Qbase leaders cited the need for capital after revenues, particularly from non-profit and commercial customers, fell in 2008 and 2009.
Baldwin has not recently returned calls or e-mails, but last month, Baldwin — former CEO of a Northern Virginia IT firm — said Qbase will continue to be based in Ohio. An internal e-mail from Pardue sent to employees last month echoes that, but also said Qbase is in final negotiations to lease offices in Reston, Va. “for our Washington location.”
“With various functions divided between Beavercreek and Springfield, either or both may be designated ‘headquarters,’ ” Pardue wrote in the e-mail which the Dayton Daily News obtained. “We’ll make that decision in the coming weeks. There’s considerable lobbying on behalf of Springfield.”
Pardue could not be reached. Tom Franzen, Springfield development administrator, said the city has not done any lobbying. According to the city’s incentive pacts with Qbase, the company is expected to create 106 full-time jobs.
While Franzen said he didn’t know the current number of Qbase employees in Springfield, the latest data the city had from 2008 was 47. Qbase is expected to report its 2009 employee number in May, and Franzen expects the number to be “down.”
Franzen emphasized that Springfield has no desire to pull jobs from another community. He added, “We’re not eager to claw back any incentives at this point.”
From his perch as CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, Bryan Bucklew hasn’t seen any changes. Qbase has worked for GDAHA through its lean months and in the month since new investors took over.
And Bucklew said he has been satisfied with Qbase through it all. “We’re still getting all of our data stuff crunched by them. The services they’ve been providing for us electronically have continued uninterrupted.”
In 2009, a former Qbase executive, Joanne Barnard, sued the company in Greene County Common Pleas Court, accusing it of failing to honor its shareholder agreement. Baldwin last month said that suit was settled and that Barnard voted as a shareholder to accept his involvement in Qbase.
Though the case was still listed as open on a court Web site Tuesday, Feb. 23, Daniel Gentry, a Dayton attorney representing Qbase, said last week the court has been told to expect a dismissal terminating the suit. Barnard’s attorney has not commented.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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