Downtown Albany attracting technology firms - according to BID

Three technology companies have moved into offices in Downtown Albany or significantly expanded their office space in the past several months. Firms WhoSay and QED National have opened new offices in Downtown and Microsoft has invested nearly $1 million into expanded office space. WhoSay, a national social media web company, has opened an office at 418 Broadway. The office is comprised of approximately ten people and the company has plans to double its engineering staff by the end of the year. WhoSay is a web service that helps link celebrities, athletes, and other iconic personalities to their fans. It is currently an invite-only service for the top content creators in the world. Michael Holtzman, chief technology officer of WhoSay, stated, "We are pleased with our decision to open an office in Downtown Albany. The location is perfect for WhoSay because it provides easy access to the company's offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and London via the Albany/Rensselaer Train Station and the Albany International Airport. The new office is also conveniently located near walkable lunch places and the residences of our employees." New York based IT services company, QED National, has opened an office at 11 North Pearl Street. The company views this expansion as a means to better support its public sector clients in the Capital Region. QED National delivers flexible IT staffing and systems solutions to large institutional clients and government agencies. The firm has been recognized as one of the 5,000 fastest growing companies by Inc. for the past three years. "QED National is proud to announce the opening of our new office in downtown Albany," said Russell Kiernan, head of business development at QED National. "This expansion is an important step in growing our operations in New York State and providing the best quality of IT services to our strategic customers in NYS government agencies." In addition to these new firms Downtown, Microsoft has expanded its Downtown presence. The company has moved into a 5,200 s/f office at 54 State St. that can accommodate up to 20 employees. The nearly $1 million dollar investment Downtown doubles the company's office space and accommodates a 300% expansion in the number of employees Microsoft has Downtown. The new office also offers a seminar area where Microsoft employees can train clients on the company's latest software. "Microsoft has been proud to support our customers and partners over the years throughout the Upstate New York Region," said John Kaldy, Microsoft Northeast public sector sales director. "Our expansion in downtown Albany showcases our ongoing commitment to the Capital Region and reinforces our compelling belief in the power of software to help the governments, businesses and individuals of New York realize their full potential." "Downtown Albany is the ideal location for a technology related business," said Georgette Steffens, executive director at the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID). "Downtown is home to the largest fiber optic network north of New York City and also benefits from redundant electrical service that prevents most energy blackouts." Five companies have relocated Downtown in recent months including Casey Strategic Relations, Lender Consulting Services, and Neighborhood Preservation Coalition. Additionally, several notable firms have also resigned or expanded leases Downtown including New York Business Development Corporation, Center for Economic Growth, The West Firm, LLP, Phillips Lytle, LLP, Cordo & Company, LLC, Pine Street Capital Management, Louis-Jack Pozner, Suhan Business Solutions, and Hiscock & Barclay, LLP. There are 250 companies and organizations in downtown Albany including eleven Fortune 500 Companies, six of the region's ten largest law firms, five of the region's top ten financial planning firms, and thee of the regions' top five CPA firms.