Why would you do business with Jamie Love?
Entrepreneur by Heart
It’s a good question.
After all, there are many accomplished technology entrepreneurs you could partner with. It’s true Jamie has a history of launching and growing innovative, profitable and highly regarded enterprises in information technology and services. There’s also his reputation for spotting and maximizing business development opportunities in Canada, the U.S. and overseas, opportunities that others miss. As well, his love of challenge, talent for negotiation and innate competitiveness are matched by a deep respect for, and flare for working with, other visionary entrepreneurs.
But who is Jamie Love? What drives him? Most importantly, why should you reach out to him?
Learn more about this Ottawa-based senior executive with a unique perspective on everything from business start-ups to IT infrastructure management
Business milestones
1996-1999
Living in Toronto, Jamie held progressively responsible roles in IT infrastructure maintenance, initially at Rogers Communications and subsequently at CIM, where he handled the IT needs of financial clients.
1999-present Owner & CEO Matrix IT, Ottawa
Founded this single source full-service network integrator providing hardware/software analysis, design, LAN & WAN network implementation, web page development, e-commerce, e-learning, and telecommunications solutions. Special projects have included major emergency responses in the U.S.
2007-present Co-owner & CEO Pacificall Outsourcing, Ottawa/India/Philippines
Co-founded this global business and technology outsourcing corporation with headquarters in Ottawa and offices in India and the Philippines. Outbound/inbound services range from call management and market research to virtual assistant and website live chat support.
2005-present Owner & CEO UniVoIP Systems Inc.
Founded this business-class provider of VoIP phone service and solutions operating in either a hosted or onsite configuration.
2020-present Co-owner & CEO Back to Brooklyn, Ottawa
With no restaurant experience, opened this supper club in Ottawa’s sought-after ByWard Market district during the first COVID lockdown. Doubled sales projections in the first year alone.
IT leadership - MatrixIT
Jamie recognized early that entrepreneurship was his calling. He’d demonstrated IT expertise in Toronto’s business sector, but his hunger for rapid professional growth, impatience with bureaucratic constraints and determination to make a good living meant he’d never reach his full potential while working as an employee.
Matrix IT, which he founded in 1999 while still in his early 20s, was the inevitable result of his skills and goals. He established the Ottawa company following a request from major law enforcement, emergency services, educational and other organizations in the National Capital Region to maintain their IT infrastructure.
The Matrix team, which Jamie built from scratch, now installs and manages IT infrastructure for national associations, financial organizations and other clients.
As CEO, Jamie handles business planning, development and leadership as well as overseeing sales, marketing and contract negotiation/management. He continues to work closely with clients on strategic infrastructure planning, upgrading and control, conducts infrastructure audits, handles crisis management and coaches client teams on best practices.
He also plays a direct role in future-proofing client IT infrastructure for zero trust (cyber security), including vulnerability assessment management and developing security policies and practices.
In building and leading Matrix IT, Jamie says he applies a basic belief that “roadblock” is just another word for “solution.” He’s also quick to give credit where it’s due. “My wonderful team is dedicated to customer service. That’s been instrumental in building Matrix IT into a leader in managed IT services.”
Achievements
Regularly achieve 30% annual business growth.
Matrix’s work receives high ratings in third-party audits.
IT leadership - Pacificall
Jamie recognized early that entrepreneurship was his
Recognizing the business potential of outsourcing in a globalized economy, Jamie established this business in 2007 with its first office in the Philippines and headquarters in Ottawa.
Pacificall Outsourcing, which now operates in both the Philippines and India, specializes in scalable inbound and outbound technology services for a diverse customer base.
Services include:
Call management
Customer support services
Lead generation
Market research
Inbound surveys
Virtual assistant
Virtual receptionist
Website live chat support
Jamie led the entire start-up and continues to direct business development and management, including technical strategic planning.
One of his key areas of focus is providing customer-centred data security solutions across a range of services, including VoIP. “It’s very important to us that our security strategies include ensuring all data is stored in Canada, where we know it’s safe,” says Jamie.
