THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604170131
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 01E EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Business
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
When Virginia Business Magazine compiled its annual list of the 50 fastest-growing small businesses in the state, Chesapeake's Management Systems Applications (MSA) was on it.
The magazine ranked MSA as the 13th fastest-growing small company in Virginia from 1992-1994.
MSA is a technical and management services company. The company provides other businesses with consulting, computer network design, installation and support of electronic security systems and video-teleconferencing.
``When we get a client, we visit the site and analyze the needs,'' said Tim Bowling, vice president of business development.
``For example, if we're hired to provide a company with a security system, we look at the building's design, all the exits and entrances and other factors. Then we'll decide what the best set-up would be for that company.''
MSA's clients are primarily small to mid-sized companies as well as government agencies. One recent client was none other than the White House.
For more than four years, MSA has been immersed in the security, surveillance and access control of the president's heliport facility.
For the project, MSA provided technical services on the heliport's engineering plans, security and surveillance system and vulnerability analysis.
MSA was founded by Frances Havens in 1979. Chesapeake is the corporate headquarters of the company and regional offices are located in Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and Nevada. MSA also has offices in Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Panama and Japan.
MSA employees just don't recommend high-tech security and computer systems, they use them as well.
``We make a point of putting the products to work here,'' Bowling said.
One piece of technology that's widely popular with MSA employees and clients is the C-Phone, a video-teleconferencing system. At the click of a mouse, Bowling can converse with his secretary, face-to-face over his computer monitor.
``Video-teleconferencing is a necessary partner for people who do business in a global environment,'' said Bowling. ``If you save just one international flight, you've paid for the system.''
Recently, MSA was awarded a bid from the government to provide the National Institute of Heatlh with an electronic computer store on the World Wide Web. MSA was one of 17 companies that offer their products on-line to NIH. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Tim Bowling, vice president of business development for Management
Systems Applications, demonstates video-conferencing.
JUST THE FACTS
Product: Computer and security services
Location: Greenbrier Industrial Park
Number of employees: 16 in Chesapeake; 256 worldwide
1992-1994 growth: 110 percent
1994 revenue: $34.3 million
by CNB