Native son, Dr. Nelson Ludlow returns to rural Washington State to build Mobilisa Inc. into one of the fastest growing companies in the State. Company teams with WSU for further success.

Dr. Nelson Ludlow has traveled the world, serving as an Air Force officer, mathematician, pilot, and intelligence officer, technical director of artificial intelligence and professor of computer science. Six years ago, he returned to Washington State with his wife, Bonnie Ludlow, to start Mobilisa Inc. http://www.mobilisa.com
, a leading provider of mobile and wireless solutions for government and military.

Dr. Ludlow chose Port Townsend for its close proximity to the area’s military installations, as well as for its lower start-up costs. He wanted to locate the company in a rural area, away from the I-5 corridor and resulting commute but not too far from Seattle.

“I knew all along I wanted to move back to Washington State; in particular, I wanted to move to Port Townsend,” said Ludlow. “Even when I was in grade school on Whidbey Island, I thought Port Townsend was the cool place to be.”

Dr. Ludlow and his team have successfully recruited other young people to work at Mobilisa, many of whom are graduates of local Jefferson County high schools.

“It’s a good business decision. It’s the intellectual capability of your people that really matters.” Ludlow said.

Dr. Ludlow and his employees were recently honored by Washington State University (WSU) President John Gardner http://gardner.wsu.edu/ and WSU Team Jefferson, for its rapid national growth and focus on innovation, education and entrepreneurship. In addition, the company was recognized as the leading company in Port Townsend to hire veterans and WSU graduates.

“Mobilisa and Dr. Ludlow exemplify the type of economic development that WSU Team Jefferson intends to grow in Jefferson County” said Gardner. “Rural economic development will need different, innovative approaches in today’s economy. In the 1920s, WSU brought technology to Jefferson County, but back then it was a tractor; today, it’s a computer, wireless high-speed broadband connection, and training via video conferencing.”

Due to its rapid growth Mobilisa bought additional space in the Port Townsend industrial park where it is headquartered, and now has 30 employees working in two building in Port Townsend and others across the Nation. Roughly half of their employees are already living in the Port Townsend area and others relocating from all over the state.

Ludlow first made headlines in 2004, when he brought wireless Internet access to the Washington State Ferry system, installing wireless internet on the Seattle-Bainbridge, Kingston-Edmonds and Port Townsend-Keystone routes. This led to a series of innovation grants and contracts, which allowed waterborne commuters to log onto the web on Washington State and British Columbia ferry systems.

More recently, The Puget Sound Business Journal awarded Mobilisa a spot on its “List of 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies,” based on revenue growth percentages from 2004 to 2006. The company went from $640,000 revenue in 2003 to $3.6 million in 2006, a growth rate of 399.8 percent.

Also, Mobilisa announced its intentions to merge with Intelli-Check Inc., a leader in technology that helps assure the authenticity of documents. Once the companies have merged, Intelli-Check and Mobilisa will have over 50 employees working to provide wireless solutions and innovative technologies that help secure the nation.

"After early discussions with Intelli-Check it became apparent that a combination of Mobilisa and Intelli-Check made sense from every aspect-technology, division of responsibility, markets served and personnel,” said Ludlow. “We believe that a combined company will create an organization with enormous strength in identity verification and authentication as well as the emerging market of high-speed wireless communications. We believe that the potential opportunities are great and we are anxious to pursue them."

Mobilisa also has offices in San Diego, New York and Washington DC. As their customer base and product line expands, Mobilisa wants to continue to grow in the Olympic Coastal Region.

“I’m very proud that a company like Mobilisa, based in the rural area of Washington State, is seen as a leader and innovator in the high-tech industry around the country,” said Ludlow. “This award belongs to all of our employees and supporters. A company is its people and we have the best and the brightest – they are who make this company great.”

Just as Mobilisa’s software connects people, the company is working with business associations, workforce development organizations and others to find ways to increase access to a skilled labor pool. Current employees count themselves fortunate to work for Mobilisa. Developing the local workforce will help Mobilisa succeed and provide others an opportunity to join one of the “Fastest Growing Private Companies” in Washington.

Contact Information:

Mobilisa Inc

191 Otto St.

Port Townsend, WA 98368

360.344.3233 ext 119

[email protected]

http://www.mobilisa.com

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WSU economic leadership teams with Mobilisa

By Danille Turissini

Dr. Nelson Ludlow, CEO of Mobilisa and a Washington State University graduate, was honored Dec. 3 by WSU Vice President John Gardner .

Gardner – WSU’s new vice president for economic development and Extension http://gardner.wsu.edu/ – came to town to honor Ludlow and his employees, many of whom have WSU and University of Washington degrees.

Full Story: http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=21&subsectionID=21&articleID=19521