St. Louis Small Business Monthly – Heroes
May 4, 2009 by Steve Epner
Many people believe that there is no such thing as true altruism. To those folks, this year’s Heroes in Business present quite a quandary. Refusing to buy in to the laws of scarcity, this pack is changing the business pro file of our region by selflessly giving their time and talent to other businesses.
These unsung heroes create the environment necessary for growth. After reading their stories, it will be difficult to figure out how it is that St.Louis has been as successful as it has, since characters like them are so rare. Prepare to be inspired by a hero.
Epner’s playful approach to business has allowed him to create supportive mentoring communities throughout his career…
His first foray into creating community came shortly after he started up a technology consulting firm, User Group, in the late 1970s. Since he knew little about how to run a business, he began looking for an association for technology consultants. But none existed.
“I started the Independent Computer Consultants Association,” says Epner. “My friends told me I was crazy, but they were the first ones to join. Through the association I have probably helped over 500 consulting fi rms grow over the last 32 years.” 
As technology continued to rapidly change, Epner saw that he would better serve clients by being an in-house addition to another firm. User Group was acquired by Brown Smith Wallace to create Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group. Although the name of the company changed, Epner’s quest to create success for others has remained constant…
To read the rest of the article check it out at St. Louis Small Business Monthly’s Site or download the article .pdf below.
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