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| RBA
History |
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| Ron Blank started
his company in 1985 based on one underlying mission,
to bridge the gap between design
professionals and product manufacturers. Ron started
the business in San Antonio, Texas. Everything is big
in Texas and so were his dreams of starting the first
nationwide
architectural specifications program for manufacturers. |
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Before Al Gore invented
the Internet, Ron would drive his 1981 Oldsmobile through
the back roads of Texas and
Louisiana presenting different products to architects.
From Paris, Texas to Baton Rogue, Louisiana, Ron blazed
a trail across the South as he educated and entertained
architects.
His ten years of experience in designing and consulting
on major commercial tilt-up projects throughout Texas
helped. Eventually, RBA expanded to three people and
his mother Alice was hired to run everything at the front
office for nearly a decade. This was the era of pagers,
Compaq computers, and parachute pants. As Ron's product
lines expanded, so did his coverage across the United
States. |
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| As the years went
by, Ron saw a need for easily available continuing
education for design professionals. He developed
one of the first online learning centers for design professionals
around the world to earn their AIA credits. The company
became too big for it's britches and eventually moved
to new headquarters where it still resides. Today,
the company has over 15 employees, utilizes smart phones,
the Internet, and no one has worn parachute pants since
last Halloween. Ron's dream of bridging the gap between
design professionals and product manufacturer's is still
his mission after 25 years. |
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