Strategic Staffing Solutions, Inc. (S3), Detroit’s largest information technology and business services company, has opened its Detroit Development Center (DDC) in the Penobscot Building in downtown Detroit.
The DDC’s first anchor customer is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), which made the strategic decision to bring IT work to S3’s development center in Detroit rather than an offshore site. The center is opening with 53 IT professionals, more than one third of the way to S3’s goal to employ 150 people by the end of this year. S3 has existing commitments from two anchor customers to be serviced by the DDC, putting S3 on track to achieve its four-year commitment to hire more than 400 IT specialists.
The center is the hub for S3’s managed services software BPO, ERP integration, Web and application development and maintenance services. The space on the 26th floor of the Penobscot Building also houses S3’s IT Call Center, which currently services Wayne County.
“The opening of the Detroit Development Center marks an important day for Detroit business,” said Cynthia J. Pasky, S3 president and CEO. “It shows how two local companies can work together to make a very deliberate and strategic decision to support our city and state, while benefitting both our businesses.
“The fact that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan chose to continue and expand upon our 15-year relationship with them is proof of their commitment to doing business with Michigan companies and to growing new jobs in Detroit,” Pasky said. “While the DDC is opening with 53 IT professionals, we have space to accommodate more than 400 employees and we are committed to filling every position.
“We encourage other Michigan-based companies to make the smart and considerate decision Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan made to utilize local talent and resources. It is the right thing to do for our community and our economy.”
Dan Loepp, BCBSM president and CEO, said, “When we were faced with outsourcing IT application development work, the idea of using offshore contractors was a very real option. When S3 came to us with the DDC as a solution, we were very excited for the opportunity, in good conscience, to outsource work in Detroit, while remaining cost-efficient. The DDC is a win-win-win for us, S3 and our city.”
The DDC was made possible in part due to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation approving a $3.8 million tax credit for the DDC to support creating jobs in the technology sector.
Several elected and corporate officials participated in the ribbon cutting, including Pasky, Loepp, George Jackson, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation president and CEO; and Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano.
Celebrating 20 years
S3 has an international footprint serving the U.S. and Europe with branch locations in: Detroit (HQ), servicing Troy, Lansing and Grand Rapids, Mich.; Atlanta, Ga.; Boston, Mass., servicing Connecticut; Team California – Los Angeles and San Francisco; Charlotte, N.C.; Team Florida – Ft. Lauderdale, servicing Tampa, Orlando and Tallahassee; Team Great Lakes – Chicago, Ill. and Minneapolis, Minn., servicing Des Moines, Iowa; New Orleans, La., servicing Baton Rouge; New York, N.Y.; Philadelphia, Pa., servicing Connecticut; Richmond, Va.; St. Louis, Mo; Team Texas – Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin.
Global Locations
S3 International in Vilnius, Lithuania servicing Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden and the Gibbs-S3 Partnership in London, England also servicing Edinburgh, Scotland, Cheshire, England and Dublin, Ireland.
S3 provides consulting and staff augmentation services, vendor management programs, executive search services, call center technology and IT developmental center to financial instiutions, energy communications, telecommunications, government agencies, retail and health care industries.
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