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Local Company Expands from One Client to 45 within Two Years

By Ryan Bentley News-Review Staff Writer

In its first two years, information technology firm ICTNS has achieved considerable growth.

Staff at ICTNS, which is short for Innovative Custom Technologies, Networking and Software, point to proper pacing and well-suited products as keys to that early success.

Company president and Harbor Springs native Michael Paulus founded ICTNS as a home-based, single employee business with a single client in 2004. With five years of experience as a local manufacturing company’s network administrator, Paulus had been thinking about going into business for himself – and an opportunity presented itself.

Having previous done a small amount of software development for Red-Rock International, Paulus was approached by the Charlevoix based retaining wall company to complete a bigger project. Redi-Rock needed inventory control software, a product which would be used in conjunction with its Web site and allow the company’s dealers to track inventory.

“They needed this software developed,” said Paulus. “It gave me the opportunity to start out on my own because the size of the project.”

Because of the software project’s scale, Paulus wouldn’t be able to keep his old job while working on the new product.

He new his venture involved some risk, but he was confident in the services he planned to offer.

“Through my experience, I had learned how a business can use technology to run more efficiently,” he said. “I wanted to share this knowledge with area businesses to help them become more successful.”

Shortly after its second anniversary, ICTNS has three employees and an office near Petoskey. The company has attracted more than 45 clients so far. Most are located in Northern Michigan, but ICTNS has served clients from as far way as California.

The company provides Web site hosting and development and computer networking support along with customized software to help businesses run effectively.

“I think one of the keys of Mike’s success is that he provided the right products at the right time to customers,” said ICTNS sales and marketing specialist Eric Greenwald who joined the company this year.

Paulus, who earned an associate’s degree in computer information systems from North Central Michigan College, is certified by Microsoft in Web development. He said he’s tried to serve local businesses which are looking for the type of Web services which large companies can provide – but at a more affordable price.

The ICTNS president has found that determining the proper pace for his company’s growth can be a challenge.

Company Profile

NAME: ICTNS (short for Innovative Custom Technologies, Networking and Software)
LOCATION: Petoskey
PRODUCTS/SERVICES: Web site hosting and development, computer network support, customized software to help businesses run efficiently
PRESIDENT: Michael Paulus
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 3
YEAR FOUNDED: 2004

Noting that a certain amount of new work needs to be available to bring on an additional staff member, he said it’s important to keep company resources in sync with customer demands.

ICTNS currently is focusing its growth efforts in Web-related offerings.

“The real push right now is the Web development and providing customers with Web sites that are affordable,” Paulus said.

ICTNS has created an application which gives clients the ability to update text and images on their Web site, a product typically offered by larger Web development companies.

Along with Paulus and Greenwald, the ICTNS staff includes Jason Snider, who works in network support.

To learn more about ICTNS, call 526-4216 or go to www.ictns.com

Ryan Bentley can be contacted at 439-9342 or rbentley@petoskeynews.com

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