How does a career in aerospace engineering lead to marketing automation software? For Rob Amerine, it was all in the pursuit of finding ways to leverage Fortune 500 technologies and experience for growing business.  Rob received a bachelor’s of science degree in aerospace engineering which brought him to Lockheed Martin where he worked on the different satellite and launch vehicle programs.

Desiring something more, Rob worked for a small financial services company while earning his masters in IT management which focused on how inexpensive, open source technologies could be used to help businesses grow.  He soon took on local operations for a national marketing services company which provided direct marketing services to many Fortune 500 companies.  This departure from the IT world would eventually help him gain hands on experience to see the power behind relationship marketing when it's done right.

In 2005, after acquiring a web-services company, Rob saw a need to help marketing consultants and small direct marketing companies by making multi-touch, relationship marketing attainable. His software application would eventually become SmartTracks. Rob initially tested his application by successfully meeting the needs of a small marketing consultant group. His success was confirmed when Rob started selling the web-based solution to marketers and consultants across the nation.

In mid-2007, through the assistance of the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator  (www.cstionline.org), Rob gained enough funding and support to continue development to meet the growing needs of his clients. To move the company forward, Rob continued to cultivate relationships with key investors who supported his vision. One such investor was Laura McGuire. Laura supported Rob’s vision by providing a marketing team to share the SmartTracks story and take the business to the next level.

Of his success, Rob states, “It’s not a concept or idea that matters, it’s how you apply the right technology and experience that makes the difference.” And, for Rob, it’s not the degree that matters, it’s how he applied his knowledge and vision for meeting the needs of growing businesses.