Chicago-based SEI Information Technology, a technology consulting firm, has opened an Irvine office with a possible eye toward expanding the site into a full-service operation with 65 employees in a year’s time.
For now, the office near John Wayne Airport houses just two administrative employees. But the company is considering hiring new workers and relocating some from its Los Angeles office, where about half of the 75 employees commute from Orange County or just over the line in San Diego, according to Pam Wiedenbeck, SEI’s Western regional manager.
The company decided to set up an OC office to better serve clients in the area, Wiedenbeck said. SEI, which develops custom software and sells and installs customer relationship management applications, counts Santa Ana-based First American Financial Corp. and Capital Group’s Brea office as customers. The company also works closely with Microsoft Corp., whose OC office is nearby in Irvine
“We hope that the successful establishment of this Irvine office will pave the way for further expansion into other areas of Southern California and San Diego,” Wiedenbeck said.
SEI offers and provides service for software from Plumtree Software Inc., Siebel Systems Inc., FrontRange Solutions Inc. and Interact Commerce Corp.’s SalesLogix. Besides its Irvine and Los Angeles offices, SEI has a handful of others in New York, Oak Brook, Ill. and Fargo, N.D. In total, the company employs about 400 technology and business consultants. n
