John Overby is a living multiplier effect.


Though not on most peoples list of top 10 movers and shakers in the business world here, the Silver Valley native has created hundreds of jobs as a high-tech entrepreneur over the years, and now is mentoring others to do the same thing, as client-services director at Sirti.


In the 1960s, when the Wallace, Idaho, boy was working toward his electrical engineering degree at the University of Idaho, there were only two companies in the region he considered to be high-tech. One was American Sign & Indicator Corp., in the Spokane Valley, and the other was General Instrument Inc., in Coeur dAlene.


He talked General Instrument into taking him in for two summer internships, and when he graduated from college, the company talked him into staying on.


But Overby had big ideas of his own.


He went on to found Advanced Input Systems Inc., the Coeur dAlene-based parent of keyboard maker Advanced Input Devices, which established a manufacturing plant in Priest River, Idaho, and developed keyboard manufacturing technology that has become standard in the industry. He grew the company to more than 1,000 employees. In 1985, it landed on the Inc. 500 list as the 13th fastest growing company in the country.


Overby also co-founded Advanced Hardware Architecture Inc., a Pullman-based computer chip designer, and co-founded with Bernard Daines the Spokane Valley gigabit Ethernet company called World Wide Packets Inc.


Im the local boy who brought jobs here, he says.


While Overby has been in top management of several high-tech companies, he never left the region, choosing to raise his family in Coeur dAlene. He currently lives in Liberty Lake and plays in North Idaho when hes not putting in long hours at Sirti.


He started what he calls his public service career in early 2005, as regional director of the Small Business Development Center at North Idaho College, where he provided consulting and training to small businesses in North Idaho.


He was there less than a year.


I wanted to start a business incubator, but the powers that be at NIC didnt want to go there, he says. Just down the freeway, though, Sirti was already doing it.


The state-funded economic-development agency provides entrepreneurial and business expertise to accelerate development and growth of promising technology startups, and has incubation space in its main building at 665 N. Riverpoint Drive, as well as a new Technology Center a few blocks away.


When an opportunity with Sirti arose that August, it was too perfect, Overby says.


Now, as client services director there, he works to help young companies become successful.


Creating jobs is my greatest pleasure since starting my own businesses, he says.


Kim Zentz, Sirtis executive director, knew Overby as a technological leader from years earlier when they were both on the University of Idaho College of Engineering advisory board.


Hes got the perfect demeanor for coaching companies, Zentz says. He lights a fire as a mentor. His goal is to help other companies become Inc. 500 companies.


Overby isnt just a teacher at Sirti; hes also a graduate. Advanced Hardware Architecture was a Sirti client and grant recipient years ago.


Ive seen both sides. Thats why I came here, he says. Instead of being focused on one opportunity, I get to help with many opportunities. This is the funnest thing.


All of Sirtis clients are high-tech.


They see a need, and they know how to develop a product, Overby says.


Thats the easy part, he says, adding, Selling high-tech stuff is tough.


In addition to its two incubators, Sirti has launched a loan program to help companies that show potential, but arent at the point where banks see them as good loan candidates.


Were not marketing loans. We dont want everyone to apply, he says. Theyre for people whove got their plane off the ground, but theyre not going up like the rocket they want to be.


Sometimes, the intent of the loan is to hire key personnel.


If the purpose of a loan is to hire a world-class sales manager, well probably be part of the interview team, Overby says.


He says the greatest challenge for technology startups is: How to deal with big companies when youre a small fish.


Thats where Overbys experience comes in. He says the most exciting time of his entrepreneurial career was when he founded and led Advanced Input Systems in the mid-1980s, when IBM was making its line of PCjr personal computers.


Overby had developed a unique technology that reduced the cost of manufacturing keyboards. He refused to sell the proprietary technology and focused on becoming IBMs sole keyboard provider for the PCjr line.


I knew the guys IBM was going to buy from werent going to come through, he says.


Yet, the computer giant was reluctant to contract with Overby unless there was a second provider of his product.


They said they couldnt get another supplier if my factory burned down, he says.


So, he offered to build a manufacturing plant right beside the first one in Priest River.


That satisfied IBM.


We poured two concrete pads, but we ultimately didnt have to build on the second one, he says.


Unfortunately for Advanced Input, the PCjr line didnt sell well. IBM canceled its production in less than two years. Advanced Input then concentrated on custom keyboards and other input devices. Although still in Coeur dAlene, it now is owned by Esterline Technologies, of Bellevue, Wash.


Aside from creating jobs, art collecting is Overbys other great joy.


He prefers representational art to modern art.


If it turns you on, it does what its supposed to do, he says.


His office walls are lined with about a dozen original paintings, each of a different style, most western themed.


Art makes the day better, he says. Its fun to go around and appreciate them. Its therapy.


His art appreciation led him to become co-owner of the Coeur dAlene Galleries in the lobby of the Coeur dAlene Resort, although he has since sold his interest.


Overby says he was always in awe of his mothers artistic abilities, but adds, I didnt get any of her talent.


He says his brain is wired more like that of his father, who was an auto mechanic.


He was a top GM guy, Overby says. He took the latest courses and trained others. He should have been a college professor.


Overby proudly admits hes a workaholic.


While most government employees took Nov. 10 off in observance of Veterans Day, Overby was one of few Sirti employees at the office.


Its a Friday. Its not the weekend, he says, adding, Our clients are working.


He does take weekends off.


I dont mind working hard on weekdays, he says. Weekends are for family.


He spends summer weekends at Priest Lake and winter weekends at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.


You can guess where the kids and grandkids are during the weekends, he says.


Contact Mike McLean at (509) 344-1266 or via e-mail at [email protected].