Serving others comes naturally to some. For those in the armed forces, more so than others. Army Sgt. Adam Pattisall, after serving his country for four years as a SAT COM operator, went on to serve on another level as a test engineer and technical support engineer at Fujitsu. Five years later, he moved on to CIENA Communications as director of customer service for four years before joining Chromatis Networks as director of customer service and support. Two years later, after Lucent Technologies bought out Chromatis Networks, Pattisall became director of metro optical services and sales.

"Being in a services capacity is something that I’ve always been excited to do," Pattisall said. "I enjoy dealing with customers and finding new solutions to old issues. I feel that giving back and helping others is a satisfaction that gives you a feeling unlike any other."

In and out of uniform, Pattisall helped solve his fellow Americans’ technological problems. After years of doing it everyone else’s way, Pattisall decided he knew enough to try it his way, and founded his own company, IncrediTek Inc.

IncrediTek provides fiber optics and other high-speed circuits and equipment, as well as engineering and installation, to large telecommunication carriers such as Verizon, Alcatel-Lucent, Assent Media, Verizon Business, Fujitsu and Infinera.

"I spent many years studying the commercial telecommunication industry to understand what services they needed to provide a unique service to their end user," Pattisall said. "I decided I could provide a solution unlike the companies that were providing the services at the time. After talking with my wife and many other friends, we decided to take the leap of faith and we literally bet the farm on our future.

"I was unable to find a bank or private investor willing to lend money without assets as security," he said. "At that point, my wife and I decided to take out a second mortgage on our little farm – so when I say we bet the farm, I’m not joking!"

The leap of faith lasted several years. Founded in 2004, IncrediTek took three years to turn a profit, though Pattisall had planned on it. "We never intended to turn a profit in the first two to three years," Pattisall said. "We planned to dump any and all profit back into the business for diversity, equipment and new team members.

In the end, the plan worked and the bet proved worth the risk. In the 2007 fiscal year, IncrediTek grossed over $8.75 million with a profit margin of over $2.49 million, more than a $7.5 million leap from the 2006 revenues of about $1.25 million. The Maryland-based company now has additional sites in Hanover, Pa., and Hammonton, N.J. Pattisall happily reported IncrediTek recently had three banks bidding for his business.

Pattisall isn’t letting IncrediTek rest on its laurels. To achieve his goal of being at the top of his market, Pattisall is working to diversify the company’s market and expand its product line.

"I’ve spent the last 18 months on diversity," Pattisall said. "IncrediTek started in the wire line services arena and moved into wireless, microwave, video, resale and other very exciting areas. With support for our core group, I was able to start two other companies with different charters and to date they are both doing well."

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