In 2019, Jamie brought in Ottawa entrepreneur William (“Will”) Lesniowski as a business partner and CFO for the expanding enterprise.
Achievements
Grew the business from 20 staff at start-up to 160 at present.
High level of referrals and contract renewals based on exceeding customer expectations.
calling. He’d demonstrated IT expertise in Toronto’s business sector, but his hunger for rapid professional growth, impatience with bureaucratic constraints and determination to make a good living meant he’d never reach his full potential while working as an employee.
Matrix IT, which he founded in 1999 while still in his early 20s, was the inevitable result of his skills and goals. He established the Ottawa company following a request from major law enforcement, emergency services, educational and other organizations in the National Capital Region to maintain their IT infrastructure.
The Matrix team, which Jamie built from scratch, now installs and manages IT infrastructure for national associations, financial organizations and other clients.
As CEO, Jamie handles business planning, development and leadership as well as overseeing sales, marketing and contract negotiation/management. He continues to work closely with clients on strategic infrastructure planning, upgrading and control, conducts infrastructure audits, handles crisis management and coaches client teams on best practices.
He also plays a direct role in future-proofing client IT infrastructure for zero trust (cyber security), including vulnerability assessment management and developing security policies and practices.
In building and leading Matrix IT, Jamie says he applies a basic belief that “roadblock” is just another word for “solution.” He’s also quick to give credit where it’s due. “My wonderful team is dedicated to customer service. That’s been instrumental in building Matrix IT into a leader in managed IT services.”
Achievements
Regularly achieve 30% annual business growth.
Matrix’s work receives high ratings in third-party audits.
IT leadership - UniVoIP
Jamie launched UniVoIp Systems Inc. in 2005 to meet the evolving VoIP phone system needs of small, medium and enterprise-level organizations. Client base includes technology service resellers, national associations, financial services and cybersecurity providers.
Services include:
Cloud-based phone service
SIP trunking services
Call centre software
Business PBX on the go
Business phone integrations
Secure eFax solutions
Jamie has handled all phases of business planning and leadership, including strategic planning, building infrastructure, sales and marketing, and creation of a comprehensive phone drop program that provides clients with plug-in-ready communication systems.
“We have a team of excellent network engineers,” says Jamie, “and we offer a full menu of phone features and outstanding service.”
Achievements
Clients see average cost savings of 40 to 60%.
Built a highly streamlined business model, which keeps staff costs to a minimum and enables completely remote operation of the company.
Stepping outside the comfort zone
In early 2020, Jamie was walking down Clarence Street in the heart of Ottawa’s trendy ByWard Market when he spotted a “For Lease” sign in a window. His business instincts immediately kicked in along with the willingness to take a chance, to step outside his comfort zone — a willingness that had served him so well in the past.
“I grabbed the lease without really knowing what I’d do with the space. Maybe an arcade? Sell scooters? I really wasn’t certain, but I knew how popular the Market was with both residents and tourists, so I was sure I’d come up with something.”
He initially decided on a snack bar because the area has so much foot traffic but then changed his mind and went with Back to Brooklyn, a full-blown supper club with a New York vibe.
Will, who’d partnered with Jamie in the successful Pacificall venture, was happy to jump into the project even though Jamie’s only experience with the hospitality industry was as a customer. “There are people you can trust and people you can’t,” says Will. “Jamie is one you can always trust.”
Jamie is gifted with the ability to visualize potential, whether it’s an IT network, a business plan or a physical space. That’s coupled with an innate capacity for immediately seeing the direction that will take him where he’s decided to go.
In the case of the vacant and badly neglected storefront on Clarence Street, he created a layout to maximize the space, doubling the original capacity. He even designed fold-down tables to increase mingling and dancing room so customers stick around after dining.
Back to Brooklyn opened during the first wave of COVID when many restaurant owners were wondering if they’d even survive. The supper club not only survived, it doubled its initial sales projections and came out of the pandemic well-positioned to be a ByWard Market mainstay for years to come.
