Jay Sachetti joined Jeff O’Brien, partner at Husch Blackwell and Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president of Exit Planning Strategies talked about the market for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning opportunities for companies that don’t end up for sale and how companies can maximize their eventual sale price during an early October panel at the first Upsize on Tap event at Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul.
When the state Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide paid leave and safe time for employees, Justin Bieganek started hearing differing details from friends, colleagues and peers.
They met at a North Hennepin Chamber of Commerce event, and now Robert Newman and Tony Julian have merged their companies so they can offer more computer-related services.
Newman, who opened his CMIT Solutions outlet four years ago, remains president of the new firm, which retains that name and is based in Maple Grove. Julian, who ran Geeksicle for about two years, is vice president and business development director. They sealed the deal May 15 through an exchange of stock. Each person is a minority shareholder in the other’s company.
“We shared the same vision,” Newman says, to focus on small- and mid-sized companies, “and we found that being two different companies working together was causing push-back from the clients.”
Adds Julian: “Our income is on a steady incline now, rather than jumping up and down.”
Newman has hired three new people since the merger, to six employees. They work out of their homes, and he’s considering whether to lease office space.
Too many small-business owners treat their company’s computer network like their home’s, Newman believes. “It’s a glaring need,” to shore up those systems. The firm handles infrastructure, such as rescuing a server or growing a network; troubleshooting, fixing devices from personal computers to Blackberries; and training for computer users.
Robert Newman, Tony Julian II: 763.416.7744; rn*****@***********ns.com; aj*****@***********ns.com; www.cmitsolutions.com
