Cambridge Technology Partners Veterans launch cloudTP

IT industry transitions typically spell good times for consultants and integrators. Cambridge Technology Partners took off during the client/server shift of the 1990s, helping customers migrate applications off of mainframes. Now, former Cambridge Technology Partners staffers plan to have another go at consulting, this time in the cloud. Indeed, Cloud Technology Partners aims to guide customers through the cloud transition. The company is emerging from stealth mode and a formal announce is expected soon.

Chris Greendale, a co-founder of Cambridge Technology Partners, is founder and chief executive officer of cloudTP. Other founders include Erik Sebesta, chief architect and technology officer; Jon Rounds, chief operating officer; and Jim Lampert, sales and marketing.  Sebesta’s experience includes a stint as chief architect at CTP. Greedale said the first five hires beyond the founders are CTP people.

Greendale called cloud computing “the biggest wave I’ve seen in my career.” And he’s rode a couple. Following his work at CTP during the client/server era, he founded Breakaway Solutions in 1997. That company pursued e-commerce solutions.

With his latest venture, Greendale said he plans to focus on strategic consulting. The idea is to provide customers a road map for migrating from a traditional data center to a private, public or hybrid cloud. The company also offers guidance on applications, helping customers determine which apps to move to the cloud, leave behind in the existing environment, or shut down.

Greendale said customers also want cloudTP to assist with application development.  The company, however, doesn’t seek to maintain loads of software developers on its payroll. Instead, cloudTP offers high-level architecture and project management services, Greendale explained. Subcontractors will handle the coding.

“I see us using a lot of partners for that,” he said.

The cloud consultant pursues mid-market customers in the $500 million to $2.5 billion range. One cloudTP customer has 15 data centers that it seeks to whittle down to two via cloud computing. Another client is moving to the cloud to cut its IT budget by 25 percent.

“Usually when there is a new wave of technology, the mid market companies need help,” Greendale said.

Greendale said he aims to “prove our business model” this year and determine whether the cloudTP value proposition resonates with customers. He will look to grow the company next year. When that growth phase begins, Greendale said he will continue to tap former CTPers. He believes boutique consultancies that lack a path to liquidity will also join his company.

While scaling up may not be an issue, the prospect of managing mass migrations presents a challenge. The company plans to a cultivate a process methodology and software tools for moving applications to the cloud.

“I am concerned with having good software IP and being more efficient with transformation projects,” Greendale said.

Times change, but guidebooks and tools for boosting efficiency and ensuring a repeatable process go way back. Arthur Andersen’s management advisors were armed with Method/1. It will be interesting to see whether cloudTP helps define a new wave of cloud consultants.

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