Steve Gresham, founder of Better Universe, abruptly resigned in early 2007. He then emptied the corporate bank account, leaving his successor, Robert Bowen, to manage the company's collapse. Bowen's email to company affiliates detailed the events, serving as a warning about concentrated control.
Gresham founded Better Universe, initially called Movie Club Plus, as an entertainment technology company. He maintained strict personal control over operations, according to Bowen's email. Gresham handled commissions, cash flow, programmers, and vendor payments himself. He stated this was necessary to keep things in order.
Bowen grew frustrated by late January 2007. He emailed Gresham about the company's management. Days later, Gresham sent a certified letter announcing his resignation. There was no warning or transition plan.
The same day Gresham quit, he made large withdrawals. Most of the cash disappeared from corporate bank accounts. Then the merchant account company told Bowen they would close the account on February 1st.
The merchant processor had warned Bowen for months about their chargeback ratio. Bowen kept chargebacks under 1 percent when he managed them. Under Gresham, they reached 7 percent in January. This spike caused the account closure.
Bowen did not know there was a problem until the merchant company closed the account. He spent two weeks trying to get a new merchant account. The high chargeback ratio made it nearly impossible. Better Universe was finished by 2007.
Gresham was not done. Just over a year later, he launched Savings Highway. Company materials list its start in late 2006, creating a timeline inconsistency. The company uses a virtual office in Georgia, though it claims to be a Delaware corporation. Gresham acts as CEO, and his wife Maria is CFO.
Gresham's company biography states he has over 22 years of experience in home-based business. It mentions his roles as both representative and owner. The biography omits Movie Club Plus, Better Universe, and his departures from them. Gresham had a clear pattern before Savings Highway. He founded companies, kept tight personal control, and moved on when trouble arose.