News
Articles ...
Private
sector offers unique challenges -
The Olympian - 03/20/05 - Business Forecast
article by Chris Clough
Professional
service businesses typically are fairly small. Zhonka Broadband
is in that category.
"As an Internet service provider, our main product is a
utility, and as such, we think people are always going to need
access," Zhonka's Dave Olson said. Zhonka also hosts Web
sites.
Zhonka
essentially is a two-person operation that also relies on the
help of interns and friends from time to time.Olson, who previously
co-owned OlyWa.net before selling it to California-based Advanced
TelCom Group, is optimistic about its prospects.
"When we got back into the market two and a half years
ago, it was a downtime for the economy," Olson said.
"So
everything has been better than that. We've had good, consistent
growth. A lot of what we see are new, small business start-ups.
One of the first things they need is a domain name."
"Really,
we can work from anywhere," Olson said.
"But
we have our home base in Olympia because we know the market
and enjoy living here."
South
Sound Internet Mogul in it for the Glory - Business
Examiner newspaper's "Fishbowl" - 6/28/04
Zhonka
Broadband Secretary General Jacob Stewart says he runs an Olympia-based
Internet Service Provider for the glory. "I started
my current business with an eye toward making a living,"
Stewart says, "not striking it rich."
Stewart
is no novice to the Internet game. He started OlyWa.Net in 1995.
That first company grew quickly and was netting some $1 million
a year before merging with Advanced Telecom Group in 2000.
After
the OlyWa.Net merger, Stewart says he took a much needed break
from the hectic day-to-day stress of building and running a
tech company. "I needed time to decompress,"
he says.
That
break didn't last long. In the wake of the Internet boom, Stewart
decided to build a leaner, more efficient business. With the
help of a small team of investors, Stewart created Zhonka in
2003.
The
life of an entrepreneur can be tough, Stewart says. Entrepreneurs
should be prepared for long hours, hard work, planning and perseverance.
But that doesn't mean he doesn't love his job. "To
any would-be entrepreneur I'd say go for it," Stewart says,
"And don't let anybody tell you it can't be done."
Zhonka
co-founders on 40 under 40 List
- 6/23/03 feature articles by Paul Schrag from Business Examiner
details achievements by 40 area business leaders under 40 years
of age including Zhonka's Jacob Stewart and Dave Olson.
More about Business
Examiner's 40 under 40.
Entrepreneurs
create local ISP - 3/21/03 article by Alex Goff
for the Olympian about Zhonka's plans. Features picture of Zhonka
co-founders, Jay Stewart and Dave Olson, enjoying wireless Internet
access at the Clubside Cafe with proprietor Kenny Trobman.
Steve
Bloom/The Olympian
OlyWa
office empty - 05/28/02 article by Scott Wyland
from The Olympian foreshadows start-up of Zhonka, "Olson
and other OlyWa team members plan to launch a company called
Zhonka Broadband, which will offer DSL to customers throughout
Western Washington, with the focus being on South Sound."
Steve
Bloom/The Olympian
ATG
purchased - 06/06/02 Scott Wyland from The Olympian article
again mentions Zhonka entering the market, "Former OlyWa
employee Dave Olson, also unavailable for comment, has said
he wants to launch an ISP called Zhonka Broadband, which would
offer high-speed connections to Web users."
Candid
Conversation with Dave Olson - 03/04/02 Q &
A with Kamila McClelland of the Business
Examiner and Zhonka co-founder Dave Olson discussing mergers,
Internet marketing, and new business plans.
Press
Releases
NEW
BILL KEEPS THE INTERNET TAX-FREE - 04/30/04 - OLYMPIA
During the recent Legislative session, local Internet businesses
and industry groups supported a bill to keep Internet services
tax-free, in Washington at least. Read
full press release or download
.pdf.
(L to R)
Ron Main of Cable Communications Assoc., Dave Olson of Zhonka
Broadband,
and Jacob Stewart & Gary Gardner of WAISP join Gov. Locke for
SB 6259 bill signing on March 26 2004.
Click picture for larger, uncompressed .jpg
FREE
WI-FI IS THE "SOUP DU JOUR" FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES - April
6, 2004 - As part of Zhonka Broadband`s unique "Surfbreak" program,
innovative businesses around the Puget Sound are serving up
free wireless Internet access for customers. Read
full press release or download
.pdf.
