UPSTACK, a growing platform that transforms the architecture and sourcing experience for businesses seeking cloud and internet infrastructure solutions, announced it has acquired Legacy Solutions, a telecommunications consulting firm specializing in forensic telecom expense audits and vendor management and Open Communications LLC, an IT consulting firm specializing in network, contact center as a service (CCaaS) and unified communications as a service (UCaaS) for businesses of all sizes — from SMB to enterprise.
Terms of the two agreements were not disclosed.
The acquisitions of Chicago-based Legacy Solutions and Utah-based Open Communications are part of UPSTACK’s strategy to accelerate the growth of its platform, which combines internet infrastructure advisors with proprietary software and support resources.
UPSTACK’s growth strategy is supported by a $50 million equity investment from Berkshire Partners, announced in April, which enables the company to continue to scale its platform through technology expansion and partner acquisitions.
As part of the investment, Legacy Solutions co-founders Michael Sanders and Lauren Sanders, a father-daughter team, will join UPSTACK as partners and true equity stakeholders. They also will serve as advisors to business customers that are sourcing data center, colocation, cloud, network connectivity and other technology solutions through the UPSTACK platform.
Sanders joined the competitive telecom industry in 1984, enjoying a 19-year sales career with companies such as Ohio Bell, BellSouth, Ameritech and AT&T. In 2003, he formed Legacy Solutions to explore the then-emerging opportunity in VoIP communications as an agent for master agency MicroCorp.
To gain credibility with large enterprises, Sanders expanded the company’s focus to include telecom expense auditing, finding savings for companies before earning their trust for sourcing network providers. The approach also includes return on investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership (TCO) evaluations for emerging technologies and has driven Legacy Solutions’ growth over nearly two decades. In 2018, Lauren Sanders joined the company as a subagent to learn the business and ensure a succession plan.
Legacy Solutions’ long-term success and unique business model recently caught the attention of potential buyers. While at first, Sanders dismissed the calls, concerns about supporting customers and subagents long term prompted him to hear them out. While some suitors only wanted Legacy Solutions’ monthly recurring revenue, UPSTACK sought a true partnership.
Similarly, Open Communications founder Amanda Heinritz (pictured) will join UPSTACK as a partner and a true equity stakeholder. She will serve as an advisor to business customers that are sourcing data center, colocation, cloud, network connectivity and other technology solutions through the UPSTACK platform.
Heinritz founded Open Communications in 2012 after two years as a senior account executive at Integra Telecom (now AllStream), where she was named Rookie of the Year. Heinritz made the decision to venture out on her own as a sales agent so she could sell to enterprise accounts without commission splits, accelerating her revenue potential.
Open Communications signed with master agency Carrier Sales, earning President’s Club honors multiple years in a row. The company experienced significant growth, and as a result, expanded its team to serve businesses of all sizes.
Open Communications’ success caught the attention of an IT firm that was acquiring agent customer bases. While that offer wasn’t the right fit, it got Heinritz’s wheels turning about avenues for scale and her long-term goals. That is when she met UPSTACK.
For more information about the UPSTACK Advisory Partnership, visit upstack.com/for-advisors or contact partners@upstack.com.
