As we reflect on 2023, we are grateful for the continued trust that you place in us. When the world around us is changing at a rapid pace, at Identifi, one thing will always remain the same, that is our commitment to provide unparalleled excellence in customer service.
We realize technology has moved to the cloud, Google, Amazon and Microsoft applications (Apps) dominate our personal and professional lives. We no longer require a personal computer, although many of us, myself included, cling to a PC, for dear life.
Anticipating the move to the cloud as early as 2016, we began rewriting our software “code” to be cloud friendly. We did it without any outside investors. We did it with your investment in Identifi. We did it for all of us.
Today we are “cloud ready.” We want you to be too. At the same time we don’t want to leave anyone behind. That is saying a lot. We have a long history with many of you, a history that has spanned over 35 years.
We are building Identifi for the future. We are building that future for you, and for us, now over 50 people strong. Let’s continue this journey. Let’s do it together. We all know hurdling forward into 2024, the future is now.
Have a relaxing and fun-filled Holiday!
When there was an argument, which was frequent in a family of six siblings, my father used to say, “Which leg do I stand on.” I’ve always felt that was a great question because it would give me pause to think. When there is disagreement which is often, if you care how you live your life, the choices you make affect everyone around you. You can label the results of those choices anyway you want. I label them experience.
Experience has taught me, it’s all about the people around you, whether at home or at work. Interdependency is key. To obtain an understanding amongst those who you live and work with is paramount. Not easy! The path to success is the ability to agree to disagree and change course quickly when necessary. As a result, we always take a stand with both feet firmly planted, always pointed and moving in the best direction. Thanks Dad!
Mom and Dad owned a small business when home office in the back bedroom wasn’t a thing, it was a reality. He would work late. Not late by today’s definition, late until way past midnight. He wouldn’t miss dinner or coaching Little League, he’d miss Late Night with Jack Paar. I too, started my business in a back bedroom of our home. When I hear the expression “bootstrapped” I have to smile. I’ve never thought of Dad, myself or my business as bootstrapped. As the founder of Integra Business Systems d.b.a. Identifi in 1988, I’ve never worn boots other than to hike. I’m a Floridian sandals kinda guy. I’ve never felt strapped to anyone or anything.
I’ve only a few basic tenets. Those basic tenets are, take care of your own, your employees, your customers and they will take care of you.
I’m generally a man of few words and let the results speak for themselves. One of our core values is "Thoughtful Innovation. We embrace balanced innovation to advance our existing customers as well as new opportunities.” Towards that end, after 34+ years in the making, on October 3rd, 2022 Identifi took on a strategic partner, Arcadea Group. Essentially nothing has changed, yet after taking that step, everything is moving forward. We have retained all of our employees, although one employee retired. Our customers are continuing to receive great products and services. Arcadea Group has given us the capability to invest more in our people, in you, our customers and in our Identifi ECM product suite.
I would be remiss if I didn't say 2022 was a tumultuous year in many respects. As a people, we have dealt with war, hurricanes and now bomb cyclones! We will continue to deal with challenges and better them. I believe many of us, who have been more fortunate will find ways and means to give back to those less fortunate. I speak for Identifi’s 45 employees, soon to be 48 and our new partner Arcadea Group when I say, I feel only pride in what we have accomplished and tremendous gratitude for each and every one of you in my life, family, friends and in business.
I want to wish you a Happy New Year! Umm, 2023 we're not waiting for you. Catch up if you can!
Alan Wiessner, President and CEO, Identifi
Identifi partners with Arcadea Group to accelerate growth in the banking and credit union market
Toronto, Ontario, Canada / Safety Harbor, Florida USA
Identifi, the leading independent provider of Enterprise Content Management and Workflow software for Banks and Credit Unions, has completed a strategic growth equity recapitalization with Arcadea Group, a long-hold, permanent capital growth investor in high quality software companies. This investment is the third for Arcadea in the Financial Services sector this year.
The transaction will see Identifi’s Founder and CEO, Alan Wiessner, continue in his role and maintain a significant equity interest as the business enters its next chapter of growth and scale.“ We are extremely excited to partner with Arcadea for this next phase of Identifi’s journey. The institutional scale they will bring to us and our customers will allow for accelerated execution against our go-to-market and product strategies” said Wiessner. He went on to mention “We look forward to leveraging Arcadea’s deep vertical software expertise as we increase the scope of our offerings and expand our reach to more customers that can benefit from our best-in-class solutions.”
Daniel Eisen, Managing Director & Co-Founder of Arcadea Group, said, “Al and his team have built a wonderful business that delivers enormous value to their customers. We look forward to supporting the continued growth of the business as it expands its presence in the market. Identifi is a great addition to our growing portfolio of best-in-class independent software vendors for the banking and credit union market. ”
Mike Nicastro, the CEO of Coppermine Advisors a long-time strategic advisor to Identifi, will continue to support the business alongside Arcadea. “I have been extremely impressed with Arcadea’s unique philosophy and approach to investing in high quality software companies.” Mr. Nicastro, having been the CEO of Continuity (a leading RegTech recently acquired by Mitratech) and the SVP & CMO of Open Solutions (OSI, ultimately acquired by Fiserv) where he led overall product strategy, has spent decades in the sector including 10 years as director of a publicly traded community bank. Nicastro continued, “I know that the bank and credit union market badly needs independent, best-of-breed Workflow and ECM solutions and related offerings, for which Identifi is the clear leader across the market. Identifi – and its customers – will be well served by Arcadea’s permanent, stable capital support and commitment to multi-decade outcomes. I am delighted to work alongside the Arcadea team to support the Identifi business in its rapid growth for many years to come.”
