HCH Enterprises is finally profiting at home

EXPERIENCED HANDS: Henry Hodge Jr., owner of HCH Enterprises, launched his company in 2001. “I think my work with Fortune 500 companies gave me a lot very valuable experience,” he said. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
EXPERIENCED HANDS: Henry Hodge Jr., owner of HCH Enterprises, launched his company in 2001. “I think my work with Fortune 500 companies gave me a lot very valuable experience,” he said. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

Although Henry C. Hodge began his information technology career as a defense contractor in the Washington, D.C., area, his technical expertise led him to work in many segments of business and industry.
His experience in IT included work with companies ranging from General Electric to NCR and Alcan Aluminum.
Hodge launched his Rhode Island company, HCH Enterprises, in 2001. His strategy was to be in commuting distance of Albany, N.Y.; Hartford, Conn.; and Boston, as well as having the convenience of T.F. Green Airport to reach farther-flung clients.
In tough economic years, Hodge worked lean and hired consultants, determined to remain in Rhode Island and keep the company afloat.
“Until this past year, all of my business was outside of the state. I had a large pharmaceutical client in Philadelphia, clients in Texas, Ohio and all over,” he said.
“I’ve lost Rhode Island state contracts to companies that were from out of state, probably because some of them priced a little less, and then nickel-and-dimed them,” said Hodge. “State contracts have a lot of requirements – they’re very specific and I think my work with Fortune 500 companies gave me a lot very valuable experience.”
After being based in the Ocean State for 13 years, his client roster is finally coming home. Hodge is seeing his expertise and his company gain a foothold in the local business landscape.
“About a year-and-a-half ago, we started working for the state of Rhode Island, subcontracting project managers for the implementation of HealthSource RI,” said Hodge.
“Then last fall we were awarded a contract for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center,” he said. “I’ve wanted to work with them for years.
“Now I’d say about 85 percent of our business is in Rhode Island,” said Hodge. “I think people realized we’re here and we’re good.”
The in-state business, as well as continuing out-of-state clients, allowed HCH Enterprises to add full-time jobs.
“We hired four more people when we got the HealthSource RI work,” said Hodge. A contract with a health care company that operates more than 280 nursing homes and the Navy contract increased the need for full time employees.
In less than two years, HCH Enterprises has grown from a handful of employees to 23 working full time.
In a state where experienced IT professionals are hard to come by, Hodge finds many of his new hires by word-of-mouth. He also looks for people who have qualities and experience that fit well with the company, but who may have had a difficult time in the workforce.
“We’re employing some people who have been unemployed or underemployed,” said Hodge. “I find there are a lot of people who have been overlooked. They don’t need a lot of training.
“We’re looking for people who are local in Rhode Island, instead of bringing people in from out-of-state,” said Hodge.
Some are talented local residents who may have been commuting to work in the Boston area because of opportunities there, but may want to come back to work in Rhode Island.
Hodge is enthusiastic about building the IT workforce in Rhode Island. He is part of a working group of IT professionals surveying the needs of business in the state in preparation for a computer science curriculum summit in the fall.
A growth area he sees for his company that also has potential for the IT industry in Rhode Island is in cybersecurity.
“During August, we’ll be announcing a collaboration on a project with StrikeForce for electronic security for health-information systems,” said Hodge.
StrikeForce Technologies is an Edison, N.J.-based company that helps prevent online identity theft and data-security breaches for consumers, corporations and government agencies, according to the company’s website.
“Identity theft is a major concern for the health care industry because someone can build a complete identity around someone’s health records,” said Hodge.
He and his company are digging deeper roots in Rhode Island.
“The Navy contract is a 3-year contract and we’re going to make sure projects get done as they like them and we have the ability to go after additional work with the Navy,” said Hodge. “I think we have the probability of winning more business with the state in the future.
“I’d like to be able to help rejuvenate the manufacturing industry here,” he said. •

COMPANY PROFILE
HCH Enterprises LLC
OWNER: Henry C. Hodge Jr.
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Information technology consulting
LOCATION: The Center on Broad, 570 Broad St., Providence
EMPLOYEES: 23
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2001
ANNUAL SALES: WND

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