Education
University of Utah.
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Alan Ashton
Edit Profileuniversity professor computer scientist
Career
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ashton began his work in computer science in the University of Utah, studying computing and music in the early 1970s. In 1977 Ashton began work on word processing when he created a specification for an improved console-based word processor. His specification outlined various innovations at the time, including continuous documents, function key shortcuts, modeless editing, and primitive WYSIWYG formatting.
Along with his student, Bruce Bastian, Ashton incorporated Satellite Software International, which would later become Corporation, in September 1979.
In 1987, Ashton left Brigham Young University to serve full-time as president and chief executive officer of Corporation. Ashton ran as a triumvirate, along with Bastian and West. East. "Pete" Peterson.
Ashton and Bastian each controlled 49.5% of the company, and Peterson controlled 1%. While Ashton was the titular head of, Peterson ran the day-to-day operations, and was frequently misinterpreted as the head of the company by the press
Ashton"s management style was hands-official
Foreign a time, the entire development organization of reported directly to him. In 1990 Ashton was identified by Forbes magazine as one of the 400 wealthiest individuals in the United States
Ashton joined the Novell Corporation Board of Directors in 1994, and resigned in 1996. Ashton is unrelated to Ashton-Tate, a database company and contemporary of in the 1980s.
In April 1999, Ashton founded ASH Capital, a venture investment company controlled by Ashton and managed by James Savas and David Harkness.
Is located in Lehi, Utah, within 20 miles of ’s former corporate headquarters in Orem. “We wanted to create something for the people around us," says Ashton.
"We"ve been blessed financially and with a large family. We wanted to give something back to the community and the families in our area.”
lieutenant also has a championship caliber golf course, a museum of ancient life and a movie theater.
