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Mr. Backman started his career at Hughes Aircraft Company, ultimately becoming the Business Manager of a $400 million research lab. He left Hughes to help found Ion Tech, which was acquired by Veeco Instruments. He co-founded Advanced Energy Industries in 1981, a company that designs and manufactures subsystems for the semiconductor equipment market. Brent was a Vice President of AE from its incorporation until April 1998, and remains on the Board of Directors. AE differentiated itself by growing to well over $100 million without any outside capital until it went public in 1995. In 1995, Brent founded GDBA Investments, LLLP, a broad-based investment company with a special focus on small technology start-up companies. | 