History

The evolution of Cargas Systems.

Chip Cargas founded Cargas Systems on June 17, 1988. In a small bedroom corner with a Macintosh SE computer with a 9” screen (currently on display in Chip’s office), dot matrix printer, desk, phone, and answering machine, Chip launched Lancaster-based Cargas Systems, a computer consulting firm.

The concept of Cargas Systems had several origins. Chip had a vision of establishing a company around core values and of fostering a work environment where employees would be motivated by those values. One of the first sets of “policies and procedures” Chip designed for the company was its core values: teamwork, customer care and shared success. These values are still intact today and are as much of an integral part of the company as they were in the beginning.

Chip, with a solid background in Industrial Engineering and Human Resources, also formed the company to help other businesses bridge the gap between processes, people and technology in order to enhance their overall business success. Chip’s lifelong interest in developing efficient, effective, streamlined systems and procedures to help companies achieve business success was and still is the company’s primary focus.

Projects in the first year of Cargas Systems’ history focused on overall system implementation and streamlining, and were not focused on any particular type of computer hardware or software. The realization that the flexibility and ease-of-use of Cargas Systems' in-house Macintosh computers had significant advantages over the inflexible computers clients were using initiated the direction to selling and supporting accounting and business information system software designed specifically for the graphical environment. At the time, the graphical environment meant Macintosh, but since then Cargas Systems changed focus to Windows and web-based environments.

In 1993, Cargas Systems extended its offerings to include Microsoft-based software solutions by becoming an authorized Great Plains partner. Within two years, Cargas Systems met the strict sales growth requirements of Great Plains and became a member of their esteemed President’s Club. In following years, Cargas Systems maintained their President’s Club status and has also been honored with several prestigious awards and achievements from Microsoft (previously Great Plains) including Excellence in Customer Care and the Microsoft Industry Solutions Award for Best Financial Solution, designating Cargas Systems as one of the most respected, prominent partners in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Chip had been the sole owner of Cargas Systems, until 1998, when he rolled out employee ownership. Chip reduced his ownership from 100% to 60%, and now 93% of Cargas employees are shareholders in the company. Even those who do not own stock in the company are encouraged to perform according to the employee-owned culture that has been fostered throughout the history of Cargas Systems.

Cargas Systems has always been a team-oriented and values-based company. Policies and programs are continually fine-tuned, enabling employees to fully live by the company’s values, serve customers in the best possible way and experience growth at a responsible rate.