A Well-Grounded Perspective Craig Collins has lived the ups and downs of San Diego’s economy

With a laugh, Craig Collins, 39, will tell you he has worked in every sector of San Diego’s economy that has experienced a crash in the last two decades. His first job was at AeroJet General Corp. in the public affairs department of the firm’s Torrey Pines corporate headquarters. We know what happened to the region’s aerospace industry.

Collins then joined developer Sandor Shapery, doing marketing and business development work for Pan Pacific Hotel and Emerald Shapery Center, both of which opened shortly before the crashes in the early 1990s of the Downtown commercial market, and, to a lesser extent, the hotel industry.

Out of a job briefly, Collins made his goal an investor relations position with a pre-IPO company. He joined Daou Systems Inc., which during his time there enjoyed in 1997 the sixth highest performing IPO in the United States.

While working at Daou, Collins was in the Executive MBA program at San Diego State University. His thesis was the business plan for what became SupplyPro Inc., a company he co-founded that builds and markets computerized cabinets that track office supplies. The firm received $5 million of funding in 1999 and $28 million this year. It has grown to 80 employees and projected 2000 revenue of $10 million. Collins last month left the company and at press time was evaluating other job opportunities.

His volunteer hours have included six years on the Aztec Athletic Foundation board, serving on San Diego Chamber boards and working on events with UCSD Connect.

Craig Collins with his wife, Janice and son, Christopher.