Albert “Lee” ThurbUrN
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QUESTIONS What is the most important quality of a successful entrepreneur or business owner? Persistence and a positive attitude. Plenty of people will provide you with reasons not
President NetOffer, Inc.
Education: BBA (‘81), MBA (‘92), UT Arlington
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fter graduating UT Arlington with his BBA, Lee Thurburn worked for Arthur Anderson in their Dallas Tax Division. In 1982, he started a private CPA Firm with a partner and sold that business to his partner in 1985
when he joined First Eye Care as the Executive Director. From 1986 through 1993, Mr. Thurburn provided business management and
to do something. Plenty of opportunities
consulting services to optometry and ophthalmology professionals. During that
to quit will present themselves. Plowing
time he wrote a book titled Modern Optometry, a Practice Management Guide
through those negative (well meaning)
which sold over 5,000 copies and was used as a textbook for practice management
people and overcoming the obstacles is the difference between success and failure.
courses at colleges of optometry.
What bit of advice would you
In 1992 he published a book titled Mexico: The New Land of Opportunity–a guide
share with business students
to doing business in Mexico, which sold more than 5,000 copies. Mr. Thurburn
who are preparing for their future professions? Save your
later started a publishing and online information company providing marketing
money!
services to U.S. companies looking for clients in Mexico related to the growth of
who was your favorite
trade as a result of the implementation of the NAFTA.
professor at UT Arlington? Toss
In 1995 Mr. Thurburn founded FlashNet, Inc., an Internet service provider where
up between Dr. Abdul Rasheed and Dr. Jim Quick.
he served as CEO and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Thurburn grew FlashNet
What was your favorite course?
to nearly 400 employees and provided Internet dial-up access service to over
Business Development Strategy. This was
250,000 customers. In 1999, FlashNet was sold to Prodigy/S.W. Bell Telephone.
a case study course, senior level, and was very helpful in understanding the overall
In 2002, Mr. Thurburn founded NetOffer, Inc. as a broad-spectrum marketing
strategic concerns of major businesses.
service. NetOffer is a business social media marketing technology provider
Who is your hero and why?
offering a unique and powerful suite of social media technologies in an integrated
Winston Churchill. He epitomizes the
software system that enables clients to market their businesses in a more efficient
concept of perseverance in the face of daunting odds and had the most positive
and cost-effective manner.
attitude of anyone in the last 200 years.
BUSINESS
WEEK 2013
UT Arlington College of Business | uta.edu/business
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