Company History
The Milestones that Shaped Us
From the corner of a bedroom in 1988, Chip Cargas set out to start a business founded on values that would inspire and motivate employees.
How It All Got Started
From the beginning, Cargas Systems has done things a little differently. Sit down with Chip Cargas, Founder and Chair Emeritus, as he discusses Cargas’s early history. Learn how his vision of balancing capitalism & power to the people motivated him to create Cargas.
The Beginning
Chip Cargas launched Cargas Systems on June 17, 1988 in the corner of his bedroom. He started with a state-of-the-art Macintosh SE computer with a 9” screen (still on display in our office today) and a dot matrix printer. The company’s original purpose was to help businesses use computers effectively.
Culture
Cargas was founded on the vision that creating a great place to work attracts talented and motivated employees who are uniquely invested in the success of our company. One of the first things Chip developed for his new business was the company’s core values: teamwork, customer care, and shared success.
Microsoft Partnership
In 1993, Cargas began selling software products for business, starting with Great Plains, software for accounting and supply chain management. When Microsoft acquired Great Plains in 2001, Cargas became a Microsoft partner and started reselling, implementing, and customizing Microsoft business solutions. Today, Cargas specializes in Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Employee Ownership
Looking to the future, Chip introduced a direct stock ownership program in 1998 and has incrementally reduced his ownership ever since. Today, nearly 70% of Cargas employees have made the personal financial investment to become direct shareholders in our company. All employees, whether or not they own stock, are encouraged to “think and act like owners” to support our employee-owned culture.
Built-to-Last Vision
To remain sustainable for future generations of employee-owners, Chip and the Cargas board of directors established a built-to-last strategy. Ownership succession through the employee-ownership program and leadership succession planning are a primary focus of the executive team. We also follow a sustainable growth philosophy, only growing our company as quickly as we can build up our team to support that growth and maintain quality customer care.
Cargas Energy
In 2005, Cargas launched its first full-fledged proprietary software product, Cargas Energy. Cargas Energy is software and mobile applications designed for fuel delivery and HVAC service companies to help them manage their operations. Since its launch, Cargas Energy has been rapidly gaining market share in the energy industry and has played a major role in Cargas’ recent growth.
Sage Partnership
In 2012, Cargas added Sage Intacct cloud accounting software to its product offerings. As a Sage Intacct Premier Partner and member of Sage Intacct’s President’s Club, Cargas has been recognized for its exceptional growth, customer satisfaction, and strategic expertise as a Sage Intacct partner.
CEO Transition
In December 2017, Cargas underwent its first CEO transition when Nate Scott stepped into the role of President & CEO. Chip continues as a member of the Board of Directors, acts as an advisor, helps sustain our company culture, and leads community engagement initiatives.
Downtown Office
As our company has grown and changed, we’ve had several office locations. In October 2019, we moved into our new home at 101 North Queen in Lancaster City. We are thrilled to be part of such a vibrant community and to be working from the heart of downtown.
Board Chair Transition
In October 2020, Cargas underwent its first Board Chair transition when Keith Kuzio, retired CEO of Larson Design Group, was officially elected, succeeding Chip. Today, the Cargas board has eight members—five employee-owner directors and three independent directors from outside the company.
Salesforce Partnership
In 2021, Cargas entered a partnership with Salesforce to implement and support Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM) products for sales, marketing, service, and more. Adding Salesforce to its product portfolio allows Cargas to offer two leading CRM solutions to its customers.
HubSpot Partnership
In 2023, Cargas partnered with HubSpot to implement and support HubSpot Marketing Hub. By partnering with HubSpot, Cargas adds yet another renowned CRM to its suite of offerings.
Let’s Chat
Is Cargas the right fit for you? Contact us to learn more.