Our Story

Manage Inc. was founded on the premise of offering customers complete end-to-end information solutions. The four founders, Frank Benedetti, Mike Woods, Dave Martin and Mike Bratton, shared a vision of developing a premier business by making technology our client's ally, not it's nemesis. In short, our solutions are designed for companies large enough to need technology support, but small enough that they don't have an entire department dedicated to keeping up with the latest in computers and software.

That's where Manage Inc. comes in.

"We're a solution provider," says Martin. "Our best fit is for a company that does between $50 million and $150 million in revenue, but we have customers that do $2 million and $1 billion. Technology is changing so fast that companies don't have time to implement existing technologies."

But Manage Inc. does and, if numbers are a way to measure, does it very well. The private company's revenues have soared during the past few years. In fact, Manage, Inc. was listed among the Puget Sound's fastest growing companies for 1998 and 1999.

The secret to Manage Inc.'s success may lie not only in the service and products it provides -- hardware, software, technical services and ongoing support -- but also in the way its employees deliver it.

Customer Barbara Chamberlin heard about Manage Inc. in 1997 after she was hired as the director of information services for the YMCA of Greater Seattle. Wanting to upgrade the YMCA's "antiquated IBM program," Chamberlin contacted IBM in Dallas and asked for recommendations for value-added resellers. Out of the three names she was given, she picked Manage Inc.

"When it came down to it, the service was just exceptional," she says. "As an organization, Manage Inc. has done so much for the YMCA -- and they're nice people. They're very service-oriented. I told them that, `If they can keep this attitude they'll be in great shape for the future,' and they've never lost it. They still place the emphasis on customer support."

Ask Mike Woods and he'll tell you that the company is simply staying true to its roots. After all, he and partner Dave Martin founded it in 1995 out of a desire to serve customers who needed technology support.

The two men had met when they worked for a software development company that primarily served the transportation industry. After that company folded, Martin called Woods and told him that all those former clients didn't have anyone to support their needs. They formed Computer Management Consulting (CMC) in 1995 and "instantly had a customer base of 30." They also hired many of the employees who'd previously worked with them at the now-defunct software company.

During this time, they purchased most of their computer hardware from Business Systems Development (BSD). BSD was an IBM Business Partner, founded by Frank Benedetti and later joined by Mike Bratton. According to Martin, we kept going back to Business Systems Development because of their exceptional customer service and strong solutions orientation. In addition to being a hardware reseller, BSD had a seasoned staff of RPG programmers (for AS/400 software applications) who specialized in the distribution and beverage industries.

In 1996, Bratton and Benedetti sold their interest in BSD to become equal partners in CMC. This union not only gave CMC a broader regional presence, including three offices in Seattle, Tacoma and Portland, and a stronger marketing bent, but equipped the company with a broader scope of product and service offerings. The combination of talent truly allowed the company to become a one-stop shop for its customers' technology needs. Over the years, the name has been shortened to Manage, Inc. and the company has grown to over 30 employees.

The focus is on keeping talented employees and offering stock options to employees making significant contributions. Current staff herald from a previous-employer list that includes Nintendo, Starbucks, Costco, Egghead and others. "We're really big into employee retention, especially with the relationships they have with customers," says Martin.

Manage Inc. still has a strong customer base of companies in the distribution, beverage and transportation industries but will talk to anyone. The company specializes in AS/400 and PC system hardware, software, and networking, but also provides a bevy of specific solutions, including networking phone systems, hosting Web pages and creating an e-commerce system so companies can take orders online and check their inventory.

"We help our customers beat their competition through the swift and effective deployment of technology" according to Frank Benedetti. With all the developments with the Web, Mr. Benedetti adds, "E-commerce is our big growth direction."

Mr. Bratton says the company focuses on making customers look good and helping them get the technology in place that can help them soar. "We're the guts, not the flash." Martin chimes in: "If you're building a house and the foundation is crooked, the whole house will be crooked. You've got to have a good foundation of technology before you can put in a fancy toilet with a view." Manage Inc. specializes in implementing the technology a customer needs and then offering ongoing support and modifications, as they're needed.

"Our best customer is where we're doing the full-meal deal," Woods says. Employees are available around the clock to customers if they need service or to troubleshoot a problem. After hours, someone is always on call. "We're very much sensitive to the need where customers feel like they're by themselves in a sea of technology," he said. "We work with them to jointly craft a solution that is both scalable and affordable. "