OUR STORY

Intelligent Questions. Intelligent Answers.

Transformation:  Business as Usual

CAS Severn, a company of continuous growth, change, and reinvention, has prospered by fulfilling a need in the business community: helping companies solve the most challenging business problem with the best IT solution.

Our clients come to us to solve the really hard problems, not sell a solution in a box.

Carson Soule and Doug Gerstmyer founded the company in 1978. At the time, Mr. Gerstmyer was expanding a company in the automotive industry. While trying to acquire software for an IBM System/32 computer, he realized how difficult procuring small business software could be. He and Mr. Soule saw the need for a technology business to create software products and provide services for small businesses.

Beginning as Computer Applications Specialists, with a small team of five programmers, the company has grown with the marketplace. The early 1980s presented the opportunity to expand our offering with software applications development for retail, distribution, and non-profit organizations. This move helped to expand the client base and establish a network engineering practice. In the 1990s we became an IBM hardware reseller to complement the software and service offerings. 1995 brought an important milestone when the company moved into a 31,000 square foot facility in Laurel, Maryland to accommodate the growth. A second location in Richmond, Virginia was opened in 1998 to provide closer resources to the southern region.

In 2001, Severn Companies, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of CAS, a move that expanded industry coverage to the public sector, federal government, and higher education accounts.

Today, as a result of steady growth, we have 59 employees working in offices in different locations throughout the country.

Our company has thrived, regardless of economic climate, because our clients know that our expertise is invaluable.

Our focus has been simple: Provide clients with the intelligent answers they need to get the job done. Whether it’s helping a client to augment their staff, advising on products that will fulfill their business needs, or aiding them to more efficiently use the resources that they have, the team at CAS has been there to answer the call.

“Today’s solutions are not just a single product or part number, but an aggregate of many different pieces. When a client brings us their toughest problem, we assemble a team of experts to create a solution that solves the business problem and provides the highest level of return.” – Steve Drew, CAS Severn President, on winning the 2015 IBM Choice Award for Growth and Transformation

CAS Severn Timeline

2022

Quick Takes

CAS Severn launches a new video series about cybersecurity called, Quick Takes.

 

2020
2019

In The News

Joseph King, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Presales and Technology Services, selected to the elite IBM Champions program.
2018

In The News

CAS Severn celebrates 40 years in April

In The News

CAS Severn Wins 2018 IBM Geography Excellence Award for Digital Marketing in March

In The News

CAS Severn Wins 2018 IBM Geography Excellence Award for Digital in March
2017
2016

In The News

CIO Review Ranked CAS Severn in the annual 100 Most Promising IBM Solution Providers list.
2015

In The News

Recognized by IBM Choice Award for Growth and Transformation for innovation, excellence and success in the market place.

Innovation Center Expansion

Expanded the Innovation Center to include a fully integrated security demonstration of multiple security products, working in tandem, that mirror a typical organization’s environment. This platform is anchored by IBM’s QRadar SIEM tool set.

Growth

CAS Severn is awarded the Chief Information Officer – IT Commodities/Solutions (CIO-CS) contract, allowing the company to sell to all departments within the federal government.
2014

SPIRIT

Launched SPIRIT, a robust, customizable software solution designed for YMCAs to help grow and manage their branch memberships and communities.
2013

IBM Winning Edge Award

Earned the IBM Winning Edge Award for IBM System Storage Elite Business Partners – East Region.

Partner of the Year

Recognized by Carroll Hospital Center with Business Partner of the Year Award.
2012

IBM Winning Edge Award

Received IBM Winning Edge Award for IBM System Storage Elite Business Partners – Federal.
2005

Innovation Center

Completed the Mid-Atlantic region’s first IBM Business Partner Innovation Center, a live environment for proof of concepts, product demonstrations, and training.
2001

CAS acquired Severn Companies

CAS acquired Severn Companies, rebranded as CAS Severn and expanded coverage to public sector and higher education.
1995

Growth

To accommodate growth, moved into a 31,000 square-foot facility in Laurel, MD.
1990s

IBM

Became an IBM hardware reseller to complement the software and service offerings.
1980s

Software Growth

Expertise was expanded to software applications for retail, distribution, and non-profit organizations.
1978

Launch

Founders launched CAS to meet the needs of small business for software products and services.

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