And when you decide to specialize in being a value-added reseller of equipment and services for a company that controls the majority of a market, it can pay off big. Andrew Faris' decision to develop a relationship with Cisco Systems of San Jose, Calif. was a calculated one that has paid off well. It has landed Faris and his company, InterLink Communications Corp. of Edina, in the Top 10 of CityBusiness' Fastest Growing Private Companies for the second year in a row. About three years ago, we pared down and concentrated on Cisco. If we had to be experts in 10 different models, we couldn't do it, so we had to drop other lines to really know Cisco.
Cisco is the largest maker of computer-networking products in the world.
Faris credits a combination of new customers and repeat business for the growth. We landed some big customers who have grown, and we have grown with them. While he is comfortable with the company's specialty position with Cisco products, Faris is prepared to add product lines if another company begins to command a significant share of the networking market. There are some others, like Juniper, who are specializing in niche segments of the high-speed network that have taken some business. We like the model we have today.