Unusual in the restaurant industry, Back to Brooklyn provides benefits to full-time staff and did so even during the darkest days of the pandemic. It wasn’t always easy on the club’s finances, but it paid off in staff loyalty and hard work.
“Without motivated and dedicated staff, a business is nothing,” says Jamie.
A willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone doesn’t hurt, either.
Seizing opportunities while helping others
When Hurricane Katrina struck Florida and other states in 2005, the impact was horrendous. Lives were lost, properties destroyed, families torn apart. The destruction included massive damage to residential telecommunications infrastructure, severing residents’ contact with emergency services, family and others. Those systems had to be restored quickly, which is where Jamie’s expertise and business relationships came in.
Based on his networking experience, he saw what had to be done. “I negotiated a contract with Bell South, brought in 160 installers, established an emergency-response staff training centre in Québec, and located the equipment and vehicles we needed,” he says. “There was bad flooding, roads had been washed out and buildings were seriously damaged, but within weeks we had the infrastructure up and running again in Florida and Louisiana.”
Jamie’s success in Florida and Louisiana led to related contracts in Texas, Seattle and New Jersey.
When a hurricane struck New York City in 2017, Jamie again quickly negotiated contracts, created a team and oversaw restoration of damaged telecommunications infrastructure. His fast response and skill in leading staff through a very high-pressure situation were hallmarks of this emergency project.
Personal overview
When Hurricane Katrina struck Florida and other states in 2005, the impact was horrendous. Lives were lost, properties destroyed, families torn apart. The destruction included massive damage to residential telecommunications infrastructure, severing residents’ contact with emergency services, family and others. Those systems had to be restored quickly, which is where Jamie’s expertise and business relationships came in.
Based on his networking experience, he saw what had to be done. “I negotiated a contract with Bell South, brought in 160 installers, established an emergency-response staff training centre in Québec, and located the equipment and vehicles we needed,” he says. “There was bad flooding, roads had been washed out and buildings were seriously damaged, but within weeks we had the infrastructure up and running again in Florida and Louisiana.”
Jamie’s success in Florida and Louisiana led to related contracts in Texas, Seattle and New Jersey.
When a hurricane struck New York City in 2017, Jamie again quickly negotiated contracts, created a team and oversaw restoration of damaged telecommunications infrastructure. His fast response and skill in leading staff through a very high-pressure situation were hallmarks of this emergency project.
What others say
What do his business associates say about Jamie?
“He’s always looking for technology that’s not going to cost you an arm and a leg; he’s always looking out for the customer. He’s one of the most intelligent and generous people I know. I don’t know what we’d do without him; he and his team are not just suppliers, they’re a partner.”
“He always brings ideas to the table. He’ll do anything to succeed. As a business partner, he never does anything without me being part of the decision. I’m happy we’re partners.”
Debbie Hamilton, COO, Frontline Financial Credit Union
William (“Will”) Lesniowski, business partner in Pacificall and Back to Brooklyn
“We hired him as an IT contractor in 2009, and Jamie and his firm saved us a ton of money in 2010. We stayed with them because the cost and service were a good combination. I have recommended him to other organizations; they’re a good group. Jamie’s a nice guy and very straightforward.”
“He’s constantly looking forward to what the future holds for our team and our customers, to ensure everyone is taken care of. I think the shortest tenure staff member we have is 15 years. Anybody who’s brought on is generally a long-time employee. He’s always looking out for his friends and his family and his staff and he’ll do what he can to help you; he’s always got a solution.”
Richard Lussier, Vice-President of Corporate Services and Treasurer
Andrew Goldenberg, Operations Manager, Matrix IT
“It’s his motivation and dedication to projects. He has a tremendous work ethic and he never stops until the job is done. The backbone of our relationship is trust and his understanding of how business works. And he always sticks to a negotiated agreement.”
Neil Miron, marketing consultant
Many more recommendations and insights about Jamie can be found on his LinkedIn page.
Contact
Curious to learn more? Reach out to Jamie here.
He’s never said “No” to exploring fresh opportunities.