Throughout his career, Lee Vaccaro has worn many leadership hats: CEO, COO, CMO. More importantly, he’s able to put on whatever hat is necessary for the job at hand. As a purpose-driven executive, understands the importance of doing one thing and doing it well.
Vaccaro has excelled from an early age, winning an Academic Games national championship in high school. He started his first business in his college apartment. Vaccaro was only 25 years old when BCD was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in America.
Regardless of the endeavor, Vaccaro has shown an aptitude for innovation. He has displayed tremendous marketing skills across multiple industries. He successfully moved his retail storefronts online, licensing his business model in the process.
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In each of his companies, Vaccaro has moved quickly to discern a singular purpose before pursuing it with relentless ambition.
Vaccaro’s uncompromising focus speaks for itself:
In three years as founder and CEO, Brainchild Distributions (BCD) moved from a college apartment to three storefronts and $8 million in sales.
In two years, Vaccaro patented a rolling telephone network and successfully licensed its business model to other retailers as “E-Company in a Box.”
In two years as Lew Racing’s CEO, the company moved from startup to the forerunner in lightweight cycling technology, providing the USA Cycling’s 2008 Olympic Team with its landmark wheel set.
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In 1999, Lee Vaccaro faced a dilemma. His first company, Brainchild Computer Distributions, had posted nearly $8 million in sales. But Vaccaro realized the consumers who were buying computers in his stores would soon use those systems for online purchases.
Instead of waiting to see how the landscape of online shopping would develop, Vaccaro closed the doors of his retail stores and developed one of the first successful models of e-commerce. Even then, Vaccaro saw something other internet startups were missing—-the human touch.
BCD 2000 offered two features unique at the time: a rolling telephone network and online chat in real time with support. These innovations enabled consumers to make the leap from browsing in aisles to purchasing online, as featured in a report by Smallbusinesscomputing.com.
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Lee Vaccaro started his first company in between classes at The University of Southern Florida.
His insight identified a growing marketplace for computer component sales, and his relentless drive launched Brainchild Computer Distributions from Vaccaro’s apartment into three retail storefronts. His passion was apparent to his alma mater, as USF signed a $500,000 computer contract with BCD.
In 1998, Inc. Magazine listed BCD as one of the fastest growing companies in America. Lee’s vision grew the company from $404,000 in sales to $7.8 million in four short years—a staggering 1,838 percent.
It was this same vision that enabled Vaccaro to see the writing on the wall. The barrage of dot coms were killing local retail markets by selling items below cost—playing with “monopoly money” that Vaccaro knew would run out.
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