Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> January 20, 1999
DOUGLAS L. BECKER is President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Sylvan
Learning Systems, Inc. Since assuming the leadership role of Sylvan
Learning Systems, Inc. together with co-CEO Chris Hoehn-Saric in 1991,
Mr. Becker has transformed the company from a small tutoring company
into a dynamic, multifaceted global leader in lifelong education, often
referred to as the brand name in American education. With Becker at the
helm, Sylvan's revenues have doubled nearly five times over the past
eight years. This steady growth, as well as the expansion of the
company's market strength, have led to Sylvan's being recognized as one
of the nation's fastest growing and most promising corporations. Sylvan
was named on Fortune magazine's list of the nation's fastest growing
companies for 1996 and 1997, on the list of the 'Top 10 Franchise
Opportunities' by Franchise Times magazine, and the 'Best of the Best'
franchises by Entrepreneur magazine, to name but a few. Success
magazine's '1998 Franchise Gold 100' named Sylvan the second best
franchise opportunity in the nation. In addition, the Baltimore Business
Journal recently recognized Becker as '1998 Business Person of the
Year.' Beyond Sylvan, Mr. Becker demonstrates his commitment to
community through his service as Chairman of Port Discovery The
Baltimore Children's Museum, a $30 million world-class educational
attraction in Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor. In addition, he is a
trustee or director of numerous education organizations, including The
Baltimore Museum of Art, Washington College, Baltimore Reads, Inc., the
Enoch Pratt Free Library System, the University of Maryland Foundation
and Empower Baltimore. Profile
Learning Systems, your history, services, customers, those kinds of
things?
Mr. Becker: Sure. Today, Sylvan is one of the
