CentraComm's Dan Bemis is Interviewed by the Norwalk Reflector

MONROEVILLE MAN MAKES GREAT STRIDES IN TECH WORLD

By AARON KRAUSE - Reflector Staff Writer
NorwalkReflector.com News Article

Friday, July 9, 2010 11:38 PM EDT
MONROEVILLE - If the state's economy is to make a comeback, one Monroeville man's business and similar ones are likely to play a key role in the turnaround.

Dan Bemis is CEO of CentraComm, a Findlay technology company that has been on Inc. Magazine's fastest growing companies list for the last four years.

Bemis, who has built and restructured companies across the U.S., attributes his business success to solid customer service, working with good colleagues and Ohio's Third Frontier Program.

The program, created in 2002, is a commitment to create new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs.

The $2.3 billion initiative supports applied research and commercialization, entrepreneurial assistance, early-stage capital formation and expansion of a skilled talent pool that can support technology-based economic growth. In May, the Ohio Third Frontier was extended through 2015.

Bemis said the state's economy is shifting from manufacturing-based to technology. He added he thinks that will create job opportunities at his company and others. And with the "tremendous educational facilities" the state has, Bemis thinks that will create a strong work force.

"The key is to keep that talent in the state and build opportunities for those individuals to use that talent," Bemis said. "That, I think, will create jobs and create opportunities for companies as well."

Bemis said CentraComm, which Monroeville native Lynne Child founded, recently added several good-paying positions. And it is actively interviewing for a full-time sales engineering position, which will include benefits.

"We anticipate growing at the same pace we've been growing," Bemis said.

CentraComm was named to the CRN Fast Growth 100 list and Inc. Magazine's top 5,000 list in 2007, 2008 and 2009 with a three year growth of 142 percent.

CentraComm was formed in 2001 as an Internet Service Provider.

"We quickly made a name for ourselves, providing routing solutions for customers in a variety of industries and servicing them with exceptional customer service," reads a description of the company on its Web site,www.centracomm.net. "Since day one, we separated ourselves from other ISPs by taking a customer-focused approach to network solutions."

Part of the key to CentraComm success was the company "didn't try to be all things to all people," said Bemis, who joined the company in 2009.

For example, the company doesn't work with desktop computers. Customers might have a need for that product and its related services. However, Bemis said company officials don't believe they can work in that area and provide the most value to customers. CentraComm strives on "being very good in one or two areas" network security solutions and managing networks, Bemis said.

Top notch customer service is also critical, he said.

"First and foremost, you take care of customers; that is always the biggest key," Bemis said. "Make sure you're focused on providing value."

Bemis has received industry recognition in customer satisfaction and innovation.

CentraComm isn't Bemis' only success story.

He was senior vice president of Vonage when it increased from $60,000 in annual revenue to more than $500 million from 2003 to 2006. Vonage is a publicly-held commercial voice over IP (VoIP) network and SIP company that provides telephone service via a broad-band connection.

Bemis was also corporate vice president in charge of customer service at Adelphia, a $5.3 billion company. He has held positions at companies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York as well as Ohio.

The 1974 Monroeville graduate sold advertising and helped design classified ads at the Norwalk Reflector out of college.

Before his work at the paper, he handled promotions for a Cleveland radio station.

"I would say (those positions) were a good launching pad to a get (a) perspective on how to promote companies and sell services," he said.

About a year ago, Bemis moved back to his family's ancestral home in Monroeville.

He and his wife, Kim, have restored the home, where Bemis does some of his work for CentraComm. At other times, he commutes to Findlay.

"Dan is a great example of a professional who was willing to leave corporate America, come back to Ohio, and reinvest in Northwest Ohio's growing tech economy," said his publicist, Mike Hogan. "Thanks to programs, such as the Ohio Third Frontier program, aimed at creating tech-based jobs in Ohio, Dan is helping build a tech presence in the region with the fast-growing success of CentraComm."