Winning Ideas from Winning Women
with Louise Collis

Louise Collis, President of Willowtec, is a prime great example of an entrepreneur. Louise’s company provides open systems solutions for businesses as well as a comprehensive suite of system integration and support services. Willowtec was the proud recipient of the Pinnacle Award from the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and, in 2002, she received the Impact 100 award for her personal efforts in fund raising for the American Cancer Society.

As Louise thinks back on the start of her company, she tells us, “In the days when the PC was the first beginning to appear in small businesses and households, I was working as a senior contract administrator for a satellite subsystem development company. Part of my responsibility was to put together complex proposals and during one of these we were short of time and long on numbers. So someone introduced me to the PC and its spreadsheet capability—the rest is history. I whipped out and bought a PC, and discovered how much I did not know. As I think back on it, it seems even the sales clerks in the computer store could not cope with my insatiable appetite for information.”

From this experience, an idea was born, and with the encouragement of several computer geek friends, a company was born. At first Louise’s company served the mini computer market, which quickly evolved into the PC and client server market through the introduction of such systems as UNIX, Novell and Microsoft.

Louise plays a leadership role in many North Carolina organizations; Willowtec has been a member of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and she has served as vice chair. In addition, Louise has headed up the effort for the Fred Fletcher Memorial Golf Tournament for the American Cancer Society; she has served as president of the Triangle Referral Chapter of Business Network Internal; she currently serves as program chair for the National Association of Women Business Owners; and she is secretary on the Board of Raleigh Little Theatre.

When asked about her entrepreneurial nature, Louise laughs and tells us, “I have always loved business and have been fortunate to have been associated with some very successful entrepreneurs who I admired greatly. They helped me learn what the business world was all about.” Louise’s parents, brother and husband have all owned their own successful companies. “My family seems to have an entrepreneurial streak running through it, so they totally understand the hours and dedication required.”

Louise’s most exciting time in running Willowtec came in the late ’90s, when her company was awarded major contracts, including those from government entities and an airplane manufacturer. And like many other entrepreneurs, she suffered from the shock wave of the dot-com bust, when, as she tells it, “IT budgets had been overspent for the next two years. Long-term clients put existing programs and new projects on hold and some clients went into new alliances, sold their companies or closed their doors.”

Through it all, Louise feels her best business decision was converting from the mini computer business into the UNIX and PC worlds. She tells us, “There was a huge change about to come to the industry and we were right on the curve with that one.”

When asked what one thing was she most proud of, Louise Collis replied with a smile. “Although I have had to make some really tough business decisions from time to time, our company has helped the affected employees to successfully transition to new opportunities or careers. Some of our folks have been with us either as employees or subcontractors for a long time.”

Louise offers good advice for women deciding whether or not to start their own businesses. “Be sure you are prepared for the long hours, the balancing act with your family and the total immersion required for the first few years. Don't be afraid to fail but plan, plan, plan for success and above all, be flexible.”

At the base, Louise thinks it is important for women to understand that “The keys to success are dedication, enjoying what you do, understanding your market, being able to stand firm and always keeping an open mind.”