Faces Of The 2018 Next Gen 250
Staying Ahead Of The Technology Curve
Some solution providers see their job as meeting the day-to-day IT needs of their customers: supplying server and desktop hardware, installing networks and providing break-fix services. But the most successful solution providers today understand that there are serious opportunities in developing expertise, solutions and services in the leading-edge technologies at the forefront of today's IT industry.
Cloud computing, big data analytics, the Internet of Things, software-defined networking, advanced cybersecurity and DevOps/application development – these are the technologies that are altering the IT industry and redefining how businesses use IT for competitive advantage. Because many businesses, especially SMBs, rely on their solution providers to help them make the jump to these new technologies, solution providers who develop expertise and practices in these next-generation technologies are in big demand.
The solution providers on CRN's annual Next Gen 250 list are selected through research, vendor and analyst interviews, and CRN editorial coverage. All of the companies on the non-ranked list were founded within the last 25 years. Some were founded specifically to focus on the new technologies while others have developed their next-generation technology skills and services alongside their traditional IT offerings. Fifty of the companies on this year's Next Gen 250 are new to the list while 30 companies are there for the third year in a row.
The following are snapshots of randomly selected 25 companies on the 2018 Next Gen 250 list.
Ameri100
Top Executive: Brent Kelton, CEO
Location: Suwanee, Ga.
Ameri100 provides a range of cloud, enterprise and digital services—the latter incorporating big data, analytics, artificial intelligence and IoT technologies. Ameri100 has extensive expertise in deploying SAP's public, private and hybrid cloud services and SAP's HANA cloud migration services.
Animodus
Top Executive: Gary Boyle, President
Location: Irvine, Calif.
Animodus is a managed IT services provider with an emphasis on going beyond everyday IT service and support, helping customers realize their business vision through "strategically proactive technology."
ArcTouch
Top Executive: Eric Shapiro, CEO
Location: San Francisco
ArcTouch designs and develops applications for iOS, Android and Xamarin and bot software for conversational platforms like Amazon Alexa and Facebook Messenger. The company's development expertise extends to blockchain, IoT and augmented reality technology solutions.
Cantey Tech Consulting
Top Executive: Willis Cantey, President
Location: North Charleston, S.C.
Cantey is a managed IT and tech consulting services provider with offerings in cloud and hosting services, network and server management, and data security. Founded in 2007, the company serves customers in Charleston, the Southeast and beyond.
ClearData
Top Executive: Darin Brannan, CEO
Location: Austin, Texas
ClearData focuses on the health-care and life sciences industries, providing a multi-cloud platform, DevOps automation, security and compliance solutions, and services to help customers modernize and protect their sensitive health-care data.
ClearScale
Top Executive: Pavel Pragin, CEO, CTO
Location: San Francisco
A Premier AWS Consulting Partner, ClearScale helps businesses and organizations build and deploy challenging cloud applications. The cloud integration company's services span cloud infrastructure and application migration, new application development and deployment, and big data analytics and machine learning.
Cloud Performer
Top Executive: Michael Boutin, CEO
Location: Sugar Hill, Ga.
Cloud Performer focuses on Salesforce implementation services including systems configuration, custom development, data integration, analytics and integration of third-party solutions. The company is a Salesforce.com Silver consulting partner and Silver registered ISV partner.
Coda Global
Top Executive: Sam Fatigato, CEO
Location: Austin, Texas
With a focus on cloud transformation, Coda Global's services include cloud management, operations and automation, DevOps and cloud-native application development, continuous innovation, AI and machine learning.
Enavate
Top Executive: Thomas Ajspur, CEO
Location: Englewood, Colo.
Enavate has deep expertise in the wholesale distribution industry and it leverages that expertise through its work with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Dynamics AX applications. It offers its consulting and software development services to enterprise clients, as well as VARs and ISVs.
Fishtech Group
Top Executive: Gary Fish, Founder, CEO
Location: Kansas City
Fishtech Group develops next-generation, data-driven cybersecurity solutions that provide customers with secure digital transformation. The company's many technology partners include Check Point Software Technologies, RSA, ForeScout and CrowdStrike.
Fivesky
Top Executive: Reza Pourkhomami, Founder, Managing Member
Location: New York
Fivesky bills itself as a technology transformation expert with cloud, big data, next-generation infrastructure and security solutions, and managed services. The company describes its culture as "engineering-led, customer focused."
