Ex-AST Partner Wong Weighs Idea of Returning to Computers

Albert C. Wong answers his own telephone these days, mulls over possible real estate deals and thinks about launching a new computer business some day.

Since leaving his job as co-chairman and chief technology officer of AST Research Inc. in November, Wong has set up shop in a small, modestly furnished office in a Laguna Hills business park.

Through his new company, DMK Development Corp., Wong hopes to develop commercial buildings in Southern California. But he doesn’t have any specific projects under way yet.

The new venture has been slow to get started, Wong said in a recent interview. But he seems in no big hurry to start wheeling and dealing in real estate.

After eight years of helping build AST into a major force in the personal computer field, Wong said he is enjoying his free time by taking camping trips with his wife and three children and drawing up blueprints for a house he would like to build.

Wong said he has also been devoting more energy to community service. He is a member of the board of the Orange Coast College Foundation, which raises money for the Costa Mesa college where Wong received his engineering degree. He also is a director of the South Coast Symphony.

The success of AST has given Wong the financial freedom to do just about whatever he likes. Although he gave up a job paying more than $400,000 per year when he left, his AST stock holdings have made him a wealthy man.

Wong, who remains on AST’s board, has sold about 100,000 shares of AST stock since leaving the company. At recent trading prices, those shares would be worth nearly $800,000. He still owns about 1.65 million shares, or 16% of the company, worth about $13 million.

Eventually, the 40-year-old engineer hopes to return to the field he has worked in all of his professional life.

“At the right time,” he said, “I want to go back into the computer industry because, really, that’s all I know.”

Wong said he would prefer to start his own company rather than go to work for someone else. He said he has not decided what part of the computer field he would go into. But it would probably involve production of a specialized “low-volume” product, in contrast to the mass-produced personal computers and enhancement boards made by AST.

“I don’t want to compete with them (AST),” Wong said.

Would he consider going back to work at AST if asked?

“No, I’ve been away 6 months now,” he said. “I think I made my decision.”

Then, after thinking it over a little more: “Well, if the company had some special needs, yes.”