Dave Baird says for his firm, Z57 Inc., he has a higher ambition than just selling Internet marketing services to real estate agents. The company’s core purpose is to “inspire people and create opportunities.”

Those people can be real estate agents. But he’s also interested in improving the prospects of his 200 employees, and of the community. “The people in the organization, to see them succeed and achieve their goals, when they’re able to purchase homes and cars; that’s how I really view my success, through the eyes of others.”

Baird, 29, co-founded Z57 with Steve Weber in 1998 after the pair met at a trade show. Baird is the company’s vice president; Weber is CEO. Don’t even ask what Z57 means; they’re not telling. Baird will say it has nothing to do with radio station call letters or Heinz ketchup.

The company has grown its seed money of $2,000 to revenues of $10 million in 2004. Projected revenues for 2005 are $14 million, and by 2008, Z57 anticipates reaching $20 million. “We want to continue that trajectory,” says Baird. “The more people we can help to be successful, the better.”

For the past four years, Baird has spearheaded the Z57’s annual adopt-a-family project, in which employees adopt a family for the holidays and provide them with food, decorations and gifts. It’s better than collecting monetary donations, says Baird. It’s a chance to create a sense of community.

Baird says entrepreneurship was instilled in him by his family, who owned and operated a clothing business in Los Angeles and then a printing press firm in San Diego. He’s the oldest of four brothers.