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Project management company a model of success

By Madhusmita Bora, Times Staff Writer
In print: Saturday, March 22, 2008

Suzanne Kelley, right, executive vice president and general manager of Proggex, meets with clients at the regional hospital chain BayCare Health System in Clearwater.
	[ATOYIA DEANS | Times]

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CLEARWATER — Jim Stroh dubs his team the wedding planners of the corporate world.

"We bring clients that are engaged to the altar, keep them focused so they execute their commitments," Stroh said.

Stroh is president of Proggex (pronounced "projects"), a Clearwater-based project management company started in 2003. Last year, Proggex grew 55 percent. The 18-employee firm's revenue was $3-million, and Stroh anticipates more growth this year.

Project managers have been around for a long time, but businesses began courting them seriously in the 1990s. That's when the tech boom and the Internet made it possible for companies to open shops worldwide, prompting a demand for supervisors to oversee distant tasks.

At the Project Management Institute, membership increased to 260,000 in the most recent count from 100,000 in 2002.

"We are growing tremendously," said PMI spokesman Joe Patterson. "The key reason is the ability to deliver projects on time and budget."

The profession cuts through cultural and language barriers, said Mahala Renkey of PMI.

Stroh says he expects business and the client roster to grow.

"It's a tough year for business, but when it comes to projects they are always there," he said. "So, 2008 will be a glorious year."

Madhusmita Bora can be reached at mbora@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3112.