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Behind
the scenes, a small but fast-growing company called
Performance Software Corp. is taking part in cutting-edge
technology projects, such as the U.S Army's futuristic
combat uniform, "Scorpion."
Performance Software ranked 88th on Inc. magazine's
fastest-growing-companies list last year with revenue
growth of 1,625 percent from 1998 to 2002. The 45-person
company, founded six years ago by Tim Bigelow, expects
to record $6.5 million to $7 million in revenue this
year and grow at least another 15 percent.
The company pays its way by working as an outsourced
software programmer on large projects won by government
contractors or those that simply cannot be handled
by one company alone. Frequent clients are Honeywell
International, American Express, Level 3 and ConocoPhillips.
"We are very good at highly regulated developmental
software," said Bigelow, adding that to date
most work has been done for military or aerospace
customers.
Performance Software recently completed programming
in tandem with Exponent of Menlo Park, Calif., for
a demo of the U.S. Army's Scorpion uniform. Scorpion
-- under development through 2011 -- is being designed
as a computerized helmet combining GPS and joint tactical
radio for communication so the soldier knows where
his field mates are.
It also will provide data from field reports, maps
and weapon-mounted sensors during battle to a communications
hub off-field or in a military vehicle. Additionally,
Scorpion could help shooters confirm enemy targets
before shots are fired. Enemy combatants disguised
as U.S. military were a concern before the battle
on Bagdad last year.
Performance Software wrote the programming language
that integrated GPS and head tracking in a helmet
with a wrist-mounted monitor.
Together with Exponent, Performance Software developed
the system as proof-of-concept for the U.S. Army.
Exponent did not win the government contract to build
the final device.
Going forward, Performance Software expects more
business to come from outside Arizona. Roughly 75
percent of its revenue does now.
"The real issue here is that the larger corporate
base in Phoenix has continued to dwindle," Bigelow
said. "This town needs an uptick from another
industry, and that's why we're excited about biotech."
Bigelow believes there will be big opportunities
for software as it relates to integrated communications
and networking in the nanoscience/biotech arena.
For example, nanosensors could monitor a patient's
physiological condition and wirelessly communicate
that data to a decision maker, perhaps a nurse in
a hospital's intensive care unit.
Arizona's state universities will play a big role
in the biotech initiative, and Performance Software
already looks to the universities for interns -- employees
who are versed in the latest programming languages.
Raj Ghate, Performance Software's business development
director, said that the universities likely could
be a client source in the near future, too, as their
biotech programs mature and the schools continue to
win research grants.
Arizona State and University of Arizona earlier this
month were awarded a $44 million joint grant to develop
a flexible display that Army soldiers can carry in
the battle field. Key in winning that award for the
universities was the creation of the Applied NanoBioscience
center in the Arizona Biodesign Institute.
Bio or no bio, Performance Software already has a
strong reputation with past clients.
"We are constantly looking for ways to work
with (Performance Software) because of their expertise,"
said Dana Edwards, a managing engineer with Exponent
in Phoenix. He added that Performance Software has
a reputation for expertise in flight control programming
and flight management systems.
Bigelow said that what wins Performance Software
repeat customers is its methodology of continually
checking for wasteful language as they write a program,
combined with a corporate culture centered on personal
ownership.
"It really is a culture that demands and rewards
performance."
Get connected
Performance Software Corp.: 623-337-8003; www.psware.com.
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