Published: November 10, 2010
Avtex Acquires Convergent
MINNEAPOLIS - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Avtex Solutions, LLC announced today the acquisition of Convergent, a
technology solutions provider recognized nationally for its expertise in
Microsoft Unified Communications (UC) and storage solutions.
This announcement comes two months after the announced merger of Avtex
and Inetium, two technology firms of the Pohlad Family Companies. Under
the umbrella of the Pohlad Family Companies, the union of Convergent,
Inetium and Avtex is part of a broader strategy to integrate
complimentary technology organizations, building upon each set of
strengths to bring solutions and services to market.
Convergent, founded a decade ago by John Dusek, has built a solid
reputation and a loyal client base by applying technology solutions and
processes to improve employee productivity and company-wide efficiency.
By focusing on simplifying enterprise storage and streamlining
communications, the company quickly earned national recognition
including an elite status with Microsoft as one of the first enterprise
voice specialists with proven expertise in UC.
"By combining Convergent's proven skills in unified communications with
Avtex's core competency in contact centers and Inetium's SharePoint and
CRM experience, we are well positioned to impact the enterprise
communication and collaboration marketplace," said Dave Johnson who
serves as CEO of Avtex Solutions, LLC. and oversees the technology
holdings of Pohlad Family Companies.
The new Avtex will also be investing in innovation. A newly formed
innovation team made up of individuals from Inetium, Avtex and
Convergent is already at work developing solutions focusing on the core
platforms of Microsoft SharePoint, Lync, and Dynamics CRM.
According to Bob Denman, President of Avtex, "The acquisition of
Convergent is a key component in our strategy of delivering technology
solutions and services that optimize an organization's interactions with
customers, employees, partners and prospects. Convergent brings a deep
background in unified communications skills that are necessary for
success in the solutions business, adding another facet to our already
strong team."
"This move is the logical next step for our business," states Khai Tran,
CEO of Convergent Solutions. "Our close partnership with Microsoft gives
us the leverage to strategically roll out new solutions and products
that can literally revolutionize business interactions. As the new
Avtex, we can offer a deeper and broader solution set built around
proven products, services and communication-enabled business processes
(CEBP)."
Convergent will be moving into the newly expanded Avtex office space
located at 3500 American Blvd., Suite 300 in Bloomington, MN and will
also retain the customer briefing center located at 8300 Norman Center
Drive, Suite 220 Bloomington, MN. In addition, Avtex has locations in
Milwaukee, Appleton, Des Moines and Cincinnati. All told, the combined
firm will employ more than 220 people.
About Avtex
Acquired by Pohlad Family Companies in March
2008, Avtex is an application and systems integrator that designs,
develops, deploys and supports enterprise IP telephony, networking,
notification, messaging and contact center solutions enhancing business
processes and enabling organizations to embrace their customers,
partners and employees. For more information, visit www.avtex.com.
About Convergent
Convergent, a Minnesota-based technology
solution provider and one of the nation's most experienced providers of
Microsoft Unified Communications (UC), has a proven track record in
solving difficult IT challenges by aligning technology with business
strategy while understanding the realities of time, cost and resource
constraints. As a certified UC and Voice Specialized Partner of
Microsoft, Convergent assists its clients in leveraging advanced
technology solutions AND in gaining the most value from their IT
investment with a commitment to productivity, resiliency and security.
For more information, visit www.convergent-solutions.com.
About Inetium
Inetium is an award-winning Microsoft Gold
Certified partner. Acquired by Pohlad Family Companies in March 2006,
Inetium provides technology consulting services to both mid-sized and
large organizations throughout the United States. Inetium is committed
to increasing people and organizational productivity by providing IT
planning services, customer relationship management, business
productivity, IT infrastructure, managed services, application
development and creative services. Inetium maximizes the value of its
customers' technology investments by helping them properly align their
business and technology goals. For more information, visit www.inetium.com.
About Pohlad Family Companies
Founded and built by Carl R.
Pohlad, Pohlad Family Companies encompasses banking, financial services,
commercial real estate, retail, automotive, entertainment and technology
industries, as well as ownership of Major League Baseball's Minnesota
Twins. Based in Minneapolis, Pohlad Family Companies employs 3,500
people throughout 40 markets coast-to-coast. For more information, visit http://www.pohladcompanies.com/public/BusinessInterests.aspx.

For Avtex Solutions, LLC:
Michelle Siebert, 612-850-8540
(cell)
Propel Communications
michelle@propeltargetedmarketing.com
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