Since graduating in 1996, William J. Piniarski has accomplished quite a feat. Not only is he owner and founder of WEBster Computing Services, a leader in Web-site and domain hosting, but he is also a prolific writer.

Currently in the works are several science fiction books, two of which derive directly from a short story Piniarski wrote while studying with Professor William Stull of the English department. "Although I was a computer science major, I was lucky enough to be able to create my own English course one semester, which allowed me the creative freedom to assign myself a series of writing projects under Professor Stull’s supervision." The 12-page short story called "Saturn’s Rings," written while Piniarski attended the University, has now become 500 pages—and counting—and will be part of a trilogy.

His first book, Launching onto the Web: A Small-Business View, received rave reviews from industry leaders such as Kevin Martin, founder and CEO of Pair Networks, the largest privately held Web-site–hosting company in the world. Piniarski’s guide is designed to help computer novices promote their companies on the Web. His casual style makes this concise book both useful and enjoyable.

Professor of mathematics Ray McGivney, Piniarski’s friend and former advisor, weighs in on the work in a recent review. It is, he writes, "a book where anyone from the computer illiterate to the savvy user can gain insight on how to market their business effectively on the Net...a book that will pay for itself and save you time and energy using Mr. Piniarski’s ideas and insights."

Another guiding light during Piniarski’s years at the University was Professor Ingrid Russell, associate professor of mathematics and computer science. "[She] created several independent projects with me," Piniarski recalls, "and allowed me to serve as a teaching assistant to her younger classes for the majority of my time at UH."

The most important things he learned that were applicable to the real world, Piniarski says, were in the independent courses that his professors and he created. "Sometimes what you learn out of the mainstream is what you need to learn." William J. Piniarski’s success proves that that may often be true.