News Highlights

Brent Gleeson, president and owner of New Condos Online Inc., started his Internet-based real estate advertising company in 2004. Since then, NCO says it has become the largest and most visited new condo advertising Web site in the country, providing cost-effective advertising, marketing, financial and consulting services for homebuilders and real estate marketing firms across the country and internationally.

VITALS
Name: Brent Gleeson.
Title: President.
Company: New Condos Online Inc.
Company address: 8885 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 301, Mission Valley.
Company phone: (800) 930-4752.
Year founded: 2004.

Prior business experience: Commercial real estate, Trammell Crow Co.; former U.S. Navy SEAL deployed to Iraq and Africa.
Average hours worked weekly: 70.
Source of startup capital: Angel investors (approximately $1 million in first two years).
Number of employees: 14.
Web site: www.newcondosonline.com.

BACKGROUND
Birthplace: Dallas.
Education: Southern Methodist University in Dallas, finance/economics; University of San Diego, master’s degree in real estate.
Age: 31.
Current residence: Serra Mesa.
Family: Wife, Valerie; son, Tyler.
Hobbies: Family time, sky diving, starting new companies.

JUDGMENT CALLS
Reason for getting into business: To work for myself and make a difference in my community.
How I plan to grow the business: Through creative growth strategies and building a strong sales force and good technology platform.
Biggest plus of business ownership: Excitement of building something special and providing careers for others.
Biggest drawback: Managing people in their 20s.
Biggest business strength: Advanced technology platform and industry leader.
Biggest business weakness: We are affected by the cyclical nature of the housing market.
Biggest risk: Housing market downturns.
Smartest business decision: Greater focus on search engine optimization for the site.
Biggest business mistake: Wasted too much money on public relations — not a good return on investment.
Toughest career decision: Letting people go is always difficult.
Biggest ongoing challenge: Battling the housing market and accounts receivables issues.
The most important part of my business: Effective sales strategies and good sales staff. Also, giving back to the community through generous charity donations and providing internships and training for local students.
My business works best when: Revenue and Web site traffic are growing.
Best way to stay competitive: More Web site traffic and continually upgrading the Web site’s technology platform.
How I measure success: Showing great results for clients in Web site traffic and buyer registrations, and then of course continual revenue growth.

GOALS
Goals yet to be achieved: Most goals at this point are financial — upping annual revenue and a greater organic presence in Google, continue donating more to charity.
My five-year business plan: Continue to build sales staff, upgrade technology of Web site, develop new revenue streams, continue to develop other divisions such as NCO Capital and our media buying division, grow revenue to $10 million per year or more.
I would sell my business only if: We could be valued at $60 million or greater.