Chief executive officer of Tushaus Computer Services
Company address: 10400 Innovation Drive, Milwaukee
Company Web site: http://www.tushaus.com
Industry: Computer services
Number of employees: 75
Company’s annual revenues: $18 million
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Family: Wife, Laura; daughter, Miranda; and son, Derek
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
"Tushaus is improving productivity by focusing improvements on information management. In order to accomplish this, we created a new position, information manager. The information manager is responsible for gathering, organizing, filtering, developing and publishing information through the use of technology for the company. We want to take advantage of all the information we have and really utilize it to our best competitive advantage."
What’s new at your company?
"Tushaus was just listed as a 2004 VARBusiness 500 company. I am really excited about making the list. It is just another indicator that we have great people doing great things at Tushaus."
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
"Our business is growing. Since the beginning of the year, we have already added eight people to our team. That translates to over a 10 percent increase in staff. We intend to hire additional staff in the later half of the year, and we are investing in our data center operations to offer innovative solutions in response to our customers’ business needs."
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
"Information management is going to be key challenge for us, but I am confident we are taking the right proactive steps. If our company maintains its focus in the growing economy, we will succeed."
What is the hottest trend in the computer industry?
"Businesses are creating and capturing more information than ever, and they want to ensure that their information is protected. Businesses also want to have access to their information wherever they are, so they can make informed business decisions. So, the hot trends in the computer industry are storage, security and mobility. The hottest trends always mimic the true needs of businesses."
Do you have a business mantra?
"Tushaus wants to be your technology partner! Unfortunately, I think the word or term ‘partner’ has become convoluted these days. A true partnership is based on a genuine give-and-take relationship. There is an open dialogue between real partners that helps them both succeed. We want to align ourselves with our customers’ business needs. If we do that successfully, our customers will be successful, and as a result we will be successful."
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
"Wow, Milwaukee has so many business success stories. I think it is important to continue learning by observing other businesses and understanding their success factors."
What was the best advice you ever received?
"It is better to get there tomorrow with 80 percent, than never get there with 100. That came from Dennis Kuester of Marshall & Ilsley Corp."
What do you do like to do in your free time?
"Running a business takes so much focus and energy, that when I have a free moment, I want to spend it with my family. My children will only grow up once, and I don’t want to miss it."
June 25, 2004, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI
