Three young U. alumni make mag's 'Up and Comer' listing

While they may have very different interests, three Penn alumni certainly have something in common -- they were voted "Up and Comers" by the October issue of P.O.V., a professionally oriented men's magazine. The list -- a ranking of the top 50 male entrepreneurs under the age of 35 -- included Penn alumni Bryn Kaufman, founder of CMPExpress.com, a business-to-business reseller of computer equipment and software; Robert Roback, cofounder of Launch Media, a World Wide Web site for music lovers; and Rep. Harold Ford Jr., (D-Tenn.) the youngest congressman in America. Those who made the Top 50 list were chosen because they have made the "most impressive strides in 1999," according to Arlene Weintraub, the magazine's associate editor. The list was compiled after editors and staffers consulted sources such as business publications and databases. Those featured in the magazine, which targets males between the ages of 20 and 35, represent fields ranging from the sciences to entertainment. Roback, 32, a 1989 Wharton alumnus, was selected as an "Up and Comer," according to Weintraub, because of the success of his Web site. A member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity while at Penn, Roback has transformed his business from a CD-ROM publisher into an Internet site where people can search for reviews and download music. The significance of making the list was "not so much about personal accolades," Roback said, but "about getting exposure for the company and recognition for something we built up." Roback said he hopes to make Launch Media the place in the industry where fans turn to for great music and a place where radio companies turn to break in new artists. Kaufman, 33, a 1993 Wharton graduate, was chosen because of his "smart idea," Weintraub said, which was to take a standard business and put it online as a means to access a larger base. Kaufman, who founded his computer equipment reseller business in 1985 and hit the Web in 1996, has plans for an initial public offering in the near future. Despite his success, Kaufman has remained connected with the Penn community, having spoken recently to a marketing class at Wharton. "If you have a dream and pursue it and work hard, it is critical that you don't give up," he said. Ford, the Memphis, Tenn., member of Congress, was picked because of his pragmatism and avoidance of party politics, Weintraub said. He is currently considering a race for the Senate next year against incumbent Sen. Bill Frist, a Republican. At 29, Ford is younger than any current senator by nearly a decade. However, he views his age as an asset, maintaining that it introduces a fresh perspective to politics and helps him avoid partisan pressures. During the second half of the 105th Congress, Ford was elected president of the freshman Democrats and was chosen to be the regional whip for four southern states. Roback and Kaufman both agree that making the Top 50 "Up and Comers" list has been important for their companies in generating more exposure. But P.O.V. -- with a circulation of 400,000 -- also has its own motivations for producing the list for its readers. "We get them before they take off," Weintraub said. "It is a good indicator of who will take off in the future."