Rick Snide of Revolution Group
Meet Rick Snide, founder of
Revolution Group, a managed services provider.
What is Revolution Group?
Revolution Group is a company that focuses on helping businesses be more profitable and more competitive through the use of technology. We offer comprehensive IT solutions; including managed technology services and IT project management for small and medium-sized businesses. We have another division which specializes in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) consulting, implementation and integration.
How did you come up with the idea?
My partner Polly Clavijo and I have always been interested in technology and helping people. When we began the company in 1995, we saw that small and medium businesses in our area really needed services to better utilize technology.
What was the biggest surprise in starting your business?
The amount of administrative work required to keep a business running.
Where did you find your first employee?
For a few months, it was just Polly and me. I don’t remember where our first employee came from, but our second and third employees are still with us. We hired some people that we had worked with in the past, some came to us through customers and some through mutual friends.
What does a typical day in your business look like?
My morning typically consists of operation updates from each of our practice areas. I try to spend what’s left of my day on strategic planning. With 30 employees, everyone has a different focus, but everyone is busy assisting customers at different levels: from strategic planning and project management to help desk support.
What are some of the advantages to doing business in Ohio?
Central Ohio, in particular, is service-focused and is a dynamic business community.
What resources or organizations in Ohio did you take advantage of and how did they help?
I just became involved in Entrepreneur’s Organization and it is a great resource for connecting like-minded CEOs to share challenges and solutions.
Can you share a funny or amazing entrepreneurial experience with our readers?
I can’t really think of anything, other than the way Polly and I started the company. I won’t share the whole story. Let’s just say it involved tequila.
What inspires you?
I’m inspired by learning new things and sharing them with other people and using new knowledge to help others succeed.
What founders do you admire and why?
Steve Jobs. I mean, what can you say about Steve Jobs? An amazing, driven innovator that stayed true to his beliefs.
What’s next for you?
I’m still focused on the now. We have a lot of potential here to continue to grow and prosper and help the central Ohio business community.
Interview by Joe Baur