Local IT firms form partnership to enhance services

Sparkhound Inc. is taking over a portion of I.T. by Design's business pertaining to custom software development, network infrastructure and learning solutions, Sparkhound President and CEO Shawn Usher says. The move will free up I.T. by Design to focus solely on its core business of mobile and Web application development, Usher says. "We're bringing some of their employees to our staff, and we're going to provide them some of our office space," he says. "Rather than trying to be all things to all people, it allows them to focus on their greatest strengths; and it helps us because we're able to take on some more business in an area we're already strong in." Both firms are headquartered in Baton Rouge, and Sparkhound also has offices in Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Sparkhound has been around since 1998, and I.T. by Design was established in 2003. —Steve Sanoski