1997-99: Starting The New Wave

By Craig Zarley, CRN
June 22, 2000 11:41 AM ET

Corey is ahead of the pack in understanding Net business models.

Toby Corey and Joe Firmage helped start the wave. The two former Novell executives, young rising stars in the networking company, saw possibilities far beyond simply a networked world. In 1995 they jumped ship to start USWeb, one of the first Internet services firms. But calling what Corey contributed to the channel "Web services" is like calling Tiger Woods a "good golfer." Corey understood that the Internet meant all businesses needed to address e-commerce or die in the new economy. What's more, Corey saw that the new economy needed experienced managers to guide it and brought in seasoned Fortune 500 managers to run his new venture. As such, Corey and Firmage represent the bridge from the old channel to the new one. They injected the solution provider channel with bright new talent but molded it with veteran executives. USWeb ultimately merged with CKS and later Whittman-Hart. But Corey isn't sitting still. He and Firmage went on to start incubator company Intend Change. Corey recently completed a turn as CEO of one of the start-ups, Electron Economy, before turning over the reins to a former Federal Express executive. That pattern will repeat itself as Intend Change and Corey launch new ventures. Corey and Firmage currently sit as power brokers in the solution provider channel.

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