*Secondary Locations in Davenport, IA; Columbus, OH; Washington, DC; Tampa, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Raleigh, NC.
On April 14th, 2020, ICONMA will celebrate our 20th anniversary! Claudine George, CEO and Co-Founder, started ICONMA with Sat Yalamanchili, Dak Kuchi, and Tracey LaRowe by her side, with Dana Gadette joining the ICONMA team soon after. ICONMA’s original five remained in place as ICONMA grew to where the company is today, an employer consisting of thousands of employees located throughout the United States, Canada, and India, with revenues exceeding $126M.
“Before I started ICONMA, I worked as an IT contractor. I was feeling the itch of wanting to own my own business. Coming from a contractor’s point of view, I truly felt I could be in business for them too, by treating them better than other companies would,” said George, recalling life before ICONMA.
It was only a few months from the initial idea to the inception of the company. George chose Troy, Michigan, for ICONMA’s Corporate Headquarters due to the vibrant business community and accessibility to freeways.
The company achieved quick success, crossing the 100 employee mark within the first two years. Within the first three years, the company had revenues of over $10M. Along with favorable market conditions, George said that having the right team, gaining industry experience, hard work, and resilience were all contributing factors to ICONMA’s early success.
“I often reminisce about those early days, those were my favorite memories,” George said. “Before achieving any success or recognition, we were so hungry and had the determination that continued to build over the years leading us to where we are today. We were constantly humbled by all this new stuff that owning a business entails. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that even though you feel overwhelmed and lacking in certain expertise, all those hurdles are preparing ICONMA for success!”
“That points to another lesson – many people think you must have knowledge and expertise in business to start one. I didn’t,” George continued. “I was comfortable being outside of my comfort zone and continuously learning as I went on. I now clearly realize that the secret sauce was that we kept moving forward.”
“It is truly an honor to be able to serve all of our customers for the last 20 years, and I am grateful to them for that opportunity. To our employees – past, present, and future, I am so grateful for the opportunity to employ such a talented and hardworking group of individuals. Your commitment to ICONMA has contributed to the overall success of our organization.,” George concluded.
Thank you for a memorable 20 years. We look forward to the many years to come!
April 14, 2020