GovTech Solutions

GovTech Solutions is a "woman-owned, small business that specializes in Web site design, programming solutions in .NET and MS SQL databases." It provides "services to federal, state, and local government agencies and offices" and is listed on the federal General Services Administration and Ohio State Term Schedules, its website states. 

Mike Connell told Inside Business magazine in 2000 "that his company" New Media Communications, Inc. "dealt 'in a very niche market.' But the family business found a new niche when his wife Heather formed GovTech Solutions to pursue government accounts rather than political business," Chris Landers wrote for in a Center for Public Integrity profile.

"Heather Connell is majority stockholder in GovTech Solutions, and until September 2001, the DCI Group was a minority stockholder. While it is identified as a woman-owned business in the federal procurement database, Connell says his wife's company never sought formal certification as such, nor has it received set-aside government contracts," Landers wrote.

Connell told Landers that "he and his wife formed two companies because the two markets are different: New Media helps to advocate political positions, while GovTech's work provides a nonpartisan way for an office to communicate with all constituents."

"In some cases," Landers wrote, "New Media and GovTech Solutions have had contracts with the same clients. New Media might design a campaign Web site for a candidate who, once elected, would contract with GovTech to design a federally funded official site. At least four of the seven New Media clients who won House races in 2004 also used GovTech as the designer for their congressional sites."

In 2004, "New Media provided Web design services for the re-election campaign of George W. Bush, three senators and seven House members, in addition to the Republican National Committee. In all, the company took in $1.2 million for its work on the 2004 campaigns.

"By 2004, GovTech had served as Web designer for the official, federally funded Web pages of 37 members of Congress. And the following year, according to House financial statements, GovTech received more than $144,000 in business from 21 Republican House members and Republican-led committees," Landers wrote.

gwb43.com / Server
The govtechsolutions domain is run in the same network block as gwb43.com, which is served by the SMARTech Corporation.

Leadership
"The 2007 SBA Firm Profile shows Mike Connell as the Operations Manager. His wife, Heather Connell, is listed as President and CEO. The business is identified as a woman-owned company," Todd Johnston wrote March 27, 2007, in ePluribus Media.

"However, the articles of organization shows that Mike L. Connell was apppointed the agent 'upon whom any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by statute to be served upon the limited liability company may be served.'

"There are three principals named in this document: Mike Connell, Thomas J. Synhorst and Heather Connell," Johnston wrote.

Clients
The following are listed as GovTech clients:


 * U.S. Department of Energy
 * Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
 * Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas)
 * Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Kentucky)
 * Ohio Secretary of State
 * Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Contact information
302 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330 665-3483 FAX: 330 665-3486 Website: http://www.govtechsolutions.com/ Email: info AT govtechsolutions.com

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Bush administration U.S. attorney firings controversy/e-mail controversy
 * Donatelli Group (See Connell Donatelli Inc.)
 * Mike Connell
 * New Media Communications, Inc.

External articles

 * Chris Landers, Consultant Profile: "New Media Communications," Center for Public Integrity, October 30, 2006.
 * Xan, "Should the House Judiciary Committee Have A Website Run by an RNC-Approved Firm?" Corrente Wire, March 25, 2007.
 * Luaptifer, "The GOP, GeorgeWBush.com and the line that jumped the Congressional Firewall" [Update], ePluribus Media, March 27, 2007.
 * Todd Johnston, "Who is Michael L. Connell? Part I: The Atwater School of Politics," ePluribus Media, March 28, 2007.
 * Joseph Cannon, "Who is Michael L. Connell?" Cannonfire Blogspot, April 2, 2007.
 * Todd Johnston, "Who is Michael L. Connell? Part II: Behind the firewall," ePluribus Media, April 2, 2007.
 * Leah, "Republican Playbook. An Open Letter To Jeffrey Price," Corrente Wire, April 5, 2007.
 * Joseph Cannon, "Computergate, GovTech and SmarTech," Cannonfire Blogspot, April 13, 2007.
 * Steven Rosenfeld and Bob Fritakis, "Network Hosting Attorney Scandal E-Mails Also Hosted Ohio's 2004 Election Results," Free Press (AlterNet), April 23, 2007: "Did the most powerful Republicans in America have the computer capacity, software skills and electronic infrastructure in place on Election Night 2004 to tamper with the Ohio results to ensure George W. Bush's re-election? ... The answer appears to be yes."
 * Rebecca Abrahams, "White House Emails: The Missing Link?," The Huffington Post, October 21, 2008.