The area needs more entrepreneurs like Gregg Tushaus

He started 2 companies and created hundreds of jobs

June 29, 2011

Gregg Tushaus is an entrepreneur's entrepreneur. He started Tushaus Computer Services, a technology consultancy, in the business incubator at the Milwaukee County Research Park in 1993. In 1995 he co-founded Advanced Cabling Solutions, which he sold in 1999. Today, Tushaus Computer has its offices at the heart of Wauwatosa's tech economy: on Innovation Drive.

In between, Advance Cabling served his consulting clients. He was able to grow Advanced to more than 35 employees with revenues exceeding $2.5 million in 1998 before he sold. Tushaus grew his Computer Services company so quickly that the Council of Small Business Executives, through the Metropolitan Association of Commerce, selected it as a Future 50 company in 1996, 1997 and 1998, when it reached Master Metal status. Advance Cabling was selected as a Future 50 company in 1998 and 1999. He was the first person to be listed twice on the Future 50 in the same year as president and chief executive officer of two separate companies.

By the time he sold Tushaus Computer Services last week to Dedicated Computing, a Pewaukee-based computer designer and maker, he had grown it to more than 140 employees with revenues exceeding $32 million. More than 25 of those employees were added since Jan. 1.

He's been able to grow by staying ahead of technology trends. Tushaus Computer Services opened a second cloud hosting center in Appleton this past spring. The first is in Wauwatosa.

Built with state-of-the-art security and environmental standards, the center provides services for the hosting of essential business applications, off-site storage for clients' critical data and dedicated hardware.

Growing in Fox Valley

"We believe the creation of a second cloud hosting center in the Fox Valley demonstrates our commitment to growth and enhanced client support," said Jack Gebhardt, president of Tushaus.

Tushaus also relocated and consolidated its Oshkosh and Green Bay sales and service offices to the Appleton facility in an effort to provide enhanced service and more customized solutions to clients in the northeastern part of the state.

Tushaus has been honored recently for his entrepreneurial skill. He was featured this year at BizStarts Milwaukee's Inspirational Entrepreneur event. The entrepreneur award is presented to Milwaukee-area business leaders who have successfully established thriving companies.

He also was recognized for his dynamic and innovative leadership with the 2011 Bravo! Entrepreneur Award based on his accomplishments, vision, innovation and devotion to his workforce, clients and the community.

An accomplished manager

For all the technological knowledge Tushaus brings to the new company, he has proven to be an effective manager and executive as well. Often, the entrepreneur who starts a business is not the person who can grow it and add professional management, but Tushaus has shown executive acumen. In fact, he also serves as vice president of information services at the Medical College of Wisconsin and has served as a director of the UWM Foundation for nearly three years.

As Tushaus continues his work at the Medical College and begins work as chief technology officer of Dedicated Computing, three new Wauwatosa businesses have made this year's Future 50 list:

JSO Technology LLC, 10437 Technology Drive, an IT consultant and service provider, made the list for the first time in 2011.

MARS IT Corp., also at 10437 Technology Drive, an IT staffing and services provider, made the list for the second year.

Affinity Inc., a provider of information technology services, reached Master Metal status for making the list for the third year.

Let's hope they all continue to be successful and all reach the level Gregg Tushaus has reached.

Robert Warde is a freelance business writer living in Wauwatosa. He has been a journalist for more than 27 years and a business journalist for the past 16 years. Reach him at robert.warde@yahoo.com.

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