Spotlight on Creativity
April 2008
Drew Morrisroe
April’s spotlight on creativity is local entrepreneur, Drew Morrisroe. He is President and CEO of CTN Solutions, a local organization that provides IT services to companies with less than 1,000 computer users. Drew founded CTN in 1997 and his company has grown rapidly in recent years.
Drew received the distinction of being named a”40 under 40″ in Philadelphia in April 2005 and was recognized for his role in the business and civic community. He was also presented Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership’s Alumni Achievement Award in November 2006 in recognition of his work to serve youth throughout the world.
Drew received bachelors’ degrees in information systems and finance from Philadelphia University in 1996; and a master’s of business administration in international business from Philadelphia University in 1999. He serves as an adjunct professor of international business, entrepreneurship, and information technology at Philadelphia University and St. Joseph’s University.
Your name:
Drew Morrisroe
Current Location:
Blue Bell, PA
Hometown:
Jeffersonville, PA
Firm/Company:
CTN Solutions
Occupation:
President and CEO
Favorite Philadelphia neighborhood:
Old City – I always feel proud to walk among the buildings where our country was founded.
Best advice you’ve ever been given:
Hugh O’Brian who is a friend and mentor has told me on many an occasion – “if it were easy, everybody would be doing it!”
Your favorite thing about living in the Philadelphia Region:
We have so much on our doorstep. From our vibrant city and its history, to the Jersey shore, to our proximity to New York and Washington – we’ve go it all!
Your favorite thing about working in the Philadelphia Region:
Philadelphia is a great place to do business because we are a community that embraces networking and relationships. The opportunities to build a business and the excellent pool of the talent and resources necessary always amaze me.
What are the assets of the information technology industry in Philadelphia?
Certainly one asset is the access to a talented pool of human resources. Our employees are very dedicated and work hard for our clients. That ethic is something unique to Philadelphia. Our proximity and ease of access to other markets present a unique opportunity to scale any technology oriented company.
How has the information technology industry grown over the past five years? Ten years?
I’ve seen our industry transform over the past 5 to 10 years from a ‘dot com’ environment to a more service oriented environment. I believe there is no replacement for that personal touch even with all of the advancements of technology. Those who will succeed going forward must provide demonstrative value to their clients. We strive to do this everyday at CTN.
What is your advice for young professionals working in/trying to break into the information technology industry?
I would advise a young person to be well rounded and never stop their education process. The ones who make it in this industry must know the technical aspects of their job at least at a conceptual level. However, if you add a good knowledge of business and a service oriented personality, you will go far!
CTN Solutions is an award-winning provider of information technology services to small and mid-sized businesses in the Philadelphia area. They partner with clients to design, install and support IT solutions allowing them to focus on running and growing their business. During the last few years, the Blue Bell-based company has expanded to provide managed network services, local and remote data protection and hosted infrastructure solutions. CTN has made the Philadelphia 100 list as one of the region’s fastest growing privately-held companies for four consecutive years.
To learn more about Drew and his work in the region, visit: http://www.ctnsolutions.com/