Longleaf Systems, one of Triad Business Journal’s 2020 Fast 50 companies, has merged with Greensboro-based Triad Tech Services to form The Longleaf Network (TLN).
Together, the companies have nearly 30 years of experience providing IT consulting and managed services to clients in the Triad as well as nationwide. With this new organizational structure, Triad Tech Services (TTS) and the newly created Tekdesk unit will operate as distinct divisions. TTS will focus chiefly on the Triad while Tekdesk will serve national clients.
“We had settled in on the idea that partnering with another local MSP (managed services provider) was strategically advantageous for us because of our national focus,” said Harvey McLendon, the founder of Longleaf Systems, who will serve as CEO of Tekdesk and chief technology officer of recently founded TLN.
Trey Miller, founder and CEO of Triad Tech Services, will serve as CEO of The Longleaf Network.
As a result of this 50/50 partnership, McLendon said they will be able to streamline operations and offer additional capabilities to clients.
For Triad Tech Services, the partnership provides the company with support to face what would have been a challenging several years trying to go it alone, according to Miller.
“If we can continue to execute the way we have for the rest of this year, then we’ll end 2021 somewhere between two and four years more mature as a company than we would have been without the merger,” Miller said.
Rounding out The Longleaf Network’s executive team are Tamara McLendon, who will serve as chief financial officer, and Brian Kelly, who will serve as the company’s chief operating officer.
McLendon said that Longleaf grew about 43% last year and is on track to grow 30% in 2021. Miller said Triad Tech Services also saw substantial growth last year, with a 25% increase in business, and is on track for a similar performance this year.
TLN’s strategy for sustained growth is to add more MSP members in cities similar to Greensboro.
“One of our goals is to partner with companies like ours. The Longleaf Systems of Knoxville or the Triad Tech Services of Savannah,” Miller said.
“We see Longleaf as a dignified exit strategy for MSP owners who don’t want to just close shop or get consolidated by a private-equity firm,” McLendon said. “These owners want to keep their current teams and clients happy and may want to still serve in an advisory role through their company’s transition.”
Despite this growth, challenges remain for the company.
“It’s the story you’ll hear from every small businessperson who’s growing out there – labor,” McLendon said.
When the company was smaller, with around 10 employees, it was difficult to attract people from larger corporations. But even still as the company nears 50 employees, the battle of trying to be competitive with benefits and compensation hasn’t gotten any better.
“There’s no lack or shortage of work, there’s no lack of shortage of opportunity. It’s all about being able to deliver and having resources available,” McLendon said.
Triad Tech Services was founded in 2006 and has been operating in the Triad as an IT MSP for the last nine years. Longleaf Systems has been operating both regionally and nationally since 2007.
