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Five to watch in '05
Fort Collins' tech industry has big plans for the new year
By SARA REED from the Coloradoan Newspaper

As 2004 comes to a close, it is time to look forward to what might be in 2005.

There is hope the economy will continue to grow and recover. Area companies have plans to expand staff, unveil new products and embark on new projects.

Here are five area companies to keep an eye on in 2005.

Privacy Networks
Created in 2003, Privacy Networks released two software packages in 2004. Both e-mail filters and virus protectors, PrivacyPost and PrivacyMobile, are the first two of the company's larger four-program office suite, Internet Communication Security Suite.

Privacy Networks CEO Todd Massey said the company will announce the entire software suite in February at the RSA technology trade show in San Francisco.

The remaining packages in the suite, Massey said, will focus on regulating the flow of e-mail out of employee accounts.

Additionally, Massey said the company will continue research and development on new products and updates for existing products.

"Research and development is happening every year," he said. "As we evolve products, we have to create new features for customers. It's natural."

Additionally, Massey said he anticipates adding some staff in 2005 as product sales grow.

"We'll definitely be expanding," he said. "We have to grow staff for sales and marketing."

However, Massey said he wasn't sure how much his 20-person staff would be expanding.

"I hate to say one thing and have the community expect that only for it to not happen," he said.

Chrisland, Inc.
In October 2003, two former executives of McWhinney Enterprises branched out on their own with a new development company, Chrisland Inc.

In 2004, Nick Christensen and Ryan Schaefer began working on development projects at the interchange of Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34 - kitty-corner to Loveland's Centerra project - which was ultimately named 2534.

Christensen, managing principal for Chrisland, said they would continue construction in the 500-acre, mixed-use development in 2005, focusing on the retail portions.

"The infrastructure is under way," he said. "As far as seeing buildings coming up, it will be in the late spring or early summer."

Additionally, Christensen said the company will continue to be involved in developing other sites in the county.

"We'll be brokering a number of sites along I-25," he said. "We'll be involved in the development of over 1,000 acres all together."

Christensen also said it is likely they will add a couple of employees during the year.

"We plan to keep it to six employees," he said.

All in all, Christensen said people can expect good things from Chrisland, Inc.

"It'll be an outstanding year," he said. "It will be even better (than 2004) because we'll be up and running."

Otter Products
Since it was founded in 1996, Otter Products has put together a line of crushproof, waterproof cases for personal electronics, wallets and even cigars.

The upcoming year will be a big year for the company, said Brian Thomas, director of sales and marketing.

"This will be our breakout year," Thomas said. "This is the year we're really going to grow and mature as a company."

Thomas said the company launched a number of new products late this year, including a case for PDAs and another for iPods.

"The benefits of those will be seen in 2005," Thomas said.

In the next year, Thomas said the company will continue to release new products.

"We're going to launch a whole laptop line sometime around August," he said.

Additionally, a partnership with Hewlett-Packard to allow Otter Products access to HP's sales channels will provide for additional growth.

"The growth will be exponential," Thomas said. "This will allow us to extend our sales force into their sales force."

QLT USA, Inc.
The pharmaceutical company started 2004 as Atrix Laboratories Inc., with QLT USA, Inc. being born of a merger between Atrix and British Colombia-based QLT Inc. in November.

Mike Duncan, president of QLT USA, said the upcoming year will be characterized by the process of the two companies getting to know each other.

"The year, at least the first half of it, will be a time of cultural transition," Duncan said. "It will also be one of continued growth. With the launch of four or five new products, it will be phenomenal."

These new products, peppered throughout the year, will be part of what defines the year. Duncan said the company plans to launch a treatment for advanced prostate cancer, an anti-acne product and two generic topical dermatological products.

"We will also continue our path of profitability," he said.

However, Duncan said it was too early to start talking about increases in personnel. He said the Fort Collins site will integrate a lot of manufacturing, and that is where any potential growth is likely to be. But these changes all depend on what happens as QLT USA and QLT continue the integration process.

But Duncan said there's no cause for concern.

"QLT is very committed to Northern Colorado."

Red Hen Systems
Carol Snyder, chief operating officer for Red Hen Systems, which manufactures video mapping systems and software, said the big thing in 2005 will be their newest product.

The sDVR, or spatial digital video recorder, is set for launch in February.

"This is designed for our customers who are video mapping large volumes of data," Snyder said. "This recorder allows them to record GPS information directly on to a hard drive."

Snyder said this product can be used for large mapping projects by utility, governmental, transportation and other types of customers.

"For example, the Department of Transportation might want to map the sides of the road for signage," she said. "This allows users to catalog the condition of a corridor."

In addition to being able to save the information right on a hard drive, the new recorder will hold up to 40 hours of footage, and that footage will not have to be processed once it is back in the lab.

"There will be easier data collection and faster access to that data," Snyder said.

Snyder also said other announcements are pending, but those announcement will be made at the company's user conference Feb. 23-25 at University Park Holiday Inn.

Snyder said she expects it to be a good year for Red Hen.

"We expect it to be a year of growth, sales-wise," she said. "The demand for this technology will continue to increase."

Originally published December 27, 2004