Timeline of American Business

Amazon.com

Amazon.com headquarters, Seattle, Washington. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Bezos, Jeff

Jeff Bezos. Reproduced by permission of the Corbis Corporation (Bellevue).

American Express

American Express headquarters, New York. Reproduced by permission of Getty Images.

Wells, Henry

Henry Wells was a nineteenth century man of vision. A shipper by trade, he believed the eastern portion of the United States was a wide open market, just waiting for someone to come along and claim it.

AOL Time Warner

AOL Time Warner headquarters, New York. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Turner, Ted

Ted Turner. Reproduced by permission of Archive Photos, Inc.

Apple Computer, Inc.

Apple Computer, Inc. headquarters, Cupertino, California.

Jobs, Steve

Steve Jobs, cofounder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple Computer, Inc., may be one of the best examples of a modern business leader willing to "think outside the box." Jobs saw the potential of the personal computer as a tool for businesses, families, and schools at a time when computers were expensive and foreign to most people. At Apple and his other businesses, NeXT and Pixar, Jobs has always looked for what he calls the next "insanely great" product.

Avon Products, Inc.

When Avon started operations in 1886 under the name California Perfume Company (CPC), the idea of setting women up in their own businesses was a revolutionary one. Women did not yet have the right to vote and only about 15 percent of them worked outside the home.

Jung, Andrea

Andrea Jung. Reproduced by permission of the Corbis Corporation (Bellevue).

Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.

The original Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Burlington, Vermont. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Cohen, Ben

Ben Cohen. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Greenfield, Jerry

Jerry Greenfield. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

The Boeing Company

From the early days of rickety biplanes to today's high-tech space vehicles, the Boeing Company has been a world leader in aerospace and aviation, known for its highly skilled engineers. Millions of commercial airline passengers fly its jets, including the 757, 777, and the 747 "jumbo jet." Boeing has also provided the U.S.

Boeing, William

William Boeing. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Coca-Cola Company

Coca-Cola Company headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia. Reproduced by permission of Newsmakers/Getty Images.

Goizueta, Roberto C.

Roberto C. Coizueta.

Ware, Carl H.

Carl H. Ware.

DaimlerChrysler AG

DaimlerChrysler AG's American headquarters, Auburn Hills, Michigan. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Iacocca, Lee

Lee Iacocca. Reproduced by permission of Archive Photos, Inc.

Dell Computer Corporation

Dell Computer Corporation headquarters, Round Rock, Texas. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Dell, Michael

Michael Dell. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

DreamWorks SKG

In 1994, three of the most influential people in the entertainment world joined forces to form DreamWorks SKG. The best known was director Steven Spielberg, creator of some of the most popular films of all time.

Spielberg, Steven

Eastman Kodak Company

Eastman Kodak Company headquarters, Rochester, New York. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Eastman, George

George Eastman. Reproduced by permission of Bettmann Archive/News Photos, Inc.

Eddie Bauer, Inc.

Bauer, Eddie

Born. October 19, 1899Orcas Island, WashingtonDied: April 18, 1986Bellevue, WashingtonFounder, Eddie Bauer, inc.

Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie Company

The story of the Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie Company is a bit complicated and not always sweet. In 1975, Wally Amos, a talent agent turned baker, introduced Americans to "gourmet" cookies, with a rich chewy taste not found in packaged cookies stocked on grocery store shelves.

Amos, Wally

Wally Amos. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

FedEx Corporation

Since 1973 customers have turned to Federal Express when their important documents and small packages "absolutely, positively" must reach their destinations by the next morning. Over the years, founder Fred Smith transformed the company into the world's leading overnight shipper and a major force in ground shipping.

Smith, Fred

Fred Smith. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company headquarters, Dearborn, Michigan. Reproduced by permission of Ilycia R.

Ford, Henry

Henry Ford. Reproduced by permission of Corbis Corporation (Bellevue).