Who is Will G. Louden?
I
am the 30-year old founder, president & CEO of VGIS DOT NET, Inc. (formally Virtual
GraphX, Inc.). I am a spring 2005 graduate of the University
of Arkansas,
Walton College of Business, with a double major in Financial Management & Investments
and Marketing Management (it feels great to be alumni). I am also a native of Little
Rock.
I have lived here in Northwest
Arkansas
for about 12 years. I moved here in 1993, straight out of high school – Parkview Arts
& Science Magnet. I love the area, its growth, opportunities and its people!
How did
Will G. Louden, an ordinary guy from Little
Rock, become
what he is today?
Through hard work and perseverance. My strength comes from both within as well as from
a higher power. Life and business in general
can be extremely tough at times and sometimes it’s those special friends, mentors or
family members that help get you through. I stay connected to a tight circle of mentors
and friends that help me see and understand varying perspectives. I don’t think that
we were placed on this earth to be alone or even to try to accomplish anything
individually… I think that it’s the interconnectedness that gets us through
– collectively. Then there is my strong desire to do well. I have always wanted more
out of life. I mean we are only here (on earth) for a very small period of time, so I am
always thinking how can I make the best of it, understanding that one small fact has
really helped me to shape my thought process.
What is VGIS DOT NET, Inc.?
VGIS
DOT NET, Inc. is primarily a media company. It is both a publishing company as well as a
cutting edge technology firm. We connect buyers and sellers through our virtual and print
marketplaces.
VGIS
DOT NET, Inc. or VGIS for short is the managing parent company for the Northwest Arkansas
Living Guide as well as several new and developing publications including an upcoming
business professional/commercial leasing magazine entitled, Northwest Arkansas Synergy
(nwasynergy.com). VGIS also manages several developed Internet properties including:
nwaliving.com, nwahotspots.com, nwacafe.com, nwasynergy.com, and vgis.net (among a few
others). The firm also serves as the tax reporting hub for several other developing
regional and national systems (loudenliving.com).
VGIS
is a closely held Arkansas
firm with a small number of stockholders, employees, suppliers and contractors. We try to
operate as efficiently as possible so that the value created can be passed on to all
affiliated stakeholders.
What kind of upbringing did you have?
I
would characterize my upbringing as mostly traditional in that I was raised in a typical
middle class, inner city African American family where I grew up knowing my grandparents,
cousins, aunts, uncles, etc., and where both parents worked. We traveled together, took
long-road trips, (laughs… which is why I like to fly to my destinations now), visited
cool family places like Magic Springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas, The Kennedy Presidential
Library & Birth Place, in Boston, Massachusetts, The Alamo in Austin, Texas, Beal
Street in Memphis, Tennessee, and The famous Arch in Saint Louis, Missouri. I mean it
was... |
