|
Charles Silver cofounded RealAge in 1999 and built the company from scratch, conceiving of its business plan, raising capital, negotiating key strategic relationships, and leading it through the early Internet turmoil to its successful position today in the health-media industry. At the beginning of 2006, Mr. Silver made a critical decision: In order for RealAge to aggressively grow its unique and profitable business model, it needed to merge with a major media partner. Late in 2007, RealAge joined Hearst Corporation, becoming part of Hearst Digital Media, an innovative new division of Hearst Magazines in New York City. Today, Mr. Silver lives a bicoastal business life but continues to lead the company from its San Diego base. Mr. Silver has been developing, building, and managing new businesses for more than 25 years. Before founding RealAge in San Diego, he began his entrepreneurial career in Michigan, where he created the Oil Dispatch franchise. It grew to be the largest independent quick-oil-change operator in the state and was successfully merged with Jiffy Lube. Prior to Mr. Silver's business endeavors, he hosted both television and radio talk shows and served on the staffs of U.S. Congressman Sander M. Levin and the governor of Michigan, James J. Blanchard | 