$1 Down

David Pyle can turn $1 into $60 million.

He's not a magician. Pyle is chief executive of Costa Mesa-based American Career College Inc. He's credited with turning what was then a nearly bankrupt vocational school into one of the largest in California.

Pyle was one of five people honored at the annual Excellence in Entrepreneurship award luncheon put on by the Business Journal last week.

Today, Pyle is the sole owner of American Career College, which offers training and certificates in healthcare professions such as nursing, dental assisting and pharmacy, among others.

Pyle also owns West Coast University, another school that offers associate degrees in nursing and bachelor's in healthcare administration.

Together, the schools serve about 4,000 students daily at five campuses in Los Angeles, Anaheim and Norco.

The schools employ some 500 faculty and staff. Last year, they generated about $60 million in revenue.