No. 49 - Rochester Top 100
Vanteon Corporation
About Vanteon Corporation: Software/hardware developer
Rank on Top 100: 49
Top Executive: Mr. David L. Wagner
Employees: 102
Website:www.vanteon.com
We asked David Wagner, president and CEO, to talk about his business.
Question: Tell me briefly about Vanteon Corporation.
Wagner: Vanteon provides our clients with quality assured electronic design services for embedded systems. We primarily focus on digital imaging, digital video and wired/wireless communication systems. Our markets are typically in the commercial and consumer electronics space, but we are also providing services to the aerospace and defense sectors of the government.
Our clients outsource their printed circuit board (PCB) design as well as the software (firmware) that runs on those boards to Vanteon. As such, we can provide full turn-key systems from concept all the way through manufacturing support or any piece in between.
Basically, we do the "hard stuff" that resides inside many electronic products.
Question: Where are most of your customers based?
Wagner: Our customers are based all over the U.S. Occasionally, we will work with a client who has operations outside the U.S., but the majority of our customers are here.
Question: How has your company been able to grow to achieve its ranking on the Top 100?
Wagner: Several factors have contributed to our growth…
- Our employees are the best at what they do.
- The consumer electronics marketplace alone is a 1.55 billion dollar industry and our clients constantly need to get their product(s) to market. The three main factors we help them with are: a) resource constraints, b) faster time-to-market, and c) state-of-the-art technical knowledge.
- Our 20+ years of proven project processes and methodologies.
- Our focus on repeat business with our current customers, while seeking out new ones.
Question: What additional services can the Rochester Business Alliance provide to help your business?
Wagner: Although the Rochester Business Alliance provides many services, their advocacy for small businesses in upstate New York is extremely valuable to us. Taking the message to Albany and our state government regarding the enormous restrictions put on small businesses and providing potential solutions is very important.
Question: What signs of optimism do you see in the local economy?
Wagner: Besides unemployment being low, it is encouraging to see the successes of our local colleges and universities. These are quality institutions and they are getting a lot of respect around the country. It is also encouraging to see so many high-tech companies sprouting up, especially those dealing with alternative energy.
Question: What advice do you have for someone who has an idea for a product but needs help bringing it to market?
Wagner: Of course, if it requires embedded electronic hardware and/or software, call Vanteon! Seriously though, I would advise them to seek out a firm that has an outstanding reputation in the market in which their product plays. As with anything else, the proper due diligence up front can save them a tremendous number of headaches down the road. For instance, finding a company that is culturally aligned with your own business ethics will mean a lot when it comes to achieving success down the road.