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Anderson ZurMuehlen to purchase Information Technology Core

Posted at 6:36 PM, Sep 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-06 20:39:49-04

Leaders say the combination of two Helena-based companies will create one of the largest technology service providers in Montana.

Anderson ZurMuehlen announced this week that it will purchase Information Technology Core. The agreement will expand Anderson ZurMuehlen Technology Services, an information technology consulting division.

“With any kind of business consulting, technology this day and age is a huge part of that, and so we were looking to grow that,” said AZ CEO Don Laine.

ITC has offices in Helena, Missoula and Salt Lake City. It provides hardware and software services for businesses and public agencies. Leaders say its services fit well with AZTS, which offered things like cloud computing and cybersecurity services.

“They bring things to us that we did not previously have,” Laine said.

Laine said AZ plans to make job offers to ITC’s 17 employees. He expects the purchase to be finalized Oct. 1.

Donny Reichert, who owns ITC along with Ken Keller, said his company had been discussing joining forces with AZ for several months. He said becoming part of a larger company will give them more support for things like marketing.

“Really, having the backing of a company like Anderson ZurMuehlen – and a company that I think has a great reputation throughout the state of Montana – was a big advantage to us,” he said.

Reichert said ITC is Montana’s largest reseller of HP and Dell equipment to business and government clients. He said the company earns about $10 million in revenues each year.

Laine said he sees opportunities for continued growth in the technology consulting business as AZ and ITC join together.

“I think it’s a great cultural fit,” he said. “We’ve been working with them for over a year now, and their values and our values align very well.”

“I think our customers will benefit from the advantages that we’re bringing together with both companies,” said Reichert.

AZ currently has about 200 employees in seven cities around Montana. In addition to technology consulting, it provides public accounting and business advisory services.