GO2
Top Executive: Travis Ehst, CEO
Location: Springfield, Pa.
A leading technology and communications services provider in the Philadelphia area, GO2 offers solutions for hosted VoIP phone systems, voice and data cabling, video surveillance, web development and search engine optimization, managed IT services, data backup and recovery, carrier services and cellular repeaters.
goCloudOffice
Top Executive: Ralph Joedicke, CEO
Location: San Francisco
goCloudOffice is focused on helping small businesses stay connected through the cloud, providing services for cloud file sharing, cloud email and calendars, cloud backup and restore, cloud communication and collaboration, cloud-managed IT services, cybersecurity, and asset management and risk assessment.
Innovapptive
Top Executive: Sundeep Ravande, CEO
Location: Houston
Innovapptive develops mobile workforce management solutions including enterprise asset management, supply chain management and industry-specific solutions for oil and gas, energy and utilities, transportation and logistics, and life sciences companies. The company works closely with software giant SAP.
iServiceGlobe
Top Executive: Srini Katta, Founder
Location: Oakland, Calif.
Through its SAP practice iServiceGlobe offers solutions, implementation services and support for SAP S/4HANA, C/4HANA, Business Objects and other applications—including SAP software running on Amazon Web Services. The company’s G-Connect software links Google’s G Suite applications with SAP enterprise applications.
Logic Supply
Top Executive: Roland Groeneveld, CEO
Location: South Burlington, Vt.
A global industrial PC manufacturer, Logic Supply develops rugged, industrial, commercial and rackmount computers for specific tasks in manufacturing, industrial control and automation, building maintenance, security and surveillance, data monitoring and IoT, transportation and digital signage.
Modus21
Top Executive: Peter Woodhull, CEO
Location: Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Modus21 helps clients align technology and execution with business and financial objectives. The company’s consulting, technical advisory, implementation and managed services span business architecture, solutions architecture, systems engineering, software engineering, business process management, organizational change management, ERP service management and business intelligence.
Nerdery
Top Executive: Adrian Slobin, CEO
Location: Bloomington, Minn.
Nerdery provides digital business transformation consulting services, helping clients with IT strategy and innovation, experience design, engineering and delivery enablement. Cybersecurity, predictive analytics and IoT are among the leading-edge technologies the company works with.
Nubelity
Top Executive: Miguel Meza, Managing Director
Location: Austin, Texas
Nubelity is all about helping customers develop and implement a cloud computing strategy, providing cloud workshops and cloud migration, discovery and assessment, and managed services—all built around the Nubelity Cloud Solutions Framework.
Ocean9
Top Executive: Swen Conrad, CEO
Location: Mountain View, Calif.
Ocean9 provides digital transformation expertise focused on a number of SAP offerings including Database-as-a-Service for SAP HANA, Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service for complex SAP environments, and full SAP-as-a-Service stacks focused on the SAP Business One application set.
PYcube
Top Executive: Nimitha Chama, President
Location: Dallas
PYcube concentrates on the use of IT for asset management, enterprise content management and emergency preparedness, as well as supply chain, warehousing and technology services. Partners include Amazon, Oracle, Cisco, Puppet, Dell EMC, HP and Red Hat.
River Point Technology
Top Executive: Jeff Eiben, Principal Owner
Location: Pittsburgh
River Point Technology is all about big data solutions, providing data management and analysis technology, developing data management strategies for customers and helping them assess and manage risks associated with their valuable data assets. Vendor partners include Microsoft, ProfitBricks, Veritas and Symantec.
SingleStone
Top Executive: Jimmy Chou, CEO
Location: Glen Allen, Va.
SingleStone helps its customers build better software, harnessing DevOps processing, cloud computing and machine learning to drive digital engagement and improve customer service.
Xgility
Top Executive: Chris Hornbecker, President
Location: Ashburn, Va.
Xgility assists clients with their business transformation initiatives, providing solutions and managed services for enterprise cloud infrastructure, security and collaboration based on Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and SharePoint platforms.
Zilker Technology
Top Executive: Rob Thomas, CEO
Location: Austin, Texas
Zilker Technology is a digital consultancy and systems integrator, offering services that range from DevOps and integration, to cloud and managed services, to business process automation. The company also has deep expertise in emerging technologies like AI and machine learning, blockchain and IoT.