Cedar Rapids tech services business sold

Carrier Access of Des Moines, a national communication solutions provider, has acquired Tektivity, a Cedar Rapids-based information technology managed services company.

Tektivity, founded in 1999, has become the information technology department or the primary computer and software support for hundreds of businesses throughout Iowa. In June 2012, the company purchased MSC Technologies of Cedar Rapids, a business that specializes in analyzing computer network data traffic.

Tektivity has acquired four other businesses since 2005: Palmer Communications in 2005, Iowa Electronics and Iowa City Telecommunications in 2010 and Choice Telecom in 2011.

Carrier Access helps clients optimize technology networks and expenses through life cycle management. It provides managed services, help desk services, voice/data networking and project management.

Brendan Phelps, founder and president of Carrier Access, said the acquisition of Tektivity will enable the combined company to play to the strengths of the information technology and telecom industries.

'Telecom and computer technology are coming closer together,” Phelps said. 'With this move, we can set ourselves apart by being more for our clients, essentially by being their guide to all of their technology, rather than just one facet of it.”

Carrier Access has operations extending from Des Moines to Kansas City and Minneapolis. Tektivity's operations span the Corridor and into Illinois.

Doug Flugum, founder and president of Tektivity, said the decision to sell Tektivity was the best for everyone involved. Flugum said the merged company 'will be able to leapfrog the competition by offering a complete technology service line.”

Carrier Access plans to maintain its office in the Des Moines area, as well as Tektivity's office at 9440 Atlantic Dr. SW in Cedar Rapids.