 Now, in the year 2007, his commute to work is a pleasant walk across
the park, Latham Park in downtown Lincoln. He goes to work each day
in one of downtown Lincoln's historic buildings that he beautifully
renovated to house the business.
Integrity Data has its permanent home at 110 N. Kickapoo St., and
today Doolin has more than witnessed his vision and goal being
reached -- and he gets to see it happen every day he goes to work.
Integrity Data began by building custom software enhancements for
companies using the Great Plains financial management software.
Great Plains Software was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in 2001
and is now sold under the Microsoft Dynamics GP brand. With a target
group of companies that range from 250-2,500 employees, Integrity
Data found themselves providing the same services for most
companies. In simple terms, different businesses, but the same
business needs. Once a company would purchase the Microsoft Dynamics
GP software, they would then hire a company such as Integrity Data
to come in and "make the software do what it needs to do for the
entire company," explained David Salander, Integrity Data
development manager.
After a time, the company began to concentrate more on the
payroll and human resources functionality of the software. That is
where the highest demand was for the software customization. And
with their strong focus on customer care and people satisfaction,
they were meeting that high demand.
The business timeline for Integrity Data proves successes
throughout but also proves the value of a lot of old-fashioned hard
work and strong determination.
"When I first spoke to Patrick, before I came to work for
Integrity Data, it wasn't about getting rich. It was about growing a
great business," Salander said. And after a decade of growing, a
great business is exactly what they have to show.
Integrity Data timeline
-
As mentioned
above, the company was born in the late part of 1996. Patrick
moved back to the Lincoln area in 1998 with his wife, April,
also a Lincoln native, their children and a growing business in
tow.
-
In the year 2000,
Integrity Data purchased and renovated the former Schick's
Clothing store on the square in downtown Lincoln and launched
the marketing for their very first software package.
-
The company began
to focus more and more on the human resources and payroll side
of the software in 2003.
-
An even brighter
horizon started to show itself in 2005 when Integrity Data
landed a significantly large account that was strategic to
Microsoft. Microsoft needed Integrity Data's products to meet
the needs of their client and to close the deal and obtain the
account.
-
Also in 2005,
Integrity Data obtained the Microsoft Gold Certification, the
highest level of certification offered by Microsoft.
-
The year 2006 was
a booming one for the company, when the staff doubled in size,
as well as the revenue, with profits soaring 200 percent.
[to top of second column]
Dave Salander,
director of development services (software customization), came to
Integrity Data with 20-plus years experience in the contract
engineering services industry.
Training class for field representatives
|
-
In the fall of
2006, Microsoft approached Integrity Data and began negotiations
on an agreement that would allow Microsoft to acquire the rights
to market and distribute Integrity Data's products as a
Microsoft product under the Microsoft Dynamics GP brand.
-
A deal was signed
between Microsoft and Integrity Data in February 2007, and on
March 10 Microsoft officially announced their licensing
relationship with Integrity Data at their annual customer
conference in San Diego, Calif. This agreement fully
incorporates Integrity Data's products and programming services
to improve the Microsoft Dynamics GP human resources and payroll
solution for all Microsoft Dynamics GP users worldwide.
A relationship like this begins with years of quality service
provided to Microsoft and the Microsoft customers. "Microsoft sees
that so many of their customers using their product need Microsoft
and Integrity Data to fully utilize their software," states Dan
Doolin, director of sales and marketing and brother to Patrick. "So
along comes a licensing partnership to enhance the product even
greater for the customers."
He added, "And we're doing this in Lincoln, Ill. It is the ideal,
to live in Lincoln, where I was born and raised, and to be able to
have a career like this right here."
This observation is shared by Patrick Doolin as well, who states,
"The drive I have is not to be a big, huge company, but to have a
business that can be used as a tool that can provide a certain
quality of life for our employees and provides excellent products
and services to our customers."
With over a decade of substantial business growth, Patrick Doolin
credits his employees entirely for the success, and he focuses on
the quality of life for his employees just as much. "It's really
about them," he said. "We have an absolutely awesome group of
employees that are highly skilled in what they do and continually
focus on excellence and efficiency. You don't come across a team
like this every day that is as dedicated and loyal. And we are not a
traditional company to work for. We feel that your work is not your
life, but a part of your life. Work should come after God and
family."
He adds, "We are here creating an atmosphere that you are excited
to be a part of every day, that provides each employee with an
opportunity to excel and where everyone shares a dedication to
excellence."
Terry McClellan, director of operations, added, "I've been with
Integrity Data since 2001. It excited me when Patrick approached me
about his vision. Everyone has worked hard to make it a reality, and
each year we reflect on the accomplishments we have made and plan
for what is next. Who would have ever thought a small group of
people in Lincoln, Ill., would be able to do this kind of work for
Microsoft that is recognized around the world. It has been
incredible."
[Janell Wibben]
Integrity Data
employees pictured left to right are Keith Schmidt, an
implementation consultant in the Client Services Department;
Jennifer Craig, who heads up the support services (help desk)
efforts; Patrick Doolin, president and CEO; and Tom Franz, quality
assurance coordinator working within the Development Services
Department. They are discussing how to improve the functionality of
Dynamics GP software for the end user.
Dennis Collins is the IT department for Integrity Data. He has over 20 years in
information technology. |
