Pileum Corporation has made a successful move to East Tennessee from Jackson, MS. The technology service provider was up and running inside the Chamber’s Market House Monday morning, barely three days into its partnership with the Knoxville business community.
“As an experienced technology and service provider, we are here to assure former customers of Direct IS that their technology needs are in good hands,” said Jill Beneke, president and CEO, Pileum Corporation.
Good, familiar, hands. Pileum, and sister company Metrix, has hired seven former Direct IS employees who have first hand knowledge of the company’s customer-base.
“Our customers have been on our side,” said John Qualls, former senior systems consultant for Direct IS. “They had just been asking questions much like we had been asking questions. We were blind sided and so were our customers.”
Direct IS shut its doors Wednesday, giving employees and customers no advance notices of the closure. Direct IS focused on supplying customers with computer hardware, computer software, computer maintenance, information technology services, and audio/visual products. The business worked with name-brand computer technology manufacturers, including HP, Apple, Dell, Sony, IBM and Microsoft. Pileum’s expansion to East Tennessee is a welcome sight for many former Direct IS employees.
“Pileum acted, and acted fast,” said Randy Garrett, director of sales at Direct IS. “It came to our rescue and it came to the rescue of former Direct IS customers. We needed to be able to service our customers immediately. We needed to be doing exactly what we were doing this morning. Our customers were only without us for a couple of days.”
Pileum has all the core services that Direct IS offered and more. The company works with wireless communications, VOIP, networking, data center design, and assists in the design of smart buildings. Pileum has nearly 20 engineers that design multiple technology solutions for small, medium, large, and very large business.
Pileum is very passionate about servicing its newly acquired client-base and will focus on assisting the region with its technology needs. The company became members of the Chamber early Monday.
“We are making a commitment to the Knoxville business community and to the Knoxville metropolitan area,” said Beneke.
Pileum has been in business six years with operations in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and now Tennessee. The company will expand into Florida in the future.
The Chamber is assisting Pileum in finding a permanent place of business in the area.
Former Direct IS customers with questions about Pileum may call Patty Grim (Service) at (865) 414-4026 or Randy Garrett (Sales) at (865) 924-9892.
