CyberStars 2002: honoring Indiana's information-technology stars.

• Author: McKimmie, Kathy
• Position: Cover Story - Grow INdiana Media Ventures, Logikos, NoInk Communications, Ontario Systems Corp.

The Indiana Information Technology Association has been promoting growth in the state's high-tech since 1991. For the last three years it's been shining a spotlight on a handful of cutting-edge companies, products and individuals in five categories through the Indiana CyberStar Awards. The 2002 celebration in May attracted some 600 IT supporters to the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT AWARD

Ontario Systems Corp., Muncie

ontariosystems.com

Ontario Systems Corp. is the country's leading provider of third-party receivables-management products. A wholly owned subsidiary of Ontario Corp. in Muncie since 1995, the Company was originally started by president Wilbur Davis and Ron Fauquher in 1980 as Compusoft. Its ever-evolving software and telephony systems have helped turn some collection agencies--formerly going after only charged-off debt--into full-service receivables-management companies able to handle billing and receivables on an outsourced basis with its FACS suite of automated collection products.

With its CT Vision software, Ontario Systems also provides tools and support for customers that originate their own credit--such as banks, hospitals, utilities and leasing companies--making collections easier and faster. Working with both the FACS and CT Vision software packages is GC Compact PCI, a predictive dialer that screens no-answers, busy signals, answering machines and disconnected numbers to send only answered calls to account reps, greatly increasing productivity.

Since 1995, the company has grown from 140 employees to 400 today: 350 in Muncie, the rest in Ohio and Washington. That's not the explosive growth that other IT companies have experienced, says Davis, so Ontario Systems hasn't had a problem finding enough talented people to fill those jobs. He believes the strong flow of applicants comes from the fact that he's in a college town with Ball State and close to Purdue, Indiana University, and smaller schools providing good tech programs such as Taylor, Anderson and Indiana Wesleyan.

After they come, however, the Ontario Systems University takes over to provide the specific training in software and products that's "ahead of what's offered in the schools," he says. "There's a large learning curve before you can really be a productive employee," and the training is all part of the company's commitment to attracting and rewarding people with a long-term career in mind.

GAZELLE COMPANY

NoInk...