Brian earned his BS in Computer Science from Chico State University in 1985, and has been running his own software, multimedia and Internet development business - BrainScan Software - since 1995.

In 1997, Brian's wife and partner, Katy Fries, opened a children's art studio in the new A.R.T.S. Gallery (now The Arts Building) in Auburn, California. Later that year, Brian discovered a passion for ceramic sculpture and pottery.

Brian spent some time as gallery and studio manager at A.R.T.S., and continues to create and market his own artwork, as well as continuing to run his software development business.

Through this experience, Brian determined that artists, galleries and arts organizations, due to the constantly evolving nature of their work, have a unique need for website content management tools, which are usually reserved for the larger, more affluent businesses.

Having already developed wonderful, efficient site management schemes for his clients (including Peaceful Valley Farm Supplies and JumboGiant.com), Brian looked for ways to apply these tools to his own websites.,p> While Brian couldn't afford his own services to develop custom tools for his gallery or his personal art site, he COULD invest his time in a new business challenge - the development of an "engine" that could be used to support dozens - hundreds - even thousands of web sites for artists, galleries and other arts organizations!

Now for a name... these days, all the obvious web site domain names are taken. Need something simple that people can remember and spell easily. Need something to evoke curiosity and interest. Need something catchy, and not so specific to the concept at hand that it can't grow into unforseen related areas...

Checked on hundreds of possibilities with nothing good available. On a whim, sent "Art Online" to an anagram (jumble the letters to make different words) generating server. From the list that came back, one stood out clearly...

...and Neon Trail was born!