Rick Mask Speaks to EOSC PBL

“The only one you can rely on to make your business a success is yourself!” Mr. Rick Mask, co–owner of Visual Lease Service, Inc., recently told members of Eastern’s business club, Phi Beta Lambda.

It’s difficult to begin a new business. You need capital. The bank will want a history of the beginning of the process of starting the company. They expect a well–prepared business plan. They want to know what you are proposing to do, what business you are going to build and develop, and what product or service you expect to manage.

“The hardest step will be staying the course,” he explained. “Don’t get discouraged.”

Mask and his brother began their business out of their homes. Now they employ over 30 people, servicing over 40 Oklahoma counties, and have a budget in excess of $1 million.

“In the beginning we worked for free,” Mask said. “There was no money to pay us.”

Mask explained that he and his partner broke every rule. First, you should never go into business with family. His brother and cousin are his partners. All upper management personnel are family. The second rule, don’t hire family. Eighty percent of secondary management is family.

“You can run a business with family,” Mask explained. “You must make decisions based on what is best for the company, not family. We have been very lucky! Our business has prospered!”

Mask said Visual Lease Service, Inc., began as an assessment operation. They would use GPS equipment as an inventory analysis tool. They used GPS equipment and utilized GIS analysis to build an information database for county governments. They started at the well, cataloged and inventoried, and ran the GPS. They compared their findings to the reported assets. Their findings didn’t always match what was reported. The result—many counties were not receiving taxes from the oil and gas industry that were due them.

“Self reporting has not always been given accurately,” Mask said. “We have helped counties collect millions a year in taxes with 80% going to public education.”

Mask reported his company has diversified. They now build and host web pages and sell subscriptions to realtors and insurance agents, and help county governments move into the 21st Century by putting information online.

“Always believe in yourself!” Mask exclaimed. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. Work hard and make it happen!”

Caption info:

PBL President Kyle Rust presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Rick Mask, co–owner of Visual Lease Service, Inc. Mask spoke to members about the ups and downs of managing a small business and how the use of technological advances such as Global Positioning Systems and Geographical Information Systems has changed his field.