CBX, an information technology firm based in Oakland, California, has recently been named the Minority Technology Firm of the Year. The selection process as overseen by the Minority Business Development Agency of the United States Department of Commerce is based upon a rigorous review of standard nomination criteria: Business History; Economic Impact and Community Leadership.

Chris D’Andrade, President and CEO of CBX Technologies and a former Eastman Kodak Executive, has turned obstacles into stepping stones overcoming the initial reluctance of lending institutions to grant loans and lines of credit. Drive and creativity superseded convention and custom. When financial institutions were unwilling to lend, D’Andrade used personal savings, credit cards and 401-K funds; he often forfeited salary during the start-up phase of the business.

D’Andrade relied on his  service   experience at Eastman Kodak, along with his technical background and degree in engineering to make CBX Technologies the ideal expression of his stated mission: “to provide a full service computer network with a commitment to unmatched service quality.”  His high commitment to customer service is the main driving force behind his business' incredible success.

Beginning with himself and a high school intern, CBX went from doing $15,000 its first year of operation in 1998, to 20 full-time employees in FY 2004 doing $10.1 million in sales.  The company's base market is providing network administration to educational institutions and local government agencies. To increase its competitiveness, D’Andrade worked to expand the company’s market.  First, he created a  networking    company  to reach large clients like  HP, IBM, Microsoft and Cisco.  Then,  he opened a  telecommunications  division to be able to be a leading edge solutions provider within the industry.  By becoming certified in data and voice, he was able to begin work with such companies as:  AT&T, SBC  and Nortel .  Later,   he became certified as a small business with the State of California  and certified as an 8a and Historically Underutilized Business Zone company with the United States Federal government  to take advantage of small, local and technical  business opportunities. Combined,  these actions strengthened the company and created additional revenue streams for his business.

Even though D'Andrade keeps quite busy in his business,  he never forgets to give back to the community.  Over the years, his business has donated hardware, software and peripherals to teachers and students within the community and speak at community sponsored events  supporting their efforts to take part in the digital economy.