'Solutions integrator' catching on fast

A three-week-old company is making a go of being a "solutions integrator"

in the government market.

William McSweeney, president and chief executive officer of the company,

said his business combines systems integration and information technology

consulting expertise for public-sector customers.

Other companies have tried solutions integration, but Chicago-based Amitex

already boasts the Department of Veterans Affairs and numerous local governments

as clients, McSweeney said.

"We understand our clients' needs and apply IT to advance their missions,"

McSweeney said during an interview this week at the GovTech trade show in

Washington, D.C. "We're focused on the public sector and some education.

All of our staff has government experience, and we should be on the GSA

schedule by the end of the summer."

For the VA, Amitex is providing network diagnostics and is offering thin-client/server

solutions and data storage systems to hospitals in the Midwest.

The company also has teaming agreements with Unisys Corp. and SBC Communications

Inc. and hopes to extend those partnerships in the future, McSweeney said.

"We're in the initial stages of everything," he said. "As a small company,

we're really focused on advancing the mission of our government clients,

not just on selling boxes."

Sales and technology training are top priorities in the near term for Amitex's

nine employees and future staff, McSweeney said.