AmerITGrads, a localcompany formed by Penn College alumni, received the "Emerging Business Award" from the Lock Haven Small Business Development Center and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday afternoon.
On hand to receive the award were AmerITGrads employees Daniel R. Little, CEO; Christopher J. Suzadail, vice president; Jonathan W. Basiago, senior programming engineer; and Robert M. "Spyke" Krepshaw, senior graphic designer. All are graduates of the college's School of Business and Computer Technologies; Little and Krepshaw also are Penn College employees, and the company already has hired two college alumni.
"This company hopes to help Williamsport grow into an exciting future," said Tim Keohane, director of the SBDC, who presented the award during the Chamber's 121st annual meeting at the Holiday Inn. "They want to give back to the community wherever possible." Requirements for the award include Chamber membership and being in business forfewer than five years.
Keohane noted that the company's owner-employees have an average age below 25, but that they have "demonstrated their capabilities to see beyond what others may view as insurmountable obstacles."
AmerITGrads has helped produce a suite of products for running digital signage on 40 current locations, providing the software to upload, store and play videos on any size screen with online connectivity that enables the images to be controlled from anywhere that provides an Internet hookup.
"Pretty cool stuff for recent (Penn College) graduates who decided to make a name for themselves here in Lycoming County instead of heading off to those so-called 'greener pastures,' " Keohane said.