1995

WebIXI opened our doors, January 1st, 1995, as Innovative Exchange, Inc. (IXI). Patrick was working for a defense contractor at the time, testing communications systems & networks for the military.

The old guy was young.  Our President was eleven.  Our VP was six.

In 1995, we operated a dial up Bulletin Board System, Harford Home Communique, and began designing websites. As far as commercial use of the Internet goes, we’ve been at it literally forever in this business!

1996

In 1996, IXI became a dial up Internet Service Provider. Additionally, we were contracted to provide Harford County Public Schools with their first Internet connections. Internet access in the schools in those days consisted of two dial up accounts in each school. IXI provided “Internet Access for the Educator” training for Harford County teachers, and provided seminars on Internet Safety to area PTAs.

1998

In 1998, IXI acquired NetGSI, another local Internet Service Provider. We also acquired BPS, a local computer training company and expanded our offerings of computer education. Within a year, IXI acquired another local ISP and soon had over 3,000 dial-up subscribers.

2011

WebIXI put on the Small Business Survival Summit – a conference in Baltimore designed to help small business owners thrive, not just survive, in the recession.

The Small Business Survival Summit was a three-day event designed to encourage, motivate and train small business owners to re-evaluate and refine their business practices, identify available resources, and align themselves with organizations in their community for mutually beneficial relationships.

Successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, and industry experts from throughout the country gathered to present and interact on issues specifically related to individual and business development in the following areas:

• Leadership
• Organization
• Sales & Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Online Marketing Techniques
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Our Government & Your Business

Rudy Giuliani was our Keynote Speaker, speaking 3 days before the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on “Principled Leadership: In the Face of Change and Crisis.”

Dr. Ben Carson was the speaker at our Gala – a fundraising event for the Maryland Children’s Alliance.

2012

In 2012, WebIXI was recognized locally with a “Harford Award”. This prestigious award honors companies that exemplify a strong commitment to the Harford County business community. It is presented each year by the Harford Chamber of Commerce.

2013

Named One of the Top 100 Small Businesses in the Nation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Blue Ribbon Small Business Award is one of the highest honors given annually to companies by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“The Blue Ribbon Award winners show that, even facing uncertainty and economic challenges, small businesses can grow and succeed,” said Thomas J. Donohue, U.S. Chamber president and CEO. “They are America’s economic engine, driving growth and job creation all across this country.”

“The Chamber celebrates the outstanding achievements of these award winners and is proud to recognize them for the positive impact they are making in their communities.” continued Donohue. “These small businesses are wonderful examples of the American Dream at work in our nation.”

Being in the top 100 means WebIXI has been recognized for their excellence in staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, business strategies and goals.

2014

Patrick and P.J. Chambers are named “Members of the Year” by the Harford Chamber of Commerce.

Steve wins the year though.  He and Jackie welcome a little baby girl, Claire Marie Chambers.

2016

WebIXI holds it’s first Nonprofit Advisory Group Happy Hour, celebrating the philanthropic culture of Harford County!  Awards are given out for:

• Nonprofit of the Year,
• Philanthropic Business of the Year and
• Volunteer of the Year

2017

In September 2017, Patrick and PJ Chambers of WebIXI climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, capping off a Cause Marketing campaign for Beyond Limits, a Maryland-based charity providing advocacy services for children in special education!  We were joined in our journey by some amazing new friends from Minnesota, Arizona, California and Canada — not to mention the wonderfully generous and supportive guides and porters from Tanzania.

Founded in 2015, the mission of Beyond Limits is to provide advocacy and legal services to families of children with disabilities in Maryland to help ensure that each child gets the education he or she deserves.

2018

In 2018, WebIXI expanded it’s offerings into promotional products; a natural fit for integrating online and offline elements of marketing campaigns.

We know the value of investing in brand promotion, and integrating your offline and online marketing strategies.  We have access to thousands of promotional items that can be customized to help your brand stand out as memorable and unique.

We are all about community.  In 2020, the COVID-19 crisis hit our community and WebIXI:

• Created and marketed a database of Harford County Businesses, along with COVID-related operational changes and the best way to continue to do business with them.
• Created and marketed a separate database of Harford County Restaurants, along with COVID-related operational changes and the best way to continue to do business with them.
• Procured and distributed surgical masks and other PPE through our promotional product suppliers, when the supply, throughout the country, was extremely limited
• Created a Virtual Tip Jar to help support Harford County’s tipped workers
• Designed and sold “Keep Calm & Carry Out” T-shirts to support the Community Foundation of Harford County’s efforts to help restaurants & restaurant workers affected by the pandemic
• Coordinated digital food drives for Harford Community Action Agency; helped them raise over $20,000 in one weekend to replenish the food bank so they could provide food for at risk students to take home, on the last day before schools were closed.
• Created, coordinated & marketed three Lockdown Festivals — day-long virtual music festivals that raised over $60,000 for local charities.
• Coordinated two hero breakfasts — for employees at the hospitals in Bel Air and in Havre de Grace.