The Brevard Technical Journal

Business improvement systems lead to success for technology solutions firm
DragonPoint designs custom systems for human resources, sales and forecasting to manufacturing production and product support

by Kathy Hagood
Brevard Technical Journal

Suzie DeBusk is comfortable taking the reins whether she's riding horseback on a safari in Kenya or serving as president of DragonPoint Inc. in Rockledge.

DeBusk founded the business technology company in 1988 and added two other principals along the way. DragonPoint now provides custom computer solutions, network support and process reengineering for about 150 customers, including Hydro Aluminum and Mercedes Homes.

The company's nine employees are versed in various computer languages, systems and platforms, including local area networks, wide area networks, and the Internet.

Staff programmers are able to design custom systems for handling human resources; sales, prospects and forecasting; invoicing; shipping and receiving; manufacturing production scheduling; order entry; human resources; and product support.

"New customers may approach us to solve one of their problems, but when we show them how we can improve their business processes and productivity overall, they sign on," she said.

DragonPoint, for example, was able to automate an information retrieval system so that searching for available product from multiple vendors was reduced from 30 minutes to 3 seconds.

Hydro Aluminum in Rockledge has been working with DeBusk and DragonPoint for about 18 years to continue to improve its business technology, said Dennis Herron, president of of precision tubing North America.

"They've created the foundation of business systems that have allowed us to grow to become the dominant precision tubing supplier in North America," Herron said.

DeBusk didn't start her career with the intent of building a successful business technology solutions company. After graduating in 1980 from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in Science Education, she taught a junior high school class.

A results-oriented person who didn't enjoy developing coursework, DeBusk found the experience frustrating.

"I need feedback on what I'm doing. Nobody was there telling me I was doing a good job," she said.

So she left teaching. While employed in a doctor's office, she began working with the computer consultant who was upgrading the office's computer and information management system.

"Computers and programming came naturally to me," she said. "It was like breathing."

Later, the consultant hired her, and she worked with him until she decided to form her own computer consulting company.

"Companies I worked with came over with me and they are still clients," she said.

After founding DragonPoint and building it for awhile, DeBusk joined forces with Sylvia Garner and Kevin Berner, the two other principals in the company.

"They have skills that complement my own," she said. "I didn't want to have to do this all by myself. It makes for a better company because we're a good team."

The arrangement has also allowed DeBusk to periodically teach bootcamp-style classes in technology for General Electric (GE) and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals. She's now a lead instructor for GE's Information Management Leadership Program, a three-week leadership course on how technology to solve business problems.

"Training is great fun. I definitely came full circle on teaching, but with these courses I don't have to develop the coursework and I definitely get feedback," DeBusk said.

She is also a frequent presenter for service organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. Her thoughts on leadership and her passion for going on horseback riding safaris in Kenya are popular topics.

DeBusk has been on nine safaris and is planning another for Kenya in June.

"I wanted to go for years, then finally I decided to go for it. I went with my husband's blessing," she said.

Tom DeBusk, her husband of 23 years, is an environmental consultant. Although he doesn't ride horses and hasn't been on safari with her, he is supportive of her passion, she said.

"I absolutely love the physical nature of it. We typically cover about 20 miles a day and you have to stay focused to keep up."

The safaris have challenged DeBusk's survival skills and have built her confidence and determination, she said. She's especially proud of photos that show her scratched up but beaming after have been chased into a thorny thicket by a wild animal.

"Everything has thorns in Africa," she said.

Because of her experiences on safaris, she's creating a management course for senior-level executives. During a safari in Tanzania, top-level managers will have the opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills under pressure. The training methodologies to be used were developed by Zimbabwe safari guides.

Although the management safaris won't be conducted on horseback, they will be physically challenging.

"Africa is a beautiful but harsh country. It brings things out in you that you never knew were there," she said.

For more information on DeBusk annd DragonPoint, visit www.dragonpoint.com.