Tom McDougall founded High Point Networks in 2003 when he was inspired to create an information technology business that focused on solving real business needs rather than on reactively answering requests. He started with a team of four people in a small office in West Fargo, primarily focusing on network and security solutions for businesses.

Early on, naysayers told him the nature of High Point Networks’ work would become a commodity, but McDougall believed solutions-focused expertise would always be in need to help business overcome challenges and drive success.

He was right. In the past 17 years, High Point Networks has grown to have 11 offices in seven states, serving more than 1,300 clients throughout the Midwest. In 2014, they moved into the company’s corporate headquarters off of I-94 in West Fargo, where 53 of the company’s 160+ employees work today. Their solution and services offerings have also expanded, now specializing in Infrastructure, Datacenter, Security and Unified Communications, with a world-class services team designing and supporting these solutions, in addition to a Managed Services team that partners with and supports organizations across the U.S.

In 2016, McDougall and the rest of the leadership team at High Point Networks were ready to bring the organization to the next level. They invested significant time and resources into studying growth models and business operating systems – an effort that led to restructuring, new management strategies, and ultimately the ability for everyone to rise to new levels of performance and accountability.

This investment in strategy and structure set them up to successfully complete three key acquisitions over the next few years, fueling massive growth and positioning them for long-term success. In 2019, they instituted a theme they called S.T.E.M. – Stability, Training, Efficiency and Margin – which they engrained in every level of the company, leading to incredible growth in both top and bottom line.

Aside from being an accomplished businessman, McDougall has found numerous ways to impact his community, serving other organizations with his time, talent and treasure. He has served as board president for F5 Project and TNT Kids Fitness, Treasurer for North Dakota FarmHouse Fraternity Alumni Association, and Chair of the West Fargo Planning and Zoning Commission.

He says the accomplishment he is most proud of is that he has been able to provide worthwhile work for like-minded professionals in the communities High Point Networks serves. The business values he teaches are to be humbly confident, grow or die, help first, do the right thing, and do what you say.

Prioritizing these values above all else in business has resulted in exceptional customer experiences, leading to an average Net Promoter Score (NPS) in the 80s or above. High Point Networks is constantly challenging themselves to provide greater value to clients and provide solutions that meet and exceed clients needs and expectations to help everyone do better and be better in business and in their professions. He has built a company culture that revolves around leadership, honest service, family and giving back. McDougall said he cannot wait to take on every new opportunity and challenge that comes his way in the years ahead.