ICS Advantage Acquires Indianapolis Networking Services Business
Second acquisition in two months part of ICS growth strategy

AURORA, IL April 12, 2005:

Jeff Rudolph, President of ICS Advantage, LLC, a leading Chicago area technology services provider, announced the purchase of the networking services assets of DataShare Corporation, an Indianapolis firm founded in 1991. The combined company will operate as ICS Advantage. The office will  focus on networking services and will  offer the leading mid-market business software from Microsoft Business Solutions, namely Navision, Great Plains and Microsoft CRM. With this acquisition, ICS Advantage will have approximately 65 employees in three offices: Aurora, IL; Springfield, IL; and Indianapolis, IN. The firm acquired Computer Application Solutions, Inc., Springfield, IL, in February 2005. 

Rudolph said that Ryan Overtoom, Manager Network Services, will be in charge of the Indianapolis office. Overtoom has been an employee for six years. During that time, he spent two years managing the firm’s Springfield office.  He is a certified Cisco, Microsoft and Citrix engineer with a strong background in management. Overtoom and his family will reside in Indianapolis. 

ICS Advantage is the top ranking software firm in a three-state area for Microsoft Business Solutions and networking software and one of the few in Illinois and Indiana that can offer the complete suite of Microsoft  Business Solutions. The firm offers mid-market companies enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions and customer relationship management (CRM) software. In addition to these and other packaged software, ICS Advantage provides a complete suite of services including network integration and custom software development services.  

DataShare Corporation is a network integration firm with a reputation for on-time and within budget projects. With a staff of certified network professionals, DataShare provides expert integration services for complex multi-protocol, multi-platform Local- and Wide-Area Network installations and is also a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider.

Rudolph said, “We are confident that the acquisition of the DataShare networking service business will benefit the clients of both firms. Our staff has very complimentary technical skills on similar platforms. We anticipate we will be able to leverage cost efficiencies and compete more effectively in the technology solutions marketplace. DataShare’s reputation for understanding each client's operation and communication needs before proposing technical solutions is at the core of our philosophy. We believe this acquisition will add to the growing list of benefits that ICS Advantage provides its clients, employees and business partners.”

Background

ICS Advantage, LLC, a member firm of Sikich Group, LLC, is one of the area’s leading technology consulting firms.  The firm was founded in 1990 as a computer consulting firm specializing in custom software design. It has been a Microsoft Certified Partner since 1996, and in 1998, the firm completed the strenuous requirements to become a Solution Center for Navision software. This designation further expands the company’s ability to provide end-to-end solutions that tie into the Internet and desktop applications. Today, ICS Advantage provides a comprehensive array of computer infrastructure services, including planning, procurement, implementation, software development, and network management. The firm applies and supports leading technologies for business as well as creates solutions and upgrades the systems that keep large and small companies competitive. The firm’s web site is www.icsadvantage.com.

Through its members, Sikich Group, LLC, offers a full range of multidisciplinary consulting services in the fields of accounting, taxation, operations and management consulting, entrepreneurial services, information technology, corporate finance, insurance, human resources, marketing, and asset management to individuals, middle market corporations, and government/non-profit organizations throughout the Midwest. Member firms of the Group employ more than 200 people with offices located in Aurora, Barrington, Springfield, and Westmont, IL.  Visit Sikich Group at www.sikich.com.

Press Contact:  Paula J. Bidlake
630-566-8530
paulab@sikich.com