Bio

John A. Eisenhauer founded Mercury Online Solutions, Inc. in 1996 and was its President from its inception until it was acquired by 3M Corporation in August of 2005.  He has more than twenty years of experience in software development and business management.  John was the driving force behind Mercury’s unique technology and business model which deployed more than 10,000 internet-based signs and kiosks for customers in 23 countries and all 50 of the United States, with an industry-leading up-time standard.  He was employed full-time with 3M as VP of Technology Strategy and Business Development for the 3M Digital Signage business unit until mid-2006. 

 

Mercury Online Solutions was twice recognized as one of the fastest growing privately-held companies in Washington State by the Puget Sound Business Journal (13^th in 2002 and number 1 in 2004).  It also ranked 46^th on the Inc. 500 list nationally in 2003.  In addition, the company’s software and projects received numerous national and international awards for excellence.

 

John’s personal honors include being named the Bainbridge Island School Trust’s “Man of the Year” in 2004 and the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce “Business Person of the Year” in 2005.  He has been intentional in giving his time and money locally, regionally, and globally with an emphasis on education, youth, housing, hunger and the arts.  John serves on the Board of Trustees of Rocky Mountain College and The Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

 

A hopeless and chronic entrepreneur, John has already started and invested in several businesses since the acquisition.  Previously, John owned a software publishing company, and served as Vice President of Finance for a small business in Renton, Washington.  A University of Washington School of Business study once concluded:  “John is to be commended for his great collection of skills and knowledge of computers and accounting...”  Lyle Gesh, then a vice president of the Seattle Trust and Savings Bank wrote:  “John has been instrumental in turning around and salvaging a business that without his experience and business knowledge, probably would not have survived.  He is intelligent and articulate and has an ability to properly pinpoint management problems in both the balance-sheet and computer areas.”  John has also served as Technical Support Manager for a national computer hardware distributor and as Data Processing Manager for the U.S. headquarters of a multinational peripherals-manufacturing firm in southern California.

 

John is a Thespian with hundreds of hours of acting experience, and he has worked professionally as a musician, juggler, unicyclist, magician, radio announcer, comedian, and actor.  He enjoys travel and plays “numerous” musical instruments and sings – performing at irregular intervals with the “groups” Two Boat Wait and The Priest and the Publicans (he’s a Publican).  John resides on/in Bainbridge Island where he enjoys spending his “free time” on his boat, Tres’ Jolie.  He is married to the Rev. Dr. Dee Eisenhauer, the Senior Clergy at Eagle Harbor UCC on Bainbridge Island, WA, and has two daughters: Karen and Emma, ages 16 and 21, respectively.

 

John graduated from Queen Anne High school in Seattle, Washington, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, in 1980.

John A. Eisenhauer

Email and Windows Messenger:  johne@greatcatchmanagement.com