Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic congratulated Akron-based Summit Data Communications for a string of recent achievements by proclaiming today, June 29th, 2011, as “Summit Data Communications Day” in the City of Akron.
Founded in 2006, Summit Data Communications manufactures industrial and medical grade wireless modules that provide secure and reliable connectivity for mobile devices that operate in challenging places such as hospitals, factories and warehouses. The company’s products are found in a broad spectrum of businesses – everything from barcode scanners to ticket kiosks to cardiographs. The company serves more than 70 customers in a dozen countries with seventeen different products. The company shipped its one millionth unit in 2010.
“Summit was recognized by Inc. Magazine to be the fastest growing computer hardware company in the Midwest and the 5th fastest growing in the country,” said Scott Kuehn, Director of Global Markets for the Ohio Department of Development. “With more than two thirds of the revenue coming from exports, Summit is proof that Ohio-based technology companies can compete on a global scale.”
A client of the Akron Global Business Accelerator (AGBA), Summit earned the 2011 Outstanding Incubator Client of the Year Award presented by the National Business Incubation Association, besting over 17,000 other potential entrants from over 1000 incubators in the United States and over 7,000 incubators worldwide, including the two other finalists from Hong Kong. “The AGBA is thrilled to have provided the foundation for Summit, a company that in five years has grown to more than thirty employees generating great jobs and economic growth in downtown Akron,” said AGBA Chief Executive Mike LeHere.
“Summit Data is a home-grown company that took advantage of the amenities offered by the City and the Akron Global Business Accelerator,” said Mayor Don Plusquellic. “We are working hard to position Akron as the Start-Up City – THE place that fosters start-up companies who can compete globally in polymers, biomedical devices, and wireless communications. Summit is one of AGBA’s success stories, and Summit and the AGBA are growing by leaps and bounds.”
Summit has also made important and lasting contributions to students through its partnership with the University of Akron. In a push to retain and develop local technology talent, Summit provides scholarships and internships to undergraduates pursuing business and technical degrees.
“By providing this connection to University of Akron students, Summit is fighting the brain drain that has hindered economic redevelopment in the region,” said Dr. C.C. Chan, Dean of Computer Science at the University of Akron. “Our growing partnership with Summit shows how businesses can leverage the rich educational resources we have in Northeastern Ohio to build their businesses and our local economy.”
“Akron, Ohio is an ideal location for an information technology startup,” said Ron Seide, Summit President. “Here we are able to tap the rich local wireless engineering talent base, leverage the resources of the University and our business incubator, and align ourselves with the economic growth initiatives of the City and the State of Ohio. These public/private partnerships have been instrumental to our continuing growth and success.”
