SaberSource head found his career footing in the Marine - By Peter Key

If it weren't for the Marine Corps, Jeff Lipson might not be CEO of SaberSource, a joint venture that information-technology consulting firm Lantium and software developer E-SoftSys. kicked off last August.

Lipson started out majoring in computer science at Villanova University, but changed his major to history.

After graduating in 1992, he went into the Marines, where he fixed his commanding officer’s laptop computer. From then on, he was “a communications Marine.” While he was stationed at Willow Grove, the Marine Corps paid for him to take courses at Penn State Great Valley, where he got a master’s degree in management information systems.

Lipson was discharged in 1997, but remained a reservist and was called up in 2004 to go to Iraq, where he helped build a communications network in Fallujah.

When he returned to the area in 2005, he resumed his job as chief information officer for Philadelphia accounting firm Parente Randolph. He also began talking about trends in IT with a friend from Villanova, Lantium founder Jeff Middleton. The two concluded that there would be a good market for a network-management and software development firm that targeted midsize companies.

Lantium had the network-management component. And E-SoftSys, whose president and CEO, Kat Shenoy, Middleton knew, had the software development component. So Lipson and Middleton got Shenoy involved in their conversations and the result was SaberSource.

Although SaberSource is operating as a combination of Lantium and E-SoftSys with their 125 staffers, those two companies are still being accounted for as separate profit-and-loss centers for now. All three companies are based in Blue Bell.

SaberSource won’t disclose sales figures, but Michael Persiano, a veteran tech executive who was recently hired as its chief marketing officer, said the company expects to double the revenue that Lantium and E-SoftSys racked up last year.

SaberSource^TM Hires CMO
Michael Persiano Joins Provider of Outsourced IT Infrastructure Management Services

Blue Bell, PA. - December 19, 2007. SaberSource^TM, a joint venture with E-SoftSys^TM and Lantium^TM and provider of outsourced IT infrastructure management services to the middle- market enterprise, today announced Michael Persiano has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer. Persiano comes to SaberSource from Baltimore-based Fusion Sales Partners, where he served as Vice President of Marketing and supported Fusion's ascent to number one position in the sales outsourcing industry. He brings more than 20 years of integrated marketing, brand management, public relations and business development experience in the public and private sectors.

"We are delighted to have Michael on board as our Chief Marketing Officer. His ability to drive revenue growth and brand awareness through guerrilla tactics and creative marketing campaigns will significantly contribute to our company's short- and long-term growth initiatives," said Jeffrey Lipson, Chief Executive Officer, SaberSource. "Michael will play a key role as we expand our national presence and launch our outsourced solutions for help desk support, remote server and network maintenance, and IT consulting."

"The complexity and support requirements for today's IT environment have created a demand for outsourced infrastructure management services, particularly in the middle-market enterprise. Our best prospects are seeking a partner who brings an expansive knowledge base as well as the ability to analyze the current state, implement progressive solutions, and support the entire infrastructure," said Michael Persiano, Chief Marketing Officer, SaberSource. "Winning in today's IT outsourcing industry is about aligning the client's IT investment with business goals, processes, services, and budget. That's what SaberSource is all about. Jeffrey has assembled an impressive line up of directors and executives to accelerate SaberSource's market penetration. I'm pleased to be a part of the SaberSource team."

Prior to his role at Fusion Sales Partners, Persiano served as Vice President of Marketing at Satori Group, Director of Marketing at FullTilt Solutions, Corporate Director of Marketing and Communications at DecisionOne Corporation, and Senior Division Manager in Business Development at Computer Sciences Corporation.

For more information, contact: Dolores Clements
SaberSource
Phone: 877-SABER91, x 205
Email: dclements@sabersource.com