Evolving new technologies with Dave Sobel '97
April 11, 2008
BY ERIC W. PESOLA
Dave Sobel '97 started Evolve Technologies way back in 1996 as a company to host Web sites. Since then, Evolve has grown into a one-stop shop for small business computing needs, and an award-winning outfit serving the Washington, D.C. area's consulting and IT needs, as well as the rest of the nation's. We caught up with Dave after a busy week...
Tell us a little bit about Evolve Technologies, and tell us what you do as CEO.
Evolve Technologies offers customized IT solutions, focused on the small business. Most small businesses cannot afford to hire an entire IT department, and those that can, often struggle with training, upgrades, and keeping up with new technologies. We enable customers to utilize an entire IT department, from chief technology officer to front line help-desk support, with the right amount of service for their needs. We're based in Fairfax, Va., and we focus on the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, with new services and offerings now available from anywhere in the country. For example, Evolve provides the resources and support for our clients to access pertinent company files and e-mail at any time of the day or night with our comprehensive virtual office capabilities.
As CEO, my role is to lead the company, setting vision, direction and tone. I have developed a management staff who deliver our services on a daily basis, and focus my efforts on our vendor interactions, networking with the larger industry, determining Evolve's message and service offerings, and overseeing the financial aspects of the organization.
What about your company makes it unique in the marketplace?
Evolve focuses on delivering fixed-fee services to small businesses, with an approach on "pro-active" services rather than the typical reactive "break-fix" model of computer support. We use technology and automation to ensure that our customers' systems run as smoothly as possible, detecting and repairing problems before they become critical and damaging to the business. To be effective, we focus heavily on repeatable processes, ensuring that our team follows clear procedures and policies. Our customers have an entire IT department at their disposal, not simply a single consultant.
Tell us about the recognition the company received not too long ago.
In 2006, Evolve was named by Microsoft as finalist for Partner of the Year for the Sales and Marketing in the Small Business Specialist Category. Winners were chosen from a pool of more than 1,800 entrants worldwide. The award is for partners that demonstrate innovation in a leading Microsoft-based technology solution in a business with 50 or fewer employees or fewer than 25 PCs. Evolve Technologies was recognized as demonstrating a deep understanding of small businesses' unique needs and developing systems that have significantly affected its customers' businesses.
A few years back, people were predicting the Network Computer (NC), which was essentially a monitor and a keyboard and all data and applications are housed on servers or on the Internet, would eventually replace all PCs. That didn't quite work out, but companies like Google are slowly pushing the concept forward. Do you think that we'll get there one day?
I'm frequently amused by the idea that any one solution will completely overcome all previous solutions. Each year, some new industry solution is pushed as the latest, best thing to overtake all others. The idea of the network computer is one that has been around since the mainframe days, with terminals connecting in to access a central computer. I have customers now who use Windows Terminal Services in this way, where their staff is using what is essentially a monitor and keyboard only with all data in a central repository. Even now, products like the iPhone combine the combination of local data and networked data into a comprehensive solution.
I'm a firm believer in the right solution for the right problem, and that no solution solves every problem. When the network computer was first envisioned in that form, the Internet simply wasn't as available as it is now. This situation will only improve, and as network connectivity improves, so will our ability to offer services based on it.
Where do you want to take the company? What is your vision for the next 5 years?
One of the reasons I entered into the technology field was the fact that it's constantly changing and advancing. I have two visions for Evolve. The first is to continue to be a leader in the implementation and development of technology solutions in the small business space. We work closely with our vendor partners to provide training, and actively reach out to the education community to develop internship programs and educational opportunities.
My other vision for Evolve is to expand our business consulting efforts, with the goal of delivering the type of consulting services that large firms enjoy, to the small business community. For the small business, technology investments can make or break them, and can sometimes provide even more dramatic difference in business operations than for the large, Fortune 500 company. The business process consulting services, that have generally been available only to large companies, can offer a profound impact, and I believe that to be the next step in Evolve's growth.
WiMax, or the next generation of wireless technology that is supposed to provide wireless data over long distances, is predicted to be the next big thing and will change how we communicate. Do feel that WiMax will be a game changer?
As a specific technology, I don't think that WiMax is the single "game changer." I do believe that ubiquitous Internet access will change the way business is done. Even now, my ability to be productive "from anywhere, at any time" has dramatically changed the way I work and the level of productivity I can achieve. I recently traveled to New York City for the day on business, and was productive the entire time. On the train, I was fully connected to our corporate resources, communicating with my staff in real-time. From the streets of New York, I was guided to my meetings by real-time travel information on my handheld, participated in a conference call with customers back in D.C., and even managed to find my dinner destination with friends from W&M before returning to D.C. WiMax is the next generation of the technologies we use today, and will not be the final phase of development.
How did your W&M experience prepare you for guiding the helm of a company?
My leadership and communication skills were firmly developed during my years at W&M. Among many things, I value my ability to communicate, which I think was really developed during my time as a student. To this day, my relationships that I made as a student are some of the strongest in my life, and I learned a number of lessons about leadership that I use on a daily basis.
We hear that you're very involved in W&M alumni activities. Tell us what you've been up to with your fellow alumni.
I've always valued my William and Mary friendships very highly, and continue to be involved with fellow alumni. For several years, I was both vice chair and then chair of the communications committee for the Greater Washington, D.C. Metro Chapter of the Alumni Association, as well as serving on the board of directors. I stepped down from the board as Evolve continued to grow, but continue to attend W&M events in the D.C. area.
Informally, I've kept close ties to my William and Mary friends, both here in Washington and around the country, using my business trips as an opportunity to reconnect. I even met my wife through a William and Mary connection -- we met at a Gonzo's Nose show, a D.C. cover band founded by four close friends from William and Mary.
Tell us about your family.
I met my wife Sharon in 1999, and we were married in 2003, in a ceremony and reception full of W&M faces. We live in Fairfax, Va., with our cat, Sadie. My wife also owns her own business doing video production. My five siblings are spread across the country, with most in Virginia, and my parents live in Suffolk, Va., giving me the ability to stop in at Paul's Deli for a Hot Holly on my way to visit them.
