The SurvivalWare Journey

SurvivalWare Founder and CEO, Rusty Luhring , started his first software business, Ferox Microsystems,. Inc. in 1979 as a 25 year old entrepreneur. Ferox was in the business of developing financial modeling software and custom reporting systems for large companies. The experience of managing rapid growth followed by equally rapid contraction and everything in between gave him an understanding of small business cash flow at a visceral level. After 20 years of slogging it out against much larger competitors, he “took off” a couple of years to work in a real job. He couldn’t stand it anymore and started Luhring SurvivalWare in 2002. Rusty felt there was an unmet need for small business owners like himself to do financial analysis and cash flow projections just like his big-company customers had done with the Ferox software. He also knew there were times when you just had to roll up your sleeves and do some very detailed cash planning just to survive.

The SurvivalWare Journey is documented in a series of unusual videos, the first two of which just recently became available.

Founder and CEO, Rusty Luhring, graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering. He has been featured in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and is the author of numerous White Papers. He has also been interviewed for television. Rusty is an avid bicyclist, hates to travel, loves to cook, and enjoys being an empty nester with his lovely wife, Laurie Cushman. He works out of a home office and feels he’s one of the luckiest people around since he gets to pursue his twin passions of computer programming and helping entrepreneurs.

The Rest of Team!

Support Specialist & Technical Writer, Anne Briggs, writes documentation for software users that is critical for implementation of SurvivalWare’s programs. In addition, Anne performs vital graphic artist functions and upgrades the look and feel of the various software models. She provides critical Doc-to-Help ensuring efficient ways to publish software documentation in three formats simultaneously: for context-sensitive Help system for the software, Web based Help system for site visitors, and PDF for those who like to read printed guides.

Anne graduated from Virginia Tech in Marketing Management. She has a rich and diverse work background, from selling insurance door-to-door, to being an early pioneer salesperson selling microcomputers when they first appeared on the market. In her spare time in Kentucky where she lives and works Anne loves to read, play with graphics and raise six kids. That’s right: SIX!

“How-To Videos” Guy, Nick Luhring, puts together How-To Videos documenting the many functions of SurvivalWare for the public (available at the ‘Video Library’ page and www.survivalware.tv). He has also worked on graphic design and animation for SurvivalWare in the past. He has a degree in physics from Virginia Tech, as well as graduate work at NC State in the same subject.

Nick lives with his wonderful wife, Nicole, and two cats in Campbell, CA. In his spare time, he enjoys playing music, drawing, and reading about physics. He has aspirations to animate videos centered around his own music, write science-based children’s books, and start a media empire that would take over the entire world…and the moon. Muhahaha! He has produced 4 music CDs, and they are available to sample or purchase in a number of online stores.

[Editor’s note: Nick was allowed to write his own bio. He is son of Rusty, nephew of Anne.]

We’ve included links to the Amazon Music store for your convenience. His work is available at Apple’s iTunes store and other online music retailers as well.

Nick did the cover designs you see featured below.

The Careless Wind	Awesymptotic, by Dr. Nick and the Awesymptotes “Treat Me Tenderly” is featured in the How-To Videos	Fringe Effects	People Soup