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TECHWATCH
Digerati Update
Slow and Steady
Tech firm surviving in a tough economy
By Pittershawn Palmer
Roosevelt Giles has shuttered his online distance learning portal and publishing house, SkillLearning.com, but that doesn't mean his company, Information Management Systems Inc. (www.imsinc .com), is closed as well. Far from it. Since being named a Digerati in the February 2000 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine, Giles has been hard at work growing his business. IMS provides network design, consulting services, and certification to its growing list of clients. And since September 11, the Atlanta-based company has added the IRS and the Department of Defense to its impressive list of clients, which includes Delta Air Lines, American Express, Cisco Systems, General Motors, and E*Trade. "Our job is to create less work for the client and to make it easy for them to perform their job while reducing costs and enhancing their competitive advantage," says Giles. He adds that since the events of Sept. 11, companies have been re-evaluating their systems and are focusing on issues such Internet security, disaster recovery, and knowledge management, areas in which IMS will begin providing new and enhanced services.
The company has seen an increase in annual earnings from $14 million in 2000 to $18 million in 2001. "Given the current state of the economy, the company is doing well," says Giles.
The company also won the 2001 Corporation of the Year award from the Atlanta Business League. Giles is a regular speaker at trade shows, sits on numerous committees, and is working on his second book on Nortel technology. Giles' first book, Cisco CCIE Study Guide, was, and still is, a best-seller with more than 50,000 copies sold.
With offices in Atlanta, Seattle, Orlando, Johannesburg, and Malaysia, Giles has grown his company from 53 to 75 employees. He plans to expand the company's focus into proof-of-concept testing and Internet security auditing and consulting. He is now looking for "win-win" strategic partnerships and has teamed up with firms in Kansas City and Dallas to "leverage our skill set."
Digerati Update
Slow and Steady
Tech firm surviving in a tough economy
By Pittershawn Palmer
Roosevelt Giles has shuttered his online distance learning portal and publishing house, SkillLearning.com, but that doesn't mean his company, Information Management Systems Inc. (www.imsinc .com), is closed as well. Far from it. Since being named a Digerati in the February 2000 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine, Giles has been hard at work growing his business. IMS provides network design, consulting services, and certification to its growing list of clients. And since September 11, the Atlanta-based company has added the IRS and the Department of Defense to its impressive list of clients, which includes Delta Air Lines, American Express, Cisco Systems, General Motors, and E*Trade. "Our job is to create less work for the client and to make it easy for them to perform their job while reducing costs and enhancing their competitive advantage," says Giles. He adds that since the events of Sept. 11, companies have been re-evaluating their systems and are focusing on issues such Internet security, disaster recovery, and knowledge management, areas in which IMS will begin providing new and enhanced services.
The company has seen an increase in annual earnings from $14 million in 2000 to $18 million in 2001. "Given the current state of the economy, the company is doing well," says Giles.
The company also won the 2001 Corporation of the Year award from the Atlanta Business League. Giles is a regular speaker at trade shows, sits on numerous committees, and is working on his second book on Nortel technology. Giles' first book, Cisco CCIE Study Guide, was, and still is, a best-seller with more than 50,000 copies sold.
With offices in Atlanta, Seattle, Orlando, Johannesburg, and Malaysia, Giles has grown his company from 53 to 75 employees. He plans to expand the company's focus into proof-of-concept testing and Internet security auditing and consulting. He is now looking for "win-win" strategic partnerships and has teamed up with firms in Kansas City and Dallas to "leverage our skill set."
