2015 Economic Impact Awards 16-29 Years in Operation Finalist: Layer 3 Technology

In 1999, Layer 3 Technology started as a one-person business in a basement instead of the proverbial garage. Layer 3 now has 18 employees and revenue that’s grown 15 to 20 percent most years during the past decade.

Layer 3 is a computer sales and consulting firm that manages an array of information technology needs.

“Our goal is to enable our customers to concentrate on their business by removing all the information technology headaches and worries from their day-to-day operations,” says John Horton, Layer 3 president. “This concentration allows them to be more successful, profitable and expand and grow, thus having a tremendous impact on our economy.”

Layer 3 Technology’s genesis is in Technology Innovations Inc., the company Horton founded when he got tired of working for someone else in an environment that didn’t value customer service the way he thought it should. Meanwhile, Ryan McCoy was running his own small business, Layer 3 Inc. The men met via a mutual client. They quickly realized their companies could complement each other, and both had reached a point where they needed to hire. The duo merged in 2004.

Layer 3 can offer its more than 200 clients as little or as much service as needed, from managed services like desktop and server support to network security and IT infrastructure. Clients can choose a “break-fix” option where Layer 3 will simply repair something that’s broken, or they can opt for complete management of all IT. Layer 3 provides services across a variety of industries.

“We want business,” Horton says. “We do a lot of health care. We do a lot of accounting. Everything else is all over the board. Our view is it doesn’t matter what industry you are. You’ve got computers, you’ve got issues. We’re here to help.”

Some of the area’s more recognizable companies are Layer 3 clients, including Integrity Home Care Inc., Springfield First Community Bank, Marlin Network and DeWitt & Associates Inc.

“We pride ourselves in helping our clients maximize their efficiency through technology, allowing them to be more profitable, allowing them to be more competitive, grow with less risk and helping the local economy as they compete with other companies from outside our area,” Horton says.

Where some companies with similar services grow by acquiring smaller competitors, Layer 3 chooses to remain small. The company was a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award finalist in April.

“I don’t want to have 75 employees,” Horton says. “I’d rather be in that 18 to 25 (range) and be able to service the customer.  I guess we’re small enough where if any one of our customers called, I’m pretty confident anyone in our company could go out and service that client.”

Horton is proud of Layer 3’s low turnover and the fact that there only is one person between him and the rest of the staff.

“I’ve been blessed,” he says. “My guys have really stuck around.”

Layer 3’s hourly rate is discounted for nonprofits, and it is corporate policy to provide all in-kind IT services to a charitable organization if a staff member serves on its board.

“The nonprofit community is such a valuable part of Springfield’s overall business economy (that) we feel it is our duty and privilege to help in any way we can,” Horton says.