I'm Gary Tonniges, Jr, the CEO and Founder of TriQuest Technologies, an IT Services firm located in downtown Fort Worth. Over the last 27+ years, technology has evolved, but the basics of providing reliable IT solutions remain the same.
How we got here was a path no one predicted. As Paul Harvey would say, here's the rest of the story.
How “Gremlins” Changed My Life
I hadn’t planned on going into IT. In fact, after graduating from Texas A&M in 1992 with a degree in accounting, I joined an up-and-coming accounting firm with the dream of becoming a CPA, building my career, and rising through the ranks to eventually become a partner.
But “Gremlins” changed my life.
Because whenever there was a computer issue with any of our CPA firm systems, the outsourced tech team our company hired for support – a.k.a. “Frick and Frack” – would always say the same thing: “Oh, the computer gremlins gotcha.”
Maybe it was the way they said it so matter-of-factly, assuming that because they were the “IT Experts” brought in to fix network issues, they needed to dumb down for the clients what was really going on inside the system.
I thought it stunk.
Dumbing things down to this level was simply not how I believed anyone should treat their clients. It is also counter to the CPA distinctive ethical code. But they seemed to feel like they could get away with it because they were the experts and therefore had us over a barrel.
They were wrong.
Cyndy and Gary, Fall 1991
A New Path Forward
Because I’d had some background in computers, which originally started with troubleshooting my home PC so it could handle “Wing Commander” and other games – and that passion had grown over the years as I discovered just how much I loved learning about technology.
So, I crafted a plan to help the firm by becoming an expert in systems and networks – through self-study, research, and hard work. And it didn’t take long before the partners replaced Frick & Frack, giving me all Gremlin-hunting responsibilities once and for all. And with that move, I happily left my auditing and tax career behind, because I’d discovered something I loved even more—technology!
The savvy partners realized their clients had similar tech issues, so they put me in charge of a new IT services group, with full P&L responsibilities, to assist clients with their technology issues.
It was a tremendous opportunity, and I learned a great deal about the challenges facing businesses when it comes to securing their proprietary systems and data. Diving into these issues opened my eyes to how vulnerable all businesses are to these kinds of threats and how important it is be aware of and stay focused on that problem.
TriQuest Was Born
But after 5 years with the firm, I began to dream of starting my own company, but wasn't quite sure how to make the transition.
The key moment came while my wife Cyndy and I were backpacking the Maroon Bells 26-mile loop outside Aspen, Colorado. After a very steep ascension on the first day – not recommended for novice backpackers – I awoke overlooking a clear crystal lake and I told her I’d decided to start my own business.
She told me she was totally onboard – and after getting the partners blessing to leave – the adventure began.
October 13, 1997, I started TriQuest Technologies with the goal of creating an IT company with the ethics of a CPA firm, while delivering service that’s consistently greater than the sum of its parts. We started by helping customers utilize technology to be more effective in their work, all while keeping critical systems and data, safe and secure. TriQuest started with ONE customer and THREE employees, thus TRI + QUEST.
Gary, Maroon Bells, CO
Then vs. Now
Technology - and our dependence on it - has changed a lot in the last 25+ years. These changes have significantly transformed how businesses operate, making us more efficient, agile, and capable of leveraging new opportunities. While also introducing new risks including cybersecurity threats, compliance, data loss prevention, business continuity, and technology compatibility issues. Here are 5 technology differences:
Internet and Connectivity: 1997: Dial-up connections limited to 56k speeds. 2024: High-speed and fiber-optic internet speeds average 1,677 times faster.
Cloud Computing: 1997: 🤣 The only clouds were in the sky. Many companies were still using paper and buying their first server. 2024: We've redefined 'cloud' and many companies are moving away from on-premise servers and data storage.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation: 1997: AI was seen in the movies. Remember 'Danger, Will Robinson? 2024: AI is creeping into businesses as people experiment with automating business processes. Without proper protections, cybercriminals will continue to exploit these vulnerabilities.
Mobile Technology: 1997: With a starting cost of $1000, only 1 in 10 people owned a cellphone. 2024: 85% globally, or 21 in 25 people own smartphones.
Cybersecurity: 1997: Security was not a concern, most only had basic antivirus software and firewalls. 2024: Successful companies are implementing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, including advanced threat detection, encryption, and multi-factor authentication to protect against sophisticated cyber threats.
And Then There Were Two Tonniges
In 1999, my wife Cyndy joined TriQuest, leaving her banking career to focus on our growing family and assist with accounting. As the non-technical business needs grew, Cyndy took on more responsibilities. Leave it to two Aggies, to mix it up. Cyndy graduated with a degree in Management Information Systems and Gary graduated with an Accounting degree; Gary, is still the top Tech nerd (plus CEO duties) while Cyndy manages the accounting (plus marketing, HR, and clubhouse administration). 😂 Many people ask us 'You work with your spouse? On purpose?' but it works for us!
Our Ideal Customers
Technology is everywhere. Kevin O'Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful, says "Every business is a technology business." We don't restrict our services to one industry, and we work with companies of all sizes.
The organizations we work with are building towards a better future. We help them find ways to utilize technology to improve productivity, increase employee satisfaction, and protect their clients. Our customers demand reliable IT. Their organizations require their technology to work when, where, and how they need it.
