Mike Landman, CEO

A commercial-grade espresso machine, a soda fountain and a corporate value system that includes “style” are just a few of the factors that make up Ripple's dynamic corporate culture. It is clear Ripple is not run by a typical suit. Picturing the leader of such a charismatic company evokes the image of an energetic, or at least well-caffeinated, individual. Mike Landman is both of these things.

Founding Ripple in 1997 gave CEO Mike Landman the opportunity to harness his abundance of energy and focus on his passion for delivering awesome customer service—by creating a company of people who share his dedication to providing user-friendly IT services. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Minneapolis native worked briefly in advertising. It was during this time he discovered the importance (and scarcity) of reliable IT, and the hassle (and abundance) of working with an unpleasant IT guy.

Advertising school brought Landman from Chicago to Atlanta. Fate had another plan. A financial aid malfunction caused Landman to re-evaluate his plan. He knew he wanted to be involved in advertising in some way, but wasn't sure the traditional agency role was for him. Landman recalled his unpleasant experiences with IT and decided to create a solution: technology with a human face.

After taking Atlanta's creative agencies by storm, the demand for Ripple's user-friendly IT management expanded to reach more than 600 users in fields ranging from medicine to logistics. The one-man shop has expanded into a 19-person company and expects to grow as more people find out the secret—IT can be easy. Ripple is on pace to double in size and revenue in 2007. Landman is available to comment on tech industry trends, new products, and the best ways to incorporate these into the infrastructure of a small business.

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