LOCATIONS: 10437 Innovation Drive, Wauwatosa and 4600 American Pkwy, Madison
WEB SITES: www.techworksnet.com and www.nadatrace.com
YEAR FOUNDED: 2001
PRODUCT OR SERVICE OFFERED: In a nutshell, we fix computer problems. Techworks uses advanced technology normally only available to very large companies, using the Internet to manage the computing environments of over 200 businesses, with over 5,000 PCs, for as little as $15 per PC per month.
SERVICES INCLUDE:
• Proactive Service Program (PSP) – Our
PSP program is designed to be a continuous
maintenance and improvement
model. With PSP our customers pay a
level price for our services each month.
This provides our customers with the
ability to have a consistent budget for IT
services instead of worrying about how
to pay for something when it breaks.
• PCtech – Automated services over the
Internet, such as spyware detection and
removal, disc defragmentation, backup
verification and more to keep computer
systems up and running and people and
businesses productive.
• Hardware and software auditing – If our
customers are not sure what they have,
what needs to be replaced (or) what can
be upgraded, techworks gives its customers
the answers so they can be more
productive in business.
• Project services- If our customers’ computers
are behind the times, techworks
can assess, design and implement the
proper solution for our customers’ needs.
• Remote management – If our customers
are tired of fixing their computers, they
let techworks monitor and manage the
tiny nuisances before they turn into
large problems.
PROJECTED 2006 REVENUE: Not disclosed.
LEADERSHIP TEAM: Don Muehlbauer, chief executive officer; Rob Dvorak, president.
TARGET CLIENTELE: Small and medium business clients that need someone to maintain their computers for them, fix their computer problems, or recommend
technology upgrades or plans.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS: Metropolitan Milwaukee Association
of Commerce, West Suburban Chamber of Commerce, Waukesha County Chamber of
Commerce, Madison Chamber of Commerce, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Executive MBA Alumni Association, ITT Tech Curriculum Committee.
WHAT HAS FUELED YOUR COMPANY’S GROWTH? Plain and simple, our employees fuel our growth. We recognize that growth comes from customer satisfaction, and customer satisfaction only comes from hiring great people who care about customers. Our business is technology services, but service is the top priority, not technology. We’re not a bunch of geeks playing in the corner with new technology and not able to apply it to the real-world problems of real people. We are business people first, and certified, technical people second. In recent months, we’ve made great strides to “move to the next level” in technical capabilities through six figure investments in new software tools. We’re using those tools to create new and exciting services for our customers, such as our PCtech service. We’re moving cautiously, making sure we have business processes behind the technology to support our technicians, and our customers.
DO YOU PLAN ANY CHANGES IN YOUR COMPANY IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS? In July of 2006, techworks created its first spin-off company to develop and sell a technology product, NadaTrace. Nada- Trace is a complete, customized computing environment on a single NadaTrace USB memory stick. Everything our customers need to use any computer at any internet café, library, or friend’s home, anywhere. Just plug in the USB stick, click the NadaTrace icon, and applications and data are available. Best of all, Nada-
Trace leaves no trace behind on the computer. No one can snoop through history files, cookies, e-mail, etc. More information is available about NadaTrace at www.nadatrace.com.
WHO ARE THE BUSINESS PEOPLE, LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY, WHOM YOU ADMIRE? AND WHAT TRAITS DO THOSE PEOPLE EXHIBIT THAT MAKES YOU ADMIRE THEM? We admire anyone with the courage and commitment to start or expand a business, given the uncertain world we live in today. Especially admirable are the entrepreneurs who start small, they take the largest personal risk, have the most “skin in the game.” We started out
that way just five years ago. Our Wauwatosa office is in the Milwaukee County Research Park Technology Innovation Center, where there are 43 such companies, each led by such an entrepreneur. Our hats are off to all of them.
WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR THE BUSINESS CONDITIONS OF YOUR INDUSTRY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS? Industry-wide, we’re hearing cautious optimism. Things started improving last year after several bad years, and this year is better than last year. That said, our individual outlook is great. This tells us that there is room in the industry for new or existing companies to take over leadership positions with a combination of great service and leading technology.
