He graduated from Michigan State University in 1968 with a Bachelors Degree in Advertising from the College of Communication. He also holds a Masters of Business Administration (Management Concentration) from Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida. He has completed additional Master’s Degree work at Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia and Florida International University, North Miami, Florida and additional undergraduate work at Hillsbourgh Community College, Valencia Community College and the University of South Florida.
He has worked for The Hertz Rent A Car Corporation as an Account Executive, Area Sales Manager, Sales Marketing Manager (Hertz Hawaii), District Sales Manager, and Regional Sales Manager. Later in his career, he worked extensively in the “Incentive Marketing Industry” for such companies as BI Performance Company and Maritz Motivation Company as an Account Executive and Account Manager respectively. His mission at both for these companies was to sell, package and design travel and merchandise incentive programs directed at Fortune 1000 companies. Later in his career, he performed similar services for his own Travel Incentive Company and Incentive Marketing Company.
During his career he worked in all facets Business, from accounting to logistics and beyond.
Russ is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Hawaii. He is also a licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida and Michigan. He has extensive experience in the valuation and sale of Businesses, B&B’s, Motels, & Hotels and Franchises. Further, he assists small business owners with becoming Franchisors of their own business operations.
In 2013, Russ formed Pacific Rim Business Consultants, www.pacificrimbusinessconsultants.com a Business Brokerage, Merger and Acquisition and Consulting Company in Hawaii that sells values, consults and raises funds for small business owners in Hawaii. PRBC sells businesses, consults with business owners, values businesses and acts as a representative for over 400 different franchises that wish to enter the Hawaii market. He has lived in Hawaii a total of (8) years during his lifetime and is a land owner on the “Big Island” at Volcano Country Club Estates.
Russ also has founded and operated several small businesses from mortgage companies to Business Brokerage Companies, including VIPBusinessBroker.com, LLC, www.vipbusinessbroker.com, You can view his franchise offerings at www.best-francishes.info. He also did a radio show on KWAI Radio, www.smallbusinessmarketplace.com , K-108 on the AM dial each Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon. His on air personality name is: “Will Rodgers.”
He has taught “Business” at four Florida Universities, Schiller International University, Largo, Florida, Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida and St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida, Everglades University, Sarasota, Florida and at Canyon College, Caldwell, Idaho via the schools “virtual” classroom.
On a personal note, Russ met his wife (40 + years of marriage) in Hawaii when she was an entertainer at several military and civilian establishments. He has two grown children, a Daughter who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina and a Son who lives in Clearwater, Florida and three Grandsons, 1, 6 and 10 years old…and one Granddaughter, 1 year old.
He served with pride in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and was Honorably Discharged as a Sargent, E-5.