Agenda 01/26/2010 Item # 5DAgenda Item No. 5D
January 26, 2010
Page 1 of 2
Neighborhood America: Success in Software
In the late 1990's, Naples resident Kim Patrick Kobza had an idea. A community leader who
saw the devastating effects that polarization has on the ability to make effective decisions, he
vowed to find a way to open lines of communication to enhance understanding, collaboration
and problem - solving. Together with David Bankston, he founded Neighborhood America in
1999, a company that quickly expanded from addressing public issues to developing business
opportunities. A decade later, his big picture thinking has created a big business. With 100
employees, offices' extending throughout the United States, and projects of national import, the
company has welcomed the beginning of 2010 with a new name that readies the company for
global penetration: INgage Networks.
For Kobza, his company's Naples location yields a competitive advantage. "As a corporate
center, Naples excels," he comments. "It may not be the obvious choice, but it is a vibrant
alternative for technology companies."
A Formula for Success
INgage Networks is on the leading edge of what most believe is the future of marketing. Using
its proprietary ELAvate (Engage, Listen, Act) platform, Neighborhood America today enables its
clients to build online and mobile communities that leverage social networking; the impact and
cost - effectiveness of this approach is proving to be truly revolutionary.
For public projects, the company promotes online collaboration, public comment and mobile
alerts, having supported planning efforts for the World Trade Center, the Memorial for Flight 93,
and the Statue of Liberty's General Management Plan. For media organizations, Neighborhood
America assists in reaching new audiences and monetizing user - generated contacts, including the
original "Rate My Space" site for HGTV.com, which has been applauded throughout the
industry as a model for driving revenue through new media. And, for corporate clients, the
company provides the means for engaging customers, enhancing their experience and gaining
intelligence; the Adidas "Building Brotherhood" program, for example, received a global award
for excellence for its ability to connect 20,000 kids with mentors from the National Basketball
Association's elite, and in turn with the Adidas brand.
For INgage Networks, success has come not only in the form of dramatic growth in size,
revenues and profits, but also of peer recognition. For two consecutive years, the company was
honored with CODiE Award, recognized as the software industry's "Best Social Networking
Solution." The honor, the software industry's equivalent to winning an Oscar, was particularly
significant as it came in what is generally regarded as software's hottest category.
A Location for Success
Agenda Item No. 5D
January 26, 2010
Page 2 of 2
INgage Network's formula for success is multi- faceted, but among those most important is its
home. Although frequently wooed by other cities, Kobza is loyal to the Naples location for the
company's headquarters. And it's not just his affection for the community he calls home; for
him, it is, like every other, a reasoned decision. His analysis of the strengths of this are yields
three conclusions:
The Naples pool of retired and semi - retired corporate executives is an invaluable resource. "The
level of experience and intellect across a diversity of industries is a very strong draw," Kobza
says. His company formally mobilizes this group as business advisors and they have become
what he terms a "critical part of the company's DNA."
Naples offers a quality of working life that is exceptional. Most people recognize the beauty of
this area, as well as its recreational and cultural resources, and active social life. But Kobza
concentrates on the benefits of Naples living for those in the workforce. "It's the right
environment for working," he says, citing the ability to work on world -class projects without
paying the metropolitan price of commuting. He also cites the desire of qualified candidates to
live here, whether they be ex -metros looking for a different experience, offspring of executives
who have retired here, or trailing spouses. "Last year, we hired a former AOL executive, a
Harvard/MIT graduate who was a lead manager of a 600 - person international team," says Kobza.
"For him and his wife, moving to Naples was one of the real advantages of the job.,,
The available resources in Naples are world class. "This is a destination," Kobza explains. "Our
customers love to come here, and our seminars, held in some of the nation's top hotels right here
in Naples, are always well - subscribed." Company staffers also appreciate the proximity of
Southwest Florida International Airport and the convenience it provides. While conducting the
interview for this article, Kobza was on his way to RSW to catch a flight to Washington, DC. "It
won't take me much longer to get to downtown Washington that it does for the average
commuter from Western Virginia," he says. "But I get to live in Naples."
Founded on the principles of trust, expertise and innovation, INgage Networks has taken an
elemental problem — lack of communication — and created solutions that ten years ago were
simply inconceivable. Under the vision of Kim Kobza and David Bankston, the leadership of the
company's executive team, and the talent of the company's staff, we can only believe that
INgage Networks, happily ensconced in their Vanderbilt Beach Road Headquarters building, will
long be a leader in its industry.
www.ingagenetworks.com