Setting up shop
IT company Starport opening office in Summerside
A Toronto-based information technology firm, Starport Managed Services, is opening a satellite office in Summerside’s Holman Building.
The company expects to hire five people to start and will expand its team as needed.
David Poulson, Starport’s president and co-founder, said his team is excited to be setting up shop in Summerside – some especially so.
Poulson explained that his business partner, Brian Everest, has in-laws who are Islanders, one of whom, Brad Yeo, also works for the company. They have a lot of connections on P.E.I. and spend summers here anyway, so that organically led them to opening a branch on the Island. “I’m ‘from away,’ ” said Poulson. “But everybody, I’m told, comes home (to P.E.I.).”
Starport conducts remote IT services for small- and mediumsized companies that need support but are not large enough to have their own internal IT department.
“We provide a full concept of IT support, from hardware through to guidance and security … so people who are in their business can do their jobs,” added Poulson.
The company expects to have its new office up and running by early November.
Mike Thususka, director of economic development for the City of Summerside, said Starport is exactly the kind of company his team has been working to attract.
“Summerside has been working hard to position the city as an ideal location for expansion opportunities and to help companies in other jurisdictions looking to expand and experiencing difficulty chose Summerside as their expansion location,” said Thususka.