Imagine creating a successful business from scratch, with limited capital, in an industry in which you have no experience, knowledge or contacts. That is precisely what Bernie Mikula, co-founder of Apex Advisors, did in 1992.

Prior to launching his entrepreneurial career, Bernie was a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch in Boston. Although he had experienced success at Merrill Lynch, he had a passionate goal to become an entrepreneur. After a simple suggestion from his father, Bernie started his own computer networking value-added reseller. He literally bootstrapped the “start-up” out of his house and within three years grew it into a multi-million organization conducting business around the country.

Bernie met Paul Ferraro (co-founder of Apex) and Eric Williams, in 1992 while they were working in the computer networking industry. Paul and Eric had enjoyed very successful careers; however, they also had a passion to become entrepreneurs. Paul and Eric worked closely with Bernie and created a strategy to open their own value-added reseller in New Jersey. They started their company in 1994.

Over the next two years, Bernie, Paul and Eric experienced tremendous growth within their respective companies. In 1996 they merged their operations and created a larger organization; The RE/COM Group. Their goal in merging was to get better “buying power” from the manufacturers, deploy offices nationwide and literally offer turn-key solutions to their customers.

They put their plan into immediate action and over the next three years grew the organization into a well known, reputable and highly successful national VAR. Bernie, Paul and Eric received international recognition at RE/COM in 1999, when they pioneered a risky business decision into a successful reality. The strategy was featured as the Cover Story in the August 1999 issue of VARBusiness Magazine. Under their leadership, RE/COM was one of the most successful VARs in the country. Recognitions included Inc 500, VAR 500, Technology 50, Ernst & Young as well as national winners of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 1998 Small Business Owners of the Year contest.

In late 1999, Bernie, Paul and Eric sold their company to Dimension Data, a $2 billion international technology company. They stayed on as executives of Dimension Data’s US operation. While at Dimension Data, their organization achieved all of its’ financial targets and in 2000 they were recognized with the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Bernie, Paul and Eric have stayed active with executive roles in other start-up companies that continue to thrive today.