By Kelly Murphy-Redd
Vince Mayfield and Louis Erickson have been “making it so” for decades. This phrase, used by Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, exemplifies the can-do, success-oriented and innovation-driven team at Bit-Wizards.
Bit-Wizards has been an ever-evolving company, but the constant is the friendship of Vince and Louis. Growing up in Okaloosa County, they attended Meigs Junior High and Choctawhatchee High School. They knew each other from ROTC and Civil Air Patrol. Though there was a two-grade level difference in their ages, they became best friends. Their friendship has spanned decades of change, challenges and family tragedies.
The friendship continued after high school when they roomed together in college. Louis majored in computer science, minoring in mathematics and physics. Vince majored in mathematics and minored in computer science, and aerospace science. He also earned a Master’s of Science Degree in International Relations. Later, Vince earned a MBA from the University Of Notre Dame. Louis served in the U.S. Navy. Vince served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.
Their civilian careers began with writing software for Department of Defense and defense contractor projects. Louis moved to Austin, Texas, to care for his late sister’s son. He procured a contract re-writing software for the power and light industry. He asked Vince to come to Austin. They decided it was the time to form a business together.
Vince brought his two dogs to join Louis’s two cats and slept on the floor of Louis’s house. Working like dogs for 18 months writing code, they worked 60 to 80 hours a week. They were going to call their new company Bit Wise, a play on words in the programming world, but the name was taken. Louis remembered an old teacher at the University of West Florida who joked about “stirring the smoke” and how people thought computers made things happen magically. The Bit-Wizards name is meant to be ironic, when behind the curtain, a lot of hard work is going on.
During the dotcom boom in Austin, the partners designed a logo and went to the mall to get shirts made. They wanted to operate like a big business. As they were winding down their project, the dotcom bust happened. Vince, worried about the economy, said they should move back to Fort Walton Beach where there was less traffic, a slower pace of life, and less competition. They paid off all personal debts, Vince moved back, and Louis stayed in Austin another six months.
Vince secured two new contracts and they reincorporated Bit-Wizards in Florida. Working out of Vince’s house until a new building was ready, more 60 to 80-hour weeks followed. While Louis was resistant to moving back, he was soon glad he did. One of his cats got sick two months after returning. He met his wife, Tabitha, at the Veterinary clinic and asked her out. They’ve been married over 20 years.
Bit-Wizard’s first involvement in the economic and community development world was with Florida’s Great Northwest and then the Economic Development Council (EDC) and chambers of commerce. It was a challenge procuring commercial work in the middle of the DoD arena. Their work was primarily outside the local area. When September 11th happened, they lost several contracts and went through a time of struggle. Louis sold his house in Austin and Vince took out an SBA Loan against his house and got a personal loan from his dad. Additionally, they used savings and credit cards to make it through. The business had obligations including insurance and internet connection costs. They had enough money to support the business, but not enough to pay themselves. Thank God they had paid off their debts earlier.
They had to back out of the EDC and the chambers to focus on getting customers. Most small businesses can’t afford custom software. While most of their customers are local, the largest share of dollars are out of the local area. Vince and Louis later reengaged with the EDC and chamber when they could sustain the costs. When they did re-join, they found relationships created were of inestimable value.
A new contract out of New Jersey created a need for employees. Their first employee, John Jackson, is still with them today. Employees mean as much to Vince and Louis as customers do. It’s who they are as human beings. They know de-stressing their employees, keeping them inspired, motivated, taken care of and happy makes for happy customers. Employees can do their best work when they feel valued. The Bit-Wizards mission, values and culture are celebrated on their website: https://bitwizards.com. Vince and Louis credit their military careers, in large part, for developing the values of service-mindedness, ownership thinking, and empowering individuals to be part of a team. A team of “wizards.”
Vince and Louis also believe in doing the right thing for their community. Raised here, Vince has kids who go to school here. Bit-Wizards invested $250,000 in the half-penny school tax designed to address the poor physical condition of local schools.
Personal responsibility is inseparable from business responsibility for Vince and Louis. Every year, Bit-Wizards pays a company $100,000 to try and hack into Bit-Wizards from the outside and from the inside. Their rating has improved every time. Vince and Louis feel they owe this to their customers who are counting on them for security of their own businesses.
Bit-Wizards has evolved from a custom software and digital marketing company to solely a managed IT company. Their sweet spot is servicing small to medium size companies with 10 to 50 users. Updating and managing IT infrastructure is critical for businesses. Louis uses one example of a deadbolt. While it increases inconvenience because you have another step opening the door, your security is increased.
Vince and Louis have defined core values and created success. It hasn’t always been easy. They have learned and are humble. They don’t think they know everything, but think they have made more good decisions than bad ones.
