Press Releases
La Salle Alumnus Diego Calderin,
President and Co-founder of Anexinet,
Honored for Entrepreneurship
Philadelphia, PA – March 15, 2010 – La Salle University alumnus Diego Calderin, President, and co-founder of Anexinet Corp., has been named a recipient of the Medallion for Entrepreneurship by Beta Gamma Sigma, a national business honor society. The Medallion is awarded to outstanding individuals who combine innovative business achievement with service to humanity.
“It is difficult to find a better example of entrepreneurship than Diego,” said Susan Borkowski, Ph.D. Professor of Accounting at La Salle and adviser for the University’s Beta Gamma Sigma chapter. “He has been a self–starter his entire life from immigrating from Cuba with his family in pursuit of the ‘American dream’ to building a multi–million dollar company from scratch.”
After graduating from La Salle in 1983 with a degree in computer science, Calderin worked at General Electric as a software and systems engineer. He realized the conventional, corporate mold did not fit with his creative and entrepreneurial instincts. After eight years, he left GE to join Informational Technologies Inc., a technology services start-up company.
“I could easily see where I would be in 20 years if I stayed at GE; it would have been safe and predictable,” Calderin said. “I figured if my father came to this country with nothing—and when I think of the risk he took, my risk of going out on my own pales in comparison.”
In 1999, Calderin founded Acatar, Inc., an Internet systems integration firm specializing in database repurposing, e–commerce, and digital content integration solutions. A year later, Anexinet was born when two former colleagues from Actium/Modis (formerly Information Technologies Inc.) approached Calderin about merging ventures. “Many would think 2000 was a risky year to launch a new company, but I found that if you start a company at a low, it makes the highs that much better,” said Calderin.
As principal and chief technology officer of newly–formed Anexinet, Calderin authored the company’s SAFE-T2® software delivery model, which enables project teams to provide high–quality, on–time deliverables regardless of the technology platform or industry. He also created and implemented his concept of Near-Site® Development Centers, which are dedicated remote workspaces set up at a location near a client’s facility. “I always believe you have to listen to what your clients want,” said Calderin. “Our Near-Site® Development Centers allows us to better meet their needs.” Currently, in addition to its headquarters in Blue Bell, Pa., Anexinet has Near-Site® Development Centers throughout the Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. areas.
Anexinet grew as it acquired and merged with additional companies, and Calderin was named President in 2003. He has received numerous honors for his business acumen. In 2005, Ernst & Young named him Entrepreneur of the Year in the Emerging Business Category in the Greater Philadelphia and Central Pennsylvania region. In addition, he was named La Salle University’s Information Technology Leadership Award recipient.
Meanwhile, Anexinet was named repeatedly to Deloitte LLC’s Greater Philadelphia Fast 50, the Philadelphia100, and Inc. magazine’s Inc5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies. In addition, Anexinet was listed on VAR500’s list of companies with the highest sales growth in 2009.
Outside of Anexinet, Calderin finds time to give back to his community. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Community Volunteers in Medicine and he volunteers as a translator for the Visiting Nurses Association of Chester County.
In addition to serving on the La Salle’s Board of Trustees, Calderin is a member of the University’s advisory board for the Integrated Science, Business, and Technology (ISBT) program. He was instrumental in the development of the ISBT program, which is designed to introduce science students to the application of business disciplines.
“He worked closely with our faculty to translate ISBT from a great idea on paper to a fully–functioning and successful academic program,” said Borkowski. “He continues to support the ISBT program by mentoring students in the information and knowledge management concentration and by providing experiential work experience with Anexinet.”
When asked about the key to his success, Calderin answer is simple—“I surround myself with smart people. No one is successful on their own; you need to surround yourself with very talented people and let them thrive.”
About Anexinet
Anexinet, an award-winning systems integrator and technology management company, enables mid-size and Fortune 1000 clients to optimize the value of their IT investments for improving performance and operational processes. Serving businesses, associations and government agencies, Anexinet recommends, designs, delivers and supports systems integration with leading technology partners. An innovator for aligning IT with business goals, Anexinet protects project investments with accountability backed by PMP®/PMI® certified consultants, industry best practices, Near-Site® Development Centers and proprietary delivery models that have proven successful in hundreds of client engagements. Anexinet is headquartered in Greater Philadelphia with offices serving the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. For more information, visit www.anexinet.com.
Media Contact:
Amy Gardner Cranston
University Communications at La Salle University
215.951.1081