SUCCESSFUL AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNERDAVID STEWARDCEO AND FOUNDER, WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGYDavid Steward grew up in a Christian home in the small town of Clinton, Missouri. As a teenager, he experienced the racial tension of the 1960s, attending segregated schools, sitting on movie theater balconies and being barred from public swimming pools. David harbors no negative feelings about having to endure those days, especially since his mother warned him against becoming bitter and resentful. He literally lived across the railroad tracks, but learned that division doesn't work. Although his family had few material possessions, David believes he inherited considerable wealth from his parents because they taught him what was important: treating people well. David recalled that homeless people would stop by the house. “No one has ever been turned away,” he said. “I saw faith in action.” David also remembers his mother donating her dollar to the church. He knew it was a seed to be sown waiting for a harvest. These principles of sowing and reaping remained with him throughout his life. David has always had a lifelong dream of owning his own business. There was a burning desire inside him. After college, he spent ten years in sales for three Fortune 500 companies. As a senior accountant for a large corporation, David was awarded Salesman of the Year and was inducted into the company's Hall of Fame. They gave him an ice bucket with his initials engraved inside. David looked into the bucket and realized it was empty. This was a defining moment; he asked himself: is this what he really wants from life? At the time, David and his family were living paycheck to paycheck, but David had complete faith in God. It was clear in his mind that his faith in God, coupled with a desire to work hard to serve others, meant that he was destined to be successful. After many years and five failed companies, he finally discovered the secret to success: "healing people." Right.' It launched Transportation Administrative Services in 1987. The company's purpose was to provide online automated transportation audit services to seven major rail carriers. He later decided to diversify his business interests by capitalizing on starting World Wide Technology (WWT) in 1990 with a small budget and 7 employees. He wanted to be part of one of the greatest revolutions that have ever hit history, that of information.