Nexxtep named Small Business of the Year

Published 11:43 pm Saturday, May 12, 2007

VALDOSTA — Nexxtep Technology Services Inc., a professional services firm specializing in technology consulting for small and mid-sized business, was named 2007 Small Business of the Year by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce during the chamber’s annual “Salute To Small Business” breakfast celebration at the Valdosta Country Club last week.

Nexxtep (www.nexxtepinc.com) was among nine local small businesses that were honored for their outstanding achievement and entrepreneurial spirit at the Thursday event that filled the country club’s banquet room with local business representatives. The Small Business of The Year is based on several factors, including employee staying power, responses to adversity, growth and core values.

“We were honored and shocked,” Nexxtep President Paul Nichols said after the award was announced. “There were a lot of good businesses in there. We were pleased just to be nominated. We didn’t expect to win. It’s great.”

First runner-up for the award is Pinnacle Prime Contractors Inc., founded in 1997 by Walt Gill and wife Tracey. Pinnacle employs 100 full- and part-time employees after starting with just three employees and a borrowed truck. The company provides construction services locally.

Second runner-up is Classic Art and Frame, which began in March 1979 when Carla Mitchell Penny purchased the old Frame House in downtown Valdosta. Classic Art and Frame has gone from being a do-it-yourself frame shop to the custom frame shop it is today, and has opened a second location in Tifton.

Other nominees included Herndon Company Real Estate Inc., Barker Realty and Auction Co. Inc., Eye Associates of South Georgia LLC, Garden Villas Extended Stay Suites and Hotels, Home Instead Senior Care, and Prudential ACS Real Estate.

Nexxtep, in winning the honor, receives a plaque and a prize package from the Chamber worth more than $2,000.

The home-grown Nexxtep was started by Nichols, a CPA who graduated from Valdosta High School and Valdosta State University, and Stuart Avera, vice president, who hails from Adel. The firm now employs 14 full-time employees and one part-time employee, and has added two more partners, Senior Systems Engineer Bart Shiver and Chief Technology Officer Ryan Williams.

“We had all worked together before at a CPA firm in Valdosta,” Nichols said. “We started Nexxtep because we saw the need for a local technology development provider. We took off on our own venture and have pretty much been non-stop since. Most of our clients are local, but we have expanded our business to include clients in South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, California, Florida and Texas.”

Jodi Doss, a member of the chamber’s award selection committee, said she was impressed by Nexxtep’s fast growth in such a short time period. “Also impressive is the desire to employ local college and university graduates in good paying professional jobs — one of the Chamber’s top goals,” Doss said.

Nexxtep also garnered the top recognition for innovations brought to the community. In 2006, for example, Nexxtep launched its N-Care suite of managed service products, becoming the first service provider in the area to offer such services. In 2007, Nexxtep began offering implementation and training on the VoiP phone system, and integration of the systems with their clients’ data base systems.

The firm also was honored for its core values of integrity, trust and professionalism.

Nichols said the firm continues to grow and is adding three more full-time employees in July.