Smart Business Magazine, Jul 2012

S ummit Data Communications President and CEO Ron Seide launched the company in 2006 with four other former employees of Cisco Systems including Andy Winson CFO Chris Bolinger director of marketing and Jim ORiordan vice president of technical services The company has since grown to become a leader in the manufacturing of industrial and medical grade wireless modules by optimizing hardware and software design for mobile connectivity in harsh environments Summit Data has created valuable employment opportunities in Northeast Ohio In its six years of existence the company has grown sevenfold from five employees to 38 that figure includes several interns from the University of Akron And in late 2010 the company reached a milestone 1 million Wi Fi radios shipped A challenge Summit Data has faced in building its business has been effectively managing cash flow The company has built its inventory and funded the developing of new products while relying solely on internal funding which has been an especially tough challenge because the company has been growing fast its revenue increased 116 percent over the past three years In 2011 Summit Data Communications was named the 13th fastest growing computer hardware company in the United States by Inc magazine The company has no outside equity and has managed to reach this level of success without bringing in any outside funding Summit Data has demonstrated innovation in the Wi Fi industry by defining its own grade of wireless and its own niche in the market industrial grade and medicalgrade Wi Fi The company attributes its success to the ruggedness of its Wi Fi products which provide secure reliable wireless connectivity for devices that operate in challenging environments such as factories hospitals and warehouses The company employs innovative designs to succeed in those underserved markets HOW TO REACH Summit Data Communications www summitdatacom com A s COO with his previous employer MCPc Kris Snyder took on an intrapreneurial endeavor called Mobility Practice to address the challenge of managing and controlling customers mobile devices Mobility Practices goal was to help companies regain the lost productivity of people on the road and to use their mobility as a productivity force multiplier In 2006 Snyder launched Vox Mobile by acquiring Mobility Practice from MCPc with his own savings and investments from friends and business partners After suffering through a downturn in 2008 and 2009 when many of its customers reduced staff and canceled projects Vox Mobile has turned itself around and experienced exceptional growth including a 95 percent revenue increase in 2011 Vox Mobile was designed to provide all the services of a mobility focused IT department Years ago Snyder CEO began to see that companies were finding the challenge of owning hardware and employing specially trained staff to handle fast changing mobile technologies too costly to handle themselves By encouraging companies to rethink their approach and focus on their core competencies Vox Mobile has demonstrated success that makes it increasingly easy for new customers to embrace its value proposition The accelerating pace of change in mobility combined with a managed service business model creates a constant source of new revenue opportunities for Vox Mobile The company is currently launching initiatives that include mobile security services and mobile application management services that show great promise with its lead customers Every employee of Vox Mobile is rewarded for approaching their area of responsibility as an opportunity for growth Among the companys recognition programs is the monthly Vox Rox Star award which includes a cash prize and a trophy for employees who demonstrate exemplary customer service HOW TO REACH Vox Mobile www voxmobile com Kris Snyder CEO Vox Mobile FINALIST TECHNOLOGY s28 Smart Business July 2012 Ron Seide president and CEO Summit Data Communications FINALIST TECHNOLOGY Andy Winson CFO Summit Data Communications Chris Bolinger director of marketing Summit Data Communications Jim ORiordan vice president of technical services Summit Data Communications