“We’re excited about this chance to partner with theIdentifi team," said Paul Yancich, Managing Director & Co-Founder of Arcadea Group. He added,“ The business represents the sort of growth, mission-criticality, capital efficiency and market position we look for in all of our investments and are excited to work together to achieve great outcomes for our banking and financial services customers.”
About Identifi
Based out of Safety Harbor Florida and originally founded in 1988 as Integra Business Systems, Identifi has grown into a market-lead around process automation for Financial Institutions. Focused on increasing efficiency, visibility, accuracy and customer engagement, Identifi software addresses several key areas within Financial Institutions: Loan cycles, audits, new account openings, integration with core banking, credit card processes, vendor management, wealth management, employee onboarding, accounts payable and teller lines – tying these discrete functions together across complex institutions.
About Arcadea Group
Arcadea Group invests in high-quality, independent, typically founder-controlled software companies over durations of time that no other private equity or growth equity firm can match. Based in Toronto, Canada and Orlando, Florida and investing globally, Arcadea exclusively focuses on businesses with long-term growth potential and ambitions.
About Coppermine Advisors, LLC
Connecticut based Coppermine Advisors, LLC provides strategic guidance to a wide array of businesses with a focus on FinTech, BankTech & RegTech. Focused on strategic planning, growth and creating a vision for the future of its clients by working closely with their teams as well as the other key members of the ecosystem such as venture capital, growth equity, private equity and investment banker.
For Further information contact:
Identifi
sales@identifi.net
A big "Thank You!" to our Identifi customers, partners and our friends at Canon for attending this year's conference and making our conference a success!
Comments from Identifi Customer Conference Attendees
Photo Gallery - A good time was had by all!
We had some fun #teambuilding at Identifi's home offices in Safety Harbor , Florida on a hot day. Each of four teams competed to creatively dress large inflatable ducks we floated on the pond behind our sales and admin/conference center buildings. We then voted to determine the winner of the Duck Wars. Rather than reveal the winner, you are welcome to vote yourselves (use the Get in Touch link at the top right of your screen) on which duck, captioned below, you determine to be the winner! Check out our Fire Quacker video!
When I was sixteen, I had just two things on my mind — girls and cars. I wasn’t very good with girls. So I thought about cars. I thought about girls, too, but I had more luck with cars.
Let’s say that when I turned sixteen, a genie had appeared to me. And that genie said, ‘Warren, I’m going to give you the car of your choice. It’ll be here tomorrow morning with a big bow tied on it. Brand-new. And it’s all yours.’
Having heard all the genie stories, I would say, ‘What’s the catch?’ And the genie would answer, ‘There’s only one catch. This is the last car you’re ever going to get in your life. So it’s got to last a lifetime.’
If that had happened, I would have picked out that car. But, can you imagine, knowing it had to last a lifetime, what I would do with it?
I would read the manual about five times. I would always keep it garaged. If there was the least little dent or scratch, I’d have it fixed right away because I wouldn’t want it rusting. I would baby that car, because it would have to last a lifetime.
That’s exactly the position you are in concerning your mind and body. You only get one mind and one body. And it’s got to last a lifetime. Now, it’s very easy to let them ride for many years. But if you don’t take care of that mind and that body, they’ll be a wreck forty years later, just like the car would be.
It’s what you do right now, today, that determines how your mind and body will operate ten, twenty, and thirty years from now.
– Warren Buffett
Identifi enjoys the company and considerable banter from our four Veterans. Billy Hartman, Marines E5, Chris Baston, Air Force E-5, Frank Marcario, Army E6 and Tom Pioli, Navy Chief Petty Officer . They are always trying to best one another, Army Navy, Air Force or Marines!
In Billy's own words. While I was in DC for a running event, my wife and I decided to take a walk through Arlington National Cemetery. I watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, looked at the names and dates on various headstones, visited a special hero from our area, and watched people throw their coins on the JFK burial site while staring at the Eternal Flame. At each of the locations I visited, I noticed handfuls of older veterans.
It wasn't until the Marine Corps War Memorial that I realized that something special was happening, but I wasn't sure what it was. The veterans were all being wheeled up to the memorial and I was approached by one of the people lining these men and women up. She asked if I would mind taking some pictures of her and her friends.
I always want to help out where I can, especially for a group of veterans. I must have taken a few dozen pictures. I was having fun and they seemed to be OK with me taking lots of pictures too. While I was taking their pictures, everyone that was not part of the group was pushed back behind a barrier and my wife snapped the picture of me taking pictures of the group. When I realized another 2 of 3 rows had been formed behind me (in front of the steps), I gave their phones back to them and they asked to take my picture and thanked me for helping them out. I told them it was my pleasure to help out some fellow veterans.
At that point, I showed them my USMC t-shirt and they all lit up smiling, shaking my hand, and became much more talkative. I snuck off to the side and found my wife. I walked back to our hotel and talked about how cool it was to be able to help out the group of veterans. I posted a few pictures of our day. About an hour past when a family member told us what was happening in the picture. These weren't just any random group of veterans. These were Honor Flight Veterans from South Florida. I had never really heard of Honor Flights before that weekend. It is truly an honor to think that I was a very small part of their trip.
Veterans Day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. On this day our Veterans are thanked for their services to the United States. Thanks guys! No doubt there will be plenty of banter over why Billy is getting all the attention. Billy ran the 2018 43rd MCM Marine Corp. Marathon in Arlington, VA. Not bad for a Marine. Identifi is proud of Billy, Chris, Frank and Tom. Thank you for your service!
