Software Company Expands with Support from Government

Quorum Information Systems Inc., a software company that services the automotive industry, is expanding its operation in the province with help from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Government is providing a $500,000 loan to help Quorum create 15 new positions at its St. John’s office as they improve efficiencies and prepare for expected future growth.

“I am very pleased to announce this contribution to Quorum Information Systems,” said the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Business. “Diversifying our economy to include knowledge-based technology sectors is critically important to the long-term success of Newfoundland and Labrador. Quorum is selling dealership and customer management software to car dealerships all over North America, and they continue to grow and provide more well-paying jobs to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”

The publicly traded Calgary-based company opened an office in St. John’s in 2006, in order to retain two talented Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that were employed with Quorum in Calgary, yet yearned to return home to Newfoundland and Labrador. The St. John’s office has grown from a staff of five to their current 38 employees and Quorum is keen to expand and hire more local talent, a testament to the value that organizations around the world place on Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are trained and educated in the province.

“Our experience with operating an office in Newfoundland and Labrador has been nothing short of amazing,” said Maury Marks, Quorum’s President and CEO. “We have found that the availability of high-quality skilled talent has even exceeded our high expectations. The support of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has made this an easy transition and St. John’s now houses our largest office.”

Quorum’s key product is XSELLERATOR™, a Windows-based program that automates nearly all aspects of a retail automobile dealership. Quorum is a designated General Motors Integrated Dealer Management System (GM IDMS) partner, one of only two companies in Canada to receive this distinction. In 2010, Quorum became the second largest system provider across all GM Canada dealers.

One of Quorum’s larger customers is Woodward Group of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Woodward Auto Group first installed the system in 2007 and they have continued to grow and expand using Quorum’s software.

“Our organization searched for a modern system that would help take our dealer group to the next level,” said Ken Loder, General Manager for Woodward Motors Limited St. Anthony. “We found it with Quorum and the fact that they already had a presence in Newfoundland and Labrador was a plus.”

The Department of Business is providing a $500,000 loan through the Business Attraction Fund which is designed to help companies establish or expand operations in Newfoundland and Labrador and position the province to compete for national and foreign investment.

“This partnership is good news for our information technology sector,” said Bob Ridgley, MHA for St. John’s North. “Having a company like Quorum locate core operational functions in the province and continue to add new positions, provides Newfoundlanders and Labradorians the opportunity to work for a successful national company right here at home.”

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2011 05 11                                                                            11:40 a.m.