well ! Myself, first as an ardent OS/2 supporter who when I discovered Object Desktop for OS/2 thought I died and had gone to heaven ! OD for OS/2 was *that* great of an application. |
That basically summarises my history also
I'm sure I've still got the OD v1.0 for OS/2 3.5" floppies sequestered away somewhere!
Does Karma get to take long service leave now? Congrats!
Reply #15 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 11:13 PM
Thanks for the insight about how Stardock started. I visit the webpage every day and it's interesting to find out exactly how it came to be.
Reply #17 Thursday, June 2, 2005 2:32 AM
Reply #19 Thursday, June 2, 2005 9:19 AM
| I'm sure the next 10 years will be just as interesting as the last |
I am quite sure that you are correct. I already have a pretty clear vision of the next few years, and it should be a fun ride.
| Does Karma get to take long service leave now? |
I'm going to take a full week vacation at the end of the month (first time I have done so). Of course, this will only be because I'll need it after we spend the next couple weeks moving the office to the new location.
Thanks to everyone who commented on here! Considering that I am only 33, being at the same company for 10 years is a big deal. Hope to see you all around for the next 10+ years!
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Reply #1 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 9:44 AM
Here's to the next 10!!!