Mountain State Software Solutions (MS3) specializes in solution engineering and software integration for both commercial and federal customers. Their experienced consultants are proficient in the delivery of business focused solutions and committed to building long-term and mutually beneficial relationships across client engagements and the community.
MS³ was honored by INC 500 Selection for 2016.
MS3 is a consultancy focused on business acceleration. As a leading provider of enterprise ready mission critical software, their solutions give globally distributed organizations the ability to meet today’s most complex integration challenges.
They’re a seasoned team of application and integration specialists known for our ability to implement complex technical solutions effectively. Their core focus is finding the right solution for the business needs rather than providing solutions and products that are costlier and serve no true function.
Aaron Weikle, CEO of MS3 presenting on the Keys to Implementation of Pragmatic API Design.
Show Notes:
- 00:31-2:49: Jim introduces today’s guest, Aaron Weikle, and his company Mountain State Software Solutions otherwise known as MS3 and asks Aaron to give the listeners some brief insight into his personal life.
- 2:50-4:55: Weikle talks about the roots of MS3 and how the people of West Virginia provided the inspiration behind it.
- 4:56-5:03: What is MS3’s 30 second elevator pitch?
- 5:04-5:42: “MS3 is one of the nation’s premiere software integrators… We ensure that these systems have the ability to communicate together.”
- 5:43-5:54: Aaron, how did you get started in the IT business?
- 5:55-7:20: Weikle talks about his original dream of wanting to become a doctor but not wanting to attend all those years of schooling. He went on to talk about the demand for IT staff when he was entering college and how he decided to pursue it.
- 7:21-7:29: What’re you most excited about for MS3 right now?
- 7:30-8:55: “The thing that most excites me about MS3 is our community outreach programs that we’re putting together.”
- 8:56-9:27: Take us to that worst moment you’ve had as a business owner and how you navigated that situation…
- 9:28-11:40: Weikle talks about having a partnership that went wrong that ended up costing his company a lot of time, money and resources and how important it is to make sure that all partners of a company are going to help move it in the direction necessary to make it grow.
- 11:41-12:14: What would you say is the best thing about being in business in West Virginia?
- 12:15-14:14: “I think the biggest benefit is just the type of people and the ingenuity that comes out of West Virginia.”
- 14:15-14:26: What would you say has been your best business moment?
- 14:27-15:35: “I think the best business moment is whenever we got the opportunity to work with Intel.”
- 15:36-16:15: What’s the vision for MS3 looking long-term?
- 16:16-18:06: “The vision for MS3 is to continue to be a powerhouse from West Virginia.”
- 18:07-18:42: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young people and aspiring entrepreneurs?
- 18:43-19:38: “Don’t be afraid to try it. But if you’re going to go into business, be prepared to put in the work and the effort.” Weikle talks about the many hours needed to make your company grow and the highs and the lows you’ll hit along the way.
- 19:39-20:01: What’s one thing you do everyday that you think contributes to your success?
- 20:02-20:48: “I think that health is very important. I get up every morning at 5 o’clock and I go and do cross-fit… A healthy body and a healthy mind is really going to give you the ability to persevere through problems, through stress and help you continue to grow your business.”
- 20:49-21:18: What’s one resource you use in your business that you cannot live without?
- 21:19-22:27: Weikle says Google G suite and Slack are two programs that are essential to his businesses’ success.
- 22:28-22:38: What’s one book you’d recommend to aspiring entrepreneurs in our state?
- 22:39-24:10: Weikle gives two books: “Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey and “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey”
- 24:11-25:04: If there was anyone in West Virginia you could meet that would help to grow your business, who would it be?
- 25:05-25:49: “I’d probably like to meet up with Joe Manchin to discuss how we can bring more government technology jobs into West Virginia.”
- 25:50-25:57: How can our listeners learn more about you and your company?
- 25:58-26:28: “You can reach us at our website @ www.ms3-inc.com or you can reach us at our main office line @ (304) 579-8100.”
- 26:29-Close: Jim wraps up another episode of Positively West Virginia by thanking Aaron Weikle for joining him today and by recognizing the wonderful sponsors of the show that allow stories like this one to be told.”