10 important people that made a difference

in my professional life – chronological order:

1. Ioan Mihai Cochinescu - My father, bought my first HC 90 in 1992 instead of a TV video game that I wanted badly. By doing this he “forced” me to learn Basic as I had no games for my new computer. Then he got for me an external floppy unit and the CP/M saga began. I loved dbase II. Damn I miss those times!

2. Robert Benea - He had a PC runningWindows 3.0 in 1993, quite a thrill back then. Inspired me for things to come in my life, gave me the computers enthusiasm that I still keep nowadays.

3. Dan Gultureanu - My friend and physics tutor from the age of 15 until the age of 17, teen icon for me as he was and still is a brilliant guy. After finishing high-school I gave up on physics and started working.

4. Cristi Opris – Good friend that had a late night show in 1997 on Radio Contact. Helped me when I moved from Ploiesti to Bucharest and he also found my first job interview forEvZ. We discovered the Internet together in 1995 and opened our first pcnet uucp email accounts and created Geocities webpages later. (Interesting note: he managed to get invisible, no informations can be found about him on the Internet anymore. Nice trick, huh?)

5. Cristina Bratu – We’ve met at EvZ and became friends. She found my next job, atHBV in 1998. It was a big step forward for my career. Thanks Cris!

6. Bernd Morchutt – General Manager of HBVRomania in 1998 and later of Burda Romaniafrom 1999 until 2003. I see him as my “second father”. He believed in me and gave me the most painful but rewarding life lessons.

7. Sandi Apostoloiu - Friend and co-worker since 1999. Helped me get through some rough times in Serbia while working there together from 2001 to 2004. Pokes me when I go crazy at work. Somehow, he became my boss. We’re still friends.

8. Dan Shoop - Tech guru, a real relief for myApple related problems since 2003. He doesn’t know me but I’m his long time fan. His impact on my professional life was outstanding.

9. Ani Dumitru – Ex-head accountant forBurda Romania, talked me into creating my own company in 2004. Good advice, great success! Thanks Ani!

10. Florin Ghica - My godfather and good friend, boosted me on the romanian Applecomputers business market in 2004, expanding my company’s horizon.