Twenty-five years after opening its doors, Certified CIO is still here—and still built on the belief that IT should make things easier, not harder.
Built for Better Service, Not Bigger Hype
When Steve Plumlee took the reins, he wasn’t chasing headlines. With a background that included implementing HIPAA regulations at Chesapeake Research Review and launching startups in custom IT services, he knew what good tech looked like—and how to fix what didn’t work.
But Certified CIO wasn’t built to be flashy. It was built to quietly make businesses stronger, safer, and more efficient.
Instead of selling one-size-fits-all support, Certified CIO leaned into a different model:
- Provide local, reliable service.
- Understand the actual goals of each client’s business.
- Solve issues before they ever become problems.
That approach still defines how they operate today.
Clients Who Started with Certified CIO—and Never Left
One of the earliest Certified CIO clients, MHSL Center, came on board thanks to a pre-existing relationship—Steve had previously sold them their first office computers while working at Gateway. Decades later, they’re still working together.
Others joined early and stayed:
- New Macedonia Baptist Church, where Steve had once served as their go-to engineer.
- International Union of Operating Engineers, a client that needed reliable tech for serious equipment operations.
25 years of business later, most of those original relationships are still intact. Why? Their high client retention is the result of trust, responsiveness, and consistently delivering value.
A Cybersecurity Crisis That Strengthened the Company
In 2016, Certified CIO encountered a significant cybersecurity incident due to a vendor’s software vulnerability that lacked multi-factor authentication. This flaw was exploited by attackers, affecting several clients whose users remained logged in after work hours. Notably, this was the same group responsible for the later disruption of Baltimore’s city systems, underscoring the severity of the breach.
Demonstrating exceptional commitment, the Certified CIO team worked tirelessly over the Memorial Day weekend to address the breach. Their efforts led to the recovery of over 54 terabytes of encrypted client data. Collaborating closely with security partners, they formulated and executed comprehensive response plans, ensuring that all affected businesses were operational by the following Tuesday. Remarkably, this proactive approach resulted in zero client losses.
This incident served as a pivotal moment for Certified CIO, prompting a thorough reassessment of their security protocols. Since then, the company has integrated cybersecurity as a fundamental aspect of their services, emphasizing proactive, layered, and continuously evolving defense strategies.
Proactive by Design, Not Just When It’s Convenient
Certified CIO was founded with a simple yet powerful mission: to design and manage IT systems so reliable, you hardly notice they’re there. Instead of constantly repairing broken systems, their team prioritizes proactive prevention—leveraging remote monitoring, strategic vendor selection, and forward-thinking infrastructure planning.
Their model goes beyond solving day-to-day tech issues. It’s built to help businesses maximize operational efficiency and optimize technology investments:
- Uncovering unused tools already included in your existing software subscriptions.
- Guiding CFOs and department leaders on cost-effective, performance-driven tech decisions.
- Streamlining workflows by integrating the right technologies tailored to your business processes.
That’s why clients don’t outgrow Certified CIO. They grow with them.
Big Changes, Local Roots
Today, Certified CIO continues to support businesses across Maryland and Pennsylvania, working with companies in construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and more.
Longtime clients like Stella May have scaled from $15 million to over $150 million in revenue. Another, architect Adam Carbalo, went from a solo practice to a 12-person firm—with Certified CIO helping every step of the way.
Sometimes the help is highly technical. Other times, it’s as simple as showing teams how to document their work more clearly or using built-in tools they already have access to.
Either way, it’s always based on what matters most to the client—not what’s most convenient for the provider.
Still Here. Still Focused. Still Client-First.
Certified CIO doesn’t measure success in buzzwords or app downloads. They measure it in how many clients have been with them since the beginning. In how fast they respond when it counts. And in how quietly, efficiently, and consistently they make businesses stronger.
As they celebrate their 25th anniversary, Certified CIO reaffirms their founding principle; in a fast-changing tech world, doing things the right way—quietly, efficiently, and with integrity—still delivers lasting results.
