Jon Nordmark

Who is Jon Nordmark?

Hometown: Westminster, Colorado

Education:

University of Colorado, BS, Magna Cum Laude

Experience:

President CEO, since 1998

Senior Marketing Director, Samsonite Americas

Product Management Director, Samsonite USA

Samsonite (11 years total)

Why @ eBags: I became a "bag expert" at Samsonite. There, my

teams worked on more than 20 distribution channels, and I managed

design direction, presentations, pricing, PL's, and forecasts for

more than 1,500 products. As the Internet began expanding, I knew the

world was facing radical change. Rejoining some of my all-time favorite

workmates and helping to change the world's shopping habits -- via more

convenience, better information and outstanding values -- excites me!

So yes, having 11 years of relevant bag and retail experience is

important. But I am really at eBags because of belief and

determination. I am thankful to have grown up in a great family and to

have great friends. They inspired me to follow dreams. They also taught

me to value relationships with people. To get great satisfaction in

life, you need to create good things "with" and "for" other people.

Throughout my life, certain core values have proven to work. To (1)

believe, (2) remain positive, (3) focus and (4) work hard no matter

what. In high school, I left home to play Junior A hockey. After eight

grueling months, my team won a national championship. Our team included

19 amazing guys and a fantastic coach who believed, worked hard and

treated each other with immense respect.

Later, my roommate on that team got cancer three times and lost an eye

playing hockey. Yet, today he is a 36-year-old radiology oncologist. To

me, he's an incredible inspiration. He always believed in his dreams,

remained positive and stayed focused.

Another teammate became rookie of the year in the NHL after being

ignored at draft eligibility time. He showed me again that good things

happen when you believe, remain positive and keep your nose to the

grindstone.

Starting in mid-1998, the founders of eBags worked eight months without

pay. More importantly, they spent their savings to build the eBags Web

site. At times, I still get chills when I think of their incredible

belief in an "idea" and their commitment to making it real. They

believed, remained positive and stayed focused -- week after week. In

January 1999, angel investors and firms including Benchmark Capital,

Mitsubishi Corporation, Dain Rauscher Wessels, and partners from

Goldman Sachs placed significant investments into eBags ... helping

eBags become world-class in the way we provide services to consumers.

Today, more people have joined our team because they "believe" in eBags

and the professionalism of each person here. We all share the same

values!

So it goes beyond my bag experience. Our shared beliefs, our positive

attitudes and our focus on building a world-class e-store are the

primary reasons why I am here at eBags.

Favorite Childhood Trip: My Dad is drawn to golf. When I was 10, he loaded my brother, sister, Mom and

me into the car with luggage and three sets of golf clubs. We drove for three

weeks, from Denver to Spokane to Vancouver, ferried to Prince Rupert British

Columbia, then drove to Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise and finally home. We played

some great courses along the way and I caught the travel bug!

Other Great Trips: A 90-day, 2,500-mile bicycle/tenting trip

through the British Isles. A seven-day hike up 19,000-foot Kilimanjaro

in Africa. A 10-hour ice and snow climb up 19,000-foot Cotapaxi in

Ecuador -- done through the night with four layers of clothing, axes,

crampons and headlamps. In the past, I craved adventurous travel, but I

am more likely to go to the beach these days.

Favorite City: Hong Kong is #1 for big cities -- picture New

York City dropped into the hills around Vail with an unbelievable

harbor and a hundred cultures mixed together. Boulder is my favorite

for small cities -- I love the Pearl Street Mall, Chataqua Dining Hall

and the...