Nova Technologies brings IT expertise to Clarksville

Military background, expertise helps mission of providing IT solutions

By JIMMY SETTLE • The Leaf-Chronicle • May 25, 2008

A new computer software and systems engineering company in Clarksville represents one of the latest innovations in meshing the local civilian and military communities.

Big things are foreseen for Fort Campbell-affiliated Nova Technologies, 572 Dover Road, including potentially supplying a more highly skilled, localized civilian information technology work force for post defense contractors. The company will also help new and prospective Clarksville-area businesses more efficiently navigate an era of constant IT change.

The mission of providing innovative solutions in software, systems, network architecture and IT training is at the core of Nova Technologies' mission, said Sam Shamp, business development and facilities security officer for Nova.

It's a company in transition. Once solely devoted to military IT work, its value as a provider and trainer of supremely skilled IT techs is increasingly recognized in the corporate world, officials said.

In fact, Nova is currently awaiting final certification from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for its IT training curriculum based in a 16-seat classroom at the Dover Road business training site.

Leadership team

The local Nova team is led by Thomas B. Smith, area vice president, with a 25-year military background that includes serving as an aviator, and in Vietnam.

Also on board is IT instructor Jerry Hoffman, who leads training in everything from Microsoft basics up to specialized engineering skills. Hoffman is retired military after 22 years, having served as an artilleryman.

"By setting up a training center here in Clarksville," Shamp said, "and given the needs of the city, the county and the growth in the industrial park, we are confident that we really fit well into this setting.

"Companies have so much machinery today that is automated, whether it's employees passing e-mailed communications, or performing vital tasks in production, everything now is running off a network.

"We cannot only help companies identify solutions and trouble-shoot, and provide team support in certain situations, but by being able to train highly-skilled IT staff to work in companies, we can help companies reduce their downtime, and increase productivity and efficiency.

"The community has told us there is a demand for this," he said.

Veteran strength

Nova Technologies was founded in 1997 as a veteran-owned small business.

"We have maintained that status since our founding," said Shamp, himself a 21-year Army veteran, 15 years of which were in aviation, including 12 in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

"One of the truly wonderful things about this company is that the vast majority of our employees are veterans of one branch of the service or the other. This creates a very dynamic atmosphere to work in.

"The knowledge and experience base here is unsurpassed in today's business world," Shamp said. "One other factor that makes this a cutting-edge company is that it is employee-owned. This allows you to work for yourself and to reap the rewards of your efforts."

Nova has offices in Panama City and Orlando, Fla., in addition to its new office in Clarksville. "The military connection obviously brought this company into Clarksville, plus there is a deep connection between Orlando and Clarksville through Special Ops," Shamp said.

He said the Tennessee office serves about 18 "highly skilled" employees in several disciplines.

"In this region we employ primarily in the fields of geospatial information, IT and systems engineering."

He added that the new IT Training Center, once THEC-approved, "will enhance what our local colleges and universities are doing."

"Our initial core programs will be CompTIA certifications of A+, Network+, and Security+, and we are also offering classes for individuals to become certified as Microsoft-certified systems engineers.

"This program will strengthen the employability of those IT professionals, thus securing a more technically trained work force in our region."