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For McCook database developer, no client anywhere is out of reach
by Dawn Garcia
Owning a business in rural America may not be as easy as it once was, but Steve Shaner, President of Database Solutions, has found that it doesn’t matter where you live, but how you run your business that makes a difference — especially in today’s computer industry.
Database Solutions is a software development and consulting business, home-based in McCook. Organized by Shaner in October, 2003, Database Solutions provides – no big surprise – customized database solutions for both large and small businesses.
With allied offices based in Ogden, Utah and Longmont, Colorado, the company has acquired quite a list of clients in Nebraska, Utah and Kansas, including Midwest Special Services in Curtis, Simplot Grower Solution in Hershey, Mid-Plains Community College, Southwest Nebraska Public Health and McCook Community Hospital.
“We basically pick up clients through word of mouth,” said Shaner. “We haven’t done much of any advertising.”
An important new contract
Database Solutions’ most recent contract, with the University of Nebraska Extension office in North Platte, has enabled Shaner to step out of the role as senior programmer and into more of a traditional ownership role. According to Shaner, this has been Database Solutions’ biggest obstacle since its incorporation seven years ago. Until recently, Shaner was doing ninety percent of the programming himself; now he can hire three contract programmers, based in Utah, Missouri and Wisconsin, to help.
Shaner’s ultimate goal – to build the company to a point where it could be sold to fund his retirement – is still a ways off. But it seems easier now.
“It is amazing,” he said, “how doors have opened up since the extension office contract.”
In order to grow the company, Shaner hopes to increase the current client list by marketing more off-the-shelf products and hiring more programmers as the business expands.
From banking to database development
Steve and his wife Susan moved to McCook nearly eight years ago when Susan accepted a position at Mid-Plains Community College. Steve also worked part-time at the college as he began building Database Solutions.
Prior to his professional career, Shaner earned a BS degree in finance from Northern Illinois University and worked in finance, banking, management and education. Shaner then earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Management with minors in Entrepreneurship and Economic Development through Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska.
During his banking career, Shaner began developing computer applications, specializing in database development for applications in a variety of industries. This led him away from banking and into the computer industry, ultimately leading to the beginning of Database Solutions.
Not an 8-to-5 position
Shaner credits good customer service for the success Database Solutions has had in recent years. Since incorporation, the business hasn’t been an eight-to-five position, he said. It takes a lot of patience — and time. Shaner has often consulted clients during vacations and spent late nights on conference calls.
“We have happy customers that keep coming back for more,” said Shaner. “We offer a free trial and the product pretty much sells itself once they see what it can do.”
With little overhead, no inventory or W-2 employee costs, Database Solutions has more time to concentrate on the customer’s needs, Shaner said. That is what makes Database Solutions different from the competition.
“We build what the company asks for,” said Shaner. Database Solutions has custom-built databases to fit the needs for many businesses including databases for a horse show, newspaper subscriber marketing, a call center, time and expense tracking, cattle tracking and clinical trials.
“The technology today is available to make that happen,” said Shaner. “There is no client anywhere that is out of reach.”
Who To Contact...
Database Solutions
Steve Shaner
408 East 1st Street
McCook, NE 69001
(308) 340-2072
steve.shaner@gmail.com
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