| The company that owns the famous Floyd Wickman Courses has downsized its operations and called off a potential merger amid rumors about its financial status.
A company official said the company had positive cash flow in the first quarter of this year and isn’t having any financial difficulty.
Last year, Member Direct Television, the firm that owns the Wickman courses, came close to merging with Hawthorne, N.Y-based KeepSmart.com, a online and off-line provider of continuing education for professionals.
Founded in 1995 and based in McLean, Va., Member Direct Television produces and distributes content over the DIRECTV digital satellite television network and through video, CD-ROM, print, seminars and the Internet.
The company bought Floyd Wickman Courses, operators of the popular “Sweat Hogs” training seminars, in February 1999. It also owns the certified buyer representative (CBR) designation for real estate practitioners.
“We have cut back our operations, but that was due to dropping some divisions we just don’t operate anymore,” said Hank Schlenker, president of Member Direct Television.
Schlenker denied rumors that investors were pulling back support of the company.
The company’s largest investor, Patricof & Co. Ventures, gave Member Direct Television $4.5 million in February 1999. Schlenker said there has been no change in its relationship with Patricof and said the venture firm has funded the company since the initial funding. He declined to say how much money was invested or when, saying only that it was a “material” amount.
“They were our largest investor, but we really didn’t have any investor rounds since last year,” he said.
According to the company’s Web site, Member Direct Television provides services to more than 200,000 career professionals in the real estate, home building and financial services industries. | 
