In 20 years as co-owner of Progressive Computing Inc., Robert Cioffi has seen the world of computing and IT turned upside down, with major advances made in technology.
Yet Cioffi, along with co-owner Ugo Chiulli, has managed to not only survive, but thrive. On Feb. 21, Progressive celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to promote its new 1,800-square-foot office on East Grassy Sprain Road in Yonkers. Progressive also has an office in Manhattan.
Cioffi and Chiulli started the business a couple of years after they graduated college, initially developing accounting software. With the popularity of networks exploding, they shifted their focus to installing networks and providing IT services for companies. In 2012, the company acquired Network Crazy, becoming one of the largest IT companies in Westchester.
The company focuses on small to midsize businesses in Westchester that have about 10 to 15 employees. Progressive, which has 15 employees, has worked with a wide range of companies including professional services, law firms and nonprofits.
“We”™re really not tied to a particular industry,” Cioffi said. “We learn from these industries. It”™s made us more resilient. One industry might be down but then another is up.”
Cioffi said he first noticed the world of computers changing in 1995. Before it was possible to know everything about PCs, since they were so basic and primitive. But now we live in a world with of companies like Progressive and new software and technology popping up overnight, he said.
“There are so many choices,” Cioffi said. “It will make your head spin. There”™s a certain level of discipline involved. What was available four to six months ago might not be available today. The technology is changing so rapidly that you”™re always questioning the choices you made.”
Cioffi joked that they own everything that has a blinking light, and companies get their responsibility and accountability for a fixed monthly price. Progressive also assists companies in picking software and developing relationships with vendors.
“We look for companies to consider us an integral part of their business,” Cioffi said. “We don”™t view our customers as clients, we call them partners. The word means so much more than just paying for services rendered.”
Progressive has more than 75 contract clients and 200 non-contract clients.
The company leans toward Microsoft products, though Cioffi is certified in Apple”™s mobile devices. Cioffi cautions against businesses that attempt to set up networks themselves in an attempt to save money.
“I”™ve seen the results of it,” Cioffi said. “Our services are not cheap, but you get a tremendous amount of value. I tell business owners that it is still costing you time, which is too valuable to be wasting on this. If you don”™t do it right, it”™s going to cost you anyway. If you”™re sick, you go to the doctor, if you”™re investing money, you talk to a financial advisor, during tax season you talk to an accountant. Why not apply the same thing to technology?”
The benefits of hiring a company like Progressive versus hiring someone to work in IT is that Progressive is always available, and even if dollar for dollar the price is the same, a company would not have any benefit costs.
“We don”™t go on vacation, we don”™t get sick,” Cioffi said. “A single IT person doesn”™t have the depth or experience. Sometimes it makes more sense to outsource, even if you”™re not saving hard dollars.”
