Reach | Fall 2006

By Laine Bergeson

With a master's degree from CLA's School of Journalism and Mass Communication and a B.A. in business from the University of Oregon, Paul Brainerd ('75) began his career in hopes of making a contribution to the world of publishing. As it turned out, he did much more than that. Thanks to Brainerd's entrepreneurial spirit, visionary thinking, and (let's not forget) world-class liberal arts education, he would do no less than revolutionize the publishing world, from Kabetogama to Kansas City to the Kremlin.

Paul and Debbi Brainerd
Photo by Stuart Issett

Brainerd is humbly describing PageMaker, the groundbreaking software program he designed that brought basic publishing capabilities to the masses. With its unveiling in 1985, PageMaker became the prime mover of desktop publishing—a phenomenon that turned the publishing world from an oligarchy, reserved for the few who could afford expensive publishing technology, to a democracy, where anyone with a few hundred bucks and a personal computer could transform an amateur idea into a world-class publication.

It is fitting, then, that as Russia began to develop its own democracy and conservative communist hardliners engineered the shutdown of all the national presses, pro-reform nationals like Yeltsin fought back by using PageMaker to design and disseminate their party's declaration of defiance. Brainerd's entrepreneurship helped change the course of Russian history.

Brainerd's remarkable story makes aspiring inventors wonder: What is it that catapults one person's idea to a realm beyond the ken of others? What transforms a vision from groundbreaking to truly revolutionary? Passion, for one, says Brainerd. “Passion is paramount to success," he muses. “It is critical to have a heartfelt connection with your work. If you don't have that, there is no reason to be doing it."

Another driving force is the willingness to take calculated risks. “I've taken risks throughout my career," says the 59-year old Seattle resident, who dropped all his other pursuits to start Aldus Corporation and unveil PageMaker. “Risk taking can be very exciting. You get to explore new things." But not just any risk will do; Brainerd stresses that each of his projects has pivoted not just on gut feeling, but also on thorough analysis and research—for which his liberal arts education richly prepared him, he says.

“Education taught me how to do research and present it," says Brainerd. “It was a building block. It provided me with the confidence and knowledge to do what I did as an entrepreneur."

Brainerd defines success as “making a difference in other people's lives." In the first part of his career, he achieved this by making communication tools accessible to organizations with limited resources, such as churches and non-profits (and, of course, the democracy advocates in the former Soviet Union). By 1994, though, Brainerd was ready to strive for success in other areas, and he sold Aldus to Adobe. The financial freedom that followed the sale allowed Brainerd to devote himself full-time to another lifelong passion: environmental conservation. Having spent his childhood in the forests of southern Oregon, Brainerd was determined to help preserve the natural beauty of the region.

“I've always had a close connection to the outdoors," says Brainerd, who founded The Brainerd Foundation, an organization focused on protecting the environmental quality of the Northwest and building citizen support for conservation efforts. The foundation makes grants, leverages funding, and encourages the involvement of other philanthropists—another cause close to Brainerd's heart. He founded the non-profit Social Venture Partners to catalyze philanthropic activity among his peers.

“SVP helps the next generation of people who want to give back," says Brainerd. And not just in dollars. The organization surpasses the norm (as do most groups with Brainerd at the helm)—encouraging participants not just to lend financial support but also to become involved with the causes they support. As Brainerd proudly attests, 65 percent of participants are actively involved.

In 1997, Brainerd and his wife, Debbi, found yet another way to give back to the community. With the purchase of 225 acres of land on Bainbridge Island, they founded IslandWood, a lifelong environmental learning center for children and families. Already, the center has distinguished itself as one of the most innovative environmental learning centers in the country.

Asked what he plans to add to his already chock-full schedule, the activist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur responds that, for now, he's focused on making all the current ventures “continue and excel." As for what isn't in his immediate future, Brainerd chuckles, “We are so busy—my wife made me promise: no new non-profits!" Perhaps for the time being, he'll have to be content with all the good he has already contributed to the world.