21st Century settles on 'Silicon Prairie'

21st Century founder Alexander Stoyen joins officials and dignitaries to perform the traditional ribbon cutting for Monday's opening of the McCook office of the software development company. Taking part (from left) are Zach Randolph of Indianola, a student intern; Dr. Michael Chipps, president of Mid-Plains Community College; U.S. Sen. Ben. Nelson; Stoyen; Richard Baier, director of the Nebraska Department of Development; Matthew W. Stebbins, director of ground systems for 21stCSI; Rosalie Marley of Stratton, technical staff; and Scott Johnson, network administrator. (Bruce Crosby/McCook Daily Gazette)

McCook had the infrastructure in place and the right attitude, but a little luck didn't hurt, either.

It all began to pay off Monday with the official opening of a new high-tech, clean industry for Southwest Nebraska, developing im-portant software for the U.S. military.

Dignitaries including U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, Anthony D. Worland of a U.S. Navy program and Mid Plains Community College officials gathered for a ribbon cutting to mark the official opening of 21st Century Systems Inc.

The software firm established an office at McCook Community College partly because of a chance meeting on an airline between Nelson and Jeff Hicks, chief operating officer of 21st Century Inc., who both spend many weekends commuting between Washington and Omaha.

"Never forget serendipity," Nelson said. "Never walk away from a good idea that's presented to you."

Nelson, who coined the term "Silicon Prairie" in hopes of just such development, and who admits being partisan about McCook, put the company in touch with Mayor Jerda Garey, the McCook Economic Development Corp. and others.

Founder Dr. Alexander Stoyen, a naturalized U.S. citizen and native of Ukraine, said it is very important for companies to be able to react quickly and effectively to opportunities.

"One has to excel, and prove themselves to be an effective company," Stoyen said.

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Worland, who carries the title "visualization project lead program executive office integrated warfare systems" for the Navy, praised Nelson's effort as part of the Senate Armed Services Committee to bring systems such as 21st Century's ExLog 21 information system into play sooner, speeding up the lengthy budget procurement process.

Their vision and effort is to get the systems to the "war-fighter" faster, Worland said.

The "Silicon Prairie," Nelson said, brings common sense and a strong work ethic to the table, "and the cost of living makes sense."

Echoing that aspect was Greg Wolford, chairman of the McCook Economic Development Corp., who said a recent two-hour stint in Denver rush-hour traffic reminded him why he was living and working in Southwest Nebraska.

Two hours each day, times five days for a month equals a 40-hour week that Denver workers spend stuck in traffic, Wolford said.

"We have a great quality of life, but the best place in the world is no good without opportunity," Wolford said. "21st Century is a good fit."

Stoyen, who studied mathematics in Ukraine, and his wife, Lana, moved to New York where he did research for IBM and later was a professor in New Jersey.

He moved to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and he and Lana, who has a background in computers as well as a master's degree in business, formed 21st Century Systems Inc.

Hicks told the Omaha World-Herald that the company expects revenues of $15 million in 2005 and $20-$26 million in 2006. The company started the year with 28 employees and now has nearly 50 at its six offices, near major clients, in Bremerton, Wash., Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Honolulu, Hawaii and Newport, R.I.

The McCook office, remodeled from a former meeting room in Walsh Brady Hall on the MCC campus, was financed with a $180,000 grant for computer equipment and staff, procured by the McCook EDC.

The McCook office employs 10 people, including two interns this summer.

Visitors to Monday's ceremony were able to view workstations which will be used for software testing.

Stoyen's vision, he said, is to integrate human with electronic information systems in ways that work better than either system alone.

Video-game like programs, using information from vehicles themselves, as well as satellites, round sensors, sonar and other sources, will help commanders know, for instance, the status, capabilities and locations of vehicles and use that information to make battlefield decisions.

Other programs can be used in homeland security to chart, for instance, the spread of contamination from a chemical or biological attack, for instance.

Local officials hope 21st Century Systems Inc. is just a start.

"We couldn't be happier" with the new arrangement, Dr. Michael Chipps, Mid Plains president said.

With continued effort -- and a little luck, the dream of a "high-tech, Silicon Prairie" dream can become a reality.