Combined entity will have more than 200 employees
Founded in 1995, NetGain’s mission was to help businesses use their data. Ironically, it was not until its recent new partnership with Aunalytics Inc., a leading data analytics firm with offices in Indiana and Michigan, that company officials say NetGain fully achieved its mission.
NetGain’s employees are now part of Aunalytics, which offers cloud and managed services in addition to its proprietary analytics platform to small and mid-sized organizations.
Employees were informed about the business change Feb. 16 in an all-employee meeting, and clients are receiving the news this week via letter and during meetings with company leadership.
Under the new arrangement, NetGain is a fully-owned subsidiary of Aunalytics, Inc. Michael Minnich, NetGain CEO, and Kelly Jones, NetGain president and COO, are Analytics’ shareholders.
In a release, Minnich described the partnership as a perfect match.
“When Kelly became an owner in the business nearly 10 years ago, we discussed what we wanted for NetGain long-term. You might say we started with the end in mind. We actually created a list of must-haves for our perfect partner, for when the time was right.”
He said that list included a partner who shared NetGain’s values, understood the importance of NetGain’s long-standing relationships, and was committed to NetGain’s employees, as well as the Bellefontaine and Logan County communities.
“When we met with Aunalytics, it was a no-brainer. Their company looks a lot like us,” Minnich said. “We didn’t have to ask them to retain our employees.
“It was a must-have on their side as well. Tracy Graham, their CEO, told us ‘Our offices are in communities just like yours…South Bend, Ind., Kalamazoo and Traverse City, Mich. Even though we are a larger entity, clients know they can call us with issues. We sponsor local organizations and speak with our clients at the grocery store. Simply put, we are about people first. One of our core values is doing right. You don’t have to be right; you must do the right thing.’”
The Aunalytics’ business model prioritizes keeping each location operating as a local unit. Leaders don’t sit in a corporate office; they work from the location they’ve always worked from.
This model provides additional career growth for NetGain employees without requiring relocation.
“We have completed several partnerships over the years. Each time we join forces with a new company, that location grows. We expect the same for our Bellefontaine office and hope to expand the Plain City facility — as we capitalize on the growing Columbus market,” Graham explained.
While a pandemic may not seem like the ideal time to make large company changes, Minnich said the search started in early 2020 — prior to the health crisis.
“In 2019, a few clients told us they felt they were outgrowing us. We also had employees who were being pulled in too many directions, given the breadth of technology requirements clients need to stay secure and grow.”
Minnich and Jones discussed acquiring other companies, but felt the distraction to the business would be too great. Instead, they opted to find a partner with a proven track record.
“Aunalytics is an outstanding company with great leadership, a great data platform and a growth mindset They have met with our employees (via videoconference) and shared their commitment to them and our community,” Minnich said. “They have also been on calls with us and our clients.
“One of the clients we shared the news with sees this relationship as a potential game changer. That’s certainly the type of reaction we were looking for.”
Employees also are optimistic about the new venture.
“Any change can be scary,” shared Tier II Technician Reuben Mees. “But we have trust in our leadership; and we have heard from Analytics’ leadership that they want to build that trust with us as well. I see this as a positive and an opportunity for career growth.”
So what’s next? Minnich said given the pandemic times, he and Jones only met once in-person with a representative from Aunalytics.
“All of our meetings were by videoconference, so we are excited for an in-person meeting here in the coming months.”
Sports rivalries will keep the new colleagues on their toes as well.
“That will be pretty interesting too,” Minnich joked. “We have some die-hard Buckeye fans at NetGain who now have colleagues rooting for Notre Dame, IU, Purdue, and, of course, that team up North.”