A Bank of Last Resort

As a new President takes office in Washington, the country is reeling from an economy that is approaching depths not seen since the Great Depression. The financial industry is in trouble and the new administration is insisting that the largest banks all participate in the Federal Bailout program. Jace Orren, CEO of one of those banks, doesn't believe his bank needs the bailout and refuses to take it. Under the direction of McMillan, a very powerful behind-the-scenes advisor to the President, the government tries through direct and indirect means to force Jace to go along with the President's plans. In the struggle between this Machiavellian advisor and Jace Orren, the banking, automobile and airline industries all become involved in a battle setting the powers of an intrusive and controlling government against the ideals of free market capitalism.

Bill has been an attorney who has lead billion dollar financial transactions, a Partner in IBM's Business Consulting Services Group where he was a leader of its global travel and transportation practice, a professor who taught MBA classes, and the CEO of two travel technology companies, one of which was then the world's third largest provider of computer reservation systems for the travel industry. In 2005, as CEO, he started up the ultra low cost Skybus Airlines. He also is the author of The Samurai Leader: Winning Business Battles with the Wisdom, Honor and Courage of the Samurai Code. That book is selling worldwide and has been translated into eight other languages. His goal is to become the wise old man sitting under a palm tree at a beach offering advice on the meaning of life to anyone who'll pay him a dollar.