Ensynch's Growth Skyrockets
Tempe IT firm expanding, hiring more employees
East Valley Tribune

11/8/04

By Ed Taylor


One of the first questions that Gene Holmquist, president of Ensynch, Inc. asks job applicants is how fast they drive to work. Holmquist likes candidates who are anxious to get to their jobs every day.

That's also how he manages his company — in the fast lane to growth.

Ensynch, a Tempe-based information technology services company, was founded just four years ago by Holmquist and chairman Kurt Bunney with five employees. Growing at more than 100 percent per year in revenue and work force, the company now has about 200 employees and $20 million in annual revenue.

The company is expanding into a new headquarters building it has purchased at 125 S. 52nd St., Tempe, where about 65 employees will move this December. Ensynch also plans to add about 100 new employees in the next 12 months.

“We have really hit our stride this year,” Holmquist said.

Ensynch offers a range of data center and IT consulting services, primarily to mid-sized businesses, although its clients range from small law offices to multinational corporations. Ensynch recruits information technology professionals for clients and helps them design, deploy and maintain new or replacement IT systems.

The company also operates a data center that provides the technology infrastructure for small-business customers who don't want the expense of buying and maintaining their own technology. After moving to the new headquarters, Ensynch will continue to operate the data center at its existing location at 2710 S. Roosevelt St., Tempe.

The new building will provide space for the company's professional services, sales force, administration and executive team.

The multimillion dollar expansion is being self-funded from the company's internal resources, Holmquist said.

“We looked for two years to find the right location,” Bunney said, adding that “it had to be in Tempe. We have been successful here, we have grown here. Tempe has been good to us.”

Bunney has been a technology entrepreneur for about 15 years. From 1990-94 he operated an Oracle consulting business. After selling it, he started and served as president of ArrisTech, a technology staffing company with revenue of $7 million a year. In 2000 he sold the assets of that company and started Ensynch.

Holmquist, who co-founded Ensynch with Bunney, has had a 17-year career in the technology industry, holding management positions with several companies encompassing systems engineering, business consulting, executive management and sales.

The partners have had to get past a few speed bumps in their latest venture, the biggest being the business slump after Sept. 11, 2001.

But business picked up in 2003 and has been very strong this year, Holmquist said. He added the outlook is strong for 2005 as well. Their goal over the next few years is to expand throughout the Southwest. About 90percent of the company's business still is based in the Valley, but Ensynch is eyeing possibilities in California, Nevada and Colorado, Holmquist said.

CONTACT WRITER: (480) 898-6537 or etaylor@aztrib.com

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