LOCAL FIRM IS RANKS #81 IN CDN’S TOP 100 SOLUTION PROVIDERS FOR 2006 AND AWARDED THE NEWCOMER AWARD

Kamloops, BC –Voda Computer Systems Ltd. has done it again. The company was ranked one of Canada’s Top 100 Solution Providers and received the Newcomer award by Canadian Dealer News (CDN). The award is based on 2005 revenue.

Last year, Canadian Business Magazine ranked Voda number 41 in its Hot 50: Canada’s Emerging Growth Companies list. And, at the 2005 Channel Elite Awards in Toronto, Voda scooped Silver for creating one of the Best Channel Marketing Initiatives in Canada.

In only its fifth year of business, Voda is now the leading supplier of computer hardware, networks and related services in Southern British Columbia. The company has shown consistent, steady growth since its start-up in 2001. Voda’s core business focuses on helping small, mid-sized and large organizations to select, purchase and implement industry-leading information technologies.

Andrew Watson and Mark Zienowicz, Voda’s founding partners, attribute the company’s success to a strong focus on customer service.

“Our strategy has always been to stay focussed on our customers,” says Watson. “We treat every client request, regardless of whether it’s from a small or large customer, as though it’s urgent. We always have an extra technician available to respond to client needs right away. We’ve also developed a speciality for being able to understand our clients’ information technology issues and assist them to implement innovative products that help their businesses to grow.”

“The process translates into significant savings on high availability, high price storage devices,” says Zienowicz. “The management component of the ILM also allows companies to archive data in an exact method which complies with all of the newest data regulations coming out of the US.”

He says Voda isn’t afraid to invest heavily in staff training.

“We are one of the few companies in the interior that services the enterprise level customer, so we’ve invested in high end computer training like Legato courses, VMware training and we’re going through our Cisco premier authorization program – all expensive things to do,” says Watson.

He says the company’s strategy is just common sense, but it’s having uncommon results.

“Our customers are showing us, through their loyalty, that they appreciate our approach,” adds Zienowicz.

He says the recognition the company is receiving from the industry is also a great residual benefit. “It’s quite an honour for us, being a relatively small town company, to be recognized so often within our industry,” says Zienowicz. “It just reinforces that we’re doing the right things.”

The company has strong local B.C. roots, but is looking to stretch its branches across the nation. “Our vision is to be a nationwide company,” Watson says.

Watson accepted the CDN Top 100 honour on behalf of the company’s 32 employees. “It’s been an exceptional five years and we owe our success to the people on our team. Everyone here has had a hand in helping Voda succeed,” he says.

Watson adds that Voda Computer System’s growth is evidence that companies don’t have to be located in a large metropolitan centre to achieve phenomenal growth. “No matter where you are and what business you are in, you can make your company grow. All you need is the right drive, the right people and the right goals.”

Voda Computer Systems is featured in the April 2006 issue of Computer Dealer Magazine.