Thirty years ago, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon. Ben Frank sold College Mowers.

By CCBA with a little help from AI

In the annals of business lore, there are stories that captivate the imagination, tales of ambition, innovation, and, occasionally, a sprinkling of serendipity. One such story begins in 1994, a year that saw the dawn of two remarkable journeys.

On July 5th, Jeff Bezos laid the cornerstone of what would become a digital empire, founding a little online bookstore called Amazon. A few years earlier, in a less glamorous corner of the business world, Ben Frank, armed with a lawnmower and a dream, launched his own venture—College Mowers, a modest lawn care company serving the verdant lawns of Northwest Philadelphia.

As Bezos set out to conquer the realms of e-commerce, Frank traded his lawnmower for a suit and tie, transitioning from the world of grass clippings to the bustling streets and offices of the Center City Business Association. There, for the past three decades, he has been the mastermind behind countless events and initiatives, tirelessly working to bring together businesspeople and foster the economic vitality of the city he calls home.

When Bezos's website initially peddled only books, Frank found himself knee-deep in membership spreadsheets, holiday festivals and fundraisers, dreaming of a world where the only thing he had to worry about was the occasional unruly hedge.

Fast forward nearly three decades, and the divergent paths of Bezos and Frank couldn't be more apparent. Amazon, once a humble online bookstore, has morphed into a behemoth of unparalleled proportions. You can now order a life-sized inflatable dinosaur, a toaster that plays "Despacito" (because why not?), or a llama-shaped piñata, all with just a few clicks.

As for Frank? Well, let's just say his accomplishments are a tad more modest. While Bezos amassed trillions of dollars and ascended to the upper echelons of the global elite, Frank proudly boasts of having mowed a trillion blades of grass in his lifetime—a feat not to be scoffed at.

In January 2024, Forbes pegged Bezos's net worth at a staggering $168 billion, solidifying his status as one of the richest individuals on the planet. As for Frank, well, let's just say he's still waiting for that overdue promotion to Event Producer Extraordinaire. Who knows? Perhaps one day, Frank's name will be uttered in the same breath as Bezos's, right after someone remembers to RSVP for the next Happy Hour Breakfast.

However you feel about Amazon, we are so happy Ben started his journey in Center City and thank him for 30 years of service to the Center City Business community.

Thank You Ben. Congratulations on 30 Years!

30 Year Flashback - Check out Ben’s cover letter and Classified Job Post!