Jacob Scherrer
Associate partner/technical director
Centare Group Ltd.
125 N. Executive Drive, Brookfield
Industry: IT consulting
Number of employees: 45
Family: Wife, Lisa, and daughter, Georgia
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“Over the past year or so, we have had to make some tough decisions regarding how to match the size and makeup of our team to best meet the needs of the marketplace and our clients. This refining process has given us the ability to grow our team very quickly to react to key opportunities.”
What’s new at your company?
“Probably the most exciting new thing at Centare is that we now consider our mobile software development practice to be a core service offering. Over the past two years, it has become crystal clear that mobile computing devices will continue to become more and more entrenched in the professional and personal aspects of our daily lives. We have taken steps to ensure that we are able to help our clients understand and navigate this rapidly evolving market.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“Absolutely. We have recently experienced a healthy increase in the size of our team and anticipate that trend to continue.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“Like many other small and medium sized businesses, we are cautiously optimistic that the economy has been righted, but can’t shake the lingering notion that a double-dip recession is still a real possibility. Our challenge will be to grow our team to meet the needs of our clients, while not putting ourselves in a position of losing the farm, if the economy turns sour.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“There are several strong contenders, but I see the hottest trend in IT today being mobile devices. Mobile devices are fundamentally changing the way we connect with one another and how we access information. Our mobile devices are always with us. The software is becoming less of a tool and more a part of our identity.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“Do, or do not. There is no try.”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“I gain inspiration from many people, but two people come to mind. From Dave Glyzewski, president of Centare Group, I have begun to learn how to grow a strong, ethical company. And my old manager, Nate Bowen, taught me that sometimes all that is needed to create great software is a laptop and the corner bar.”
What was the best advice you ever received?
“I have received many great tokens of wisdom, but from a business perspective, this one sticks out: Your time is valuable, get paid for what you do.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I love to spend time with my family. I also have a bad habit of collecting hobbies. My past interests include geo-caching, paintball, rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking. Currently, I wakeboard and snowboard whenever I get the chance. As for what’s next, I’m eying up table tennis and cooking.”
