4/4/2004
This article is a “reprint” from the Small Business Times.
Centare Group – Master Mettle Winner
Location: 125 N. Executive Dr., Suite 104, Brookfield
Web Site: www.centare.com
Year founded: 1999
Product or service offered: Custom software development and systems integration. As an IBM premier business partner, a Microsoft certified partner and a SolidWorks solution provider, we are able to offer our clients the right solution for their particular business needs, not just what one manufacturer can offer.
Leadership team: Dave Glyzewski, president/partner; Ed Chaltry, chief technology officer/partner
Target clientele: Small, medium and Fortune 500 businesses that look to technology as a strategic advantage in solving business problems.
Business organization memberships: Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, COSBE, Milwaukee Rotary, Ability Connection, Wisconsin Web- Sphere Users Group, Wisconsin Java Users Group, Wisconsin .NET Users Group, International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners
What has fueled your company’s growth? In 2002 we initiated a diversification strategy aimed at providing additional sales channels for our strong software engineering skills. Towards this end, in late 2002 we initiated a service offering around Microsoft’s .NET development platform. This initiative allowed Centare Group to enter into relationships with customers by marketing the two top development platforms currently available (Java and .NET). We have seen dramatic growth in our business this past year (2003) as we elevated our partnership level with IBM to the highest level (Premier) and achieved a Certified Partner level with Microsoft. In late 2003 we also grew the organization and offered a more diversified service portfolio through the acquisition of the simple line of products from Custom Programming Unlimited (CPU). With the simple product line, Centare Group now offers custom developed solutions based around the SolidWorks 3D modeling software. During the same period, Centare Group also added mobile software solutions to our service portfolio, targeted initially at service- based organizations.
Do you plan any changes in your company in the upcoming months? We will continue to look for new opportunities that map well to our strategy of technology diversification and to our strengths of custom software development and systems integration. We have already seen the addition of several staff in 2004 and look forward to continued strong growth the remainder of the year.
Who are the business people, locally or nationally, whom you admire? Jeffrey Bleustein of Harley-Davidson
And what traits do those people exhibit that makes you admire them? As the leader of Milwaukee’s premier manufacturer, Mr. Bleustein has guided a company that fosters a culture of company loyalty, leads their market in product innovation, sales, and brand recognition. At Centare Group, we strive towards the same goals of culture, innovation, market leadership and brand recognition.
What is the outlook for the business conditions of your industry over the next several months? We are very optimistic about the growth in our industry over the next several months. Due to the improving economy, companies appear to be more confident and are beginning to invest strategically in information technology solutions. Over the past few years we’ve become smarter in how we compete by providing the best technology experts at competitive pricing.
About Centare Group
Founded in 1999, Centare Group is a software development consulting firm with 35 employees headquartered in Brookfield, Wis. It has developed software solutions for clients around the world and was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. Centare Group is recognized by Milwaukee Magazine as one of Southeastern Wisconsin’s Best Places to Work and is listed as a Top 10 Small Business by the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce. Centare Group CEO Dave Glyzewski was also selected as a 2008 Bravo! Entrepreneur Award winner by the Small Business Times. The firm concentrates its efforts in:
- Software development using .NET, Java/J2EE and Actuate technologies
- Business process improvement
- Systems integration
- Mobile solutions development
- Strategic technology assessments
- Training and implementation of agile software development practices