Mainstay

Mainstay provides a student engagement platform leveraging behavioral science and artificial intelligence for scalable conversational guidance in higher education. The platform assists colleges in connecting with students, evolving from equitable college access to comprehensive support throughout their academic journey. Its core capability enables impactful, empathetic conversations, driving student success.

Founded in 2014 by Drew Magliozzi and Kirk Daulerio, initially as AdmitHub, the company emerged from a shared vision to enhance college access through technology. This insight led to developing a system providing students essential support, effectively guiding them through their educational paths from enrollment onward.

Mainstay primarily serves colleges and universities, empowering them to foster meaningful interactions that contribute to student retention. The company's long-term vision is to spark progress through conversation, helping individuals achieve their aspirations. Now a division of the nonprofit Lemnis Collective, Mainstay broadens opportunities for all learners.

High-Level Overview

Mainstay Technologies is an IT services and consulting company founded in 2004, headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, specializing in outsourced IT support, cybersecurity, and information security for small and mid-sized businesses across New England, including New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts, and Greater Boston.[1][2][3][4][5] With over 100 employees as of 2025, $10.7 million in annual revenue, and a debt-free structure with no outside ownership, the company delivers enterprise-level services like managed IT, cloud migration, virtualization, backup & recovery, AI & automation, and cybersecurity through dedicated teams tailored to client needs, cultures, and budgets.[1][3][5][6] Its mission emphasizes using technology and business as forces for human flourishing via conscious capitalism—creating value for clients, teams, communities, and the environment—while operating under core values like integrity, team-driven excellence, and forward-thinking approaches.[2][3][5]

Origin Story

Mainstay Technologies was founded in 2004 by Ryan Barton, who started as a solo operation supporting individual users, micro-businesses, and small organizations in New England.[2][3] By 2007, rapid client growth necessitated forming a dedicated team, fueling explosive expansion through reputation alone, with early focus on reliable IT support, repair, management, web development, cloud hosting, and virtualization.[1][2] Pivotal moments include long-term client retention from 2004 onward, 15-year teammate anniversaries by 2022, and that year's leadership transition: Jason Golden became CEO, while Barton shifted to Founder and Chair.[2] The company has since earned 21 awards, including NH Top 100 Private Companies, 2024 Business of the Year, multiple Best of Business Awards for managed IT and cyber defense, and seven Best Places to Work recognitions, solidifying its status as a 100-year company goal with 80+ professionals by 2022 growing to over 100 by 2025.[2][3]

Core Differentiators

• Holistic, Client-Centric Approach: Builds proactive IT and cybersecurity plans by deeply understanding each client's unique processes, culture, budget, and business goals, delivering "high-touch, enterprise-level" services without the need for in-house IT staff—cost-effective for SMBs.[3][4][5][6]
• Dedicated Core Teams: Tailors sophisticated IT through small, enjoyable teams focused on reliability, security, and trust, contrasting generic support models amid growing IT complexity.[1][5]
• Comprehensive Service Breadth: Covers managed IT, cybersecurity (e.g., email security), cloud migration, virtualization, backup/recovery, AI/automation for insights and efficiency, plus partnerships with Dell, Fortinet, Datto, Webroot, and Lenovo.[1][5][6]
• Proven Track Record and Culture: Debt-free, internally owned, award-winning (e.g., MSP Select USA 2025 for growth and satisfaction), with client testimonials praising efficiency, lower costs/stress, and business alignment; philosophy of "giving more than we get" drives community impact and retention.[2][3][5][6]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Mainstay rides the trend of escalating IT complexity and cybersecurity threats for SMBs, which lack resources for full in-house teams, positioning outsourced managed services as essential amid cloud adoption, AI integration, and rising attacks.[1][5][6] Timing favors them in New England's growing tech ecosystem, where small/mid-sized firms in sectors like healthcare (e.g., Mid-State Health Center) and professional services (e.g., Nathan Wechsler & Company) demand reliable, scalable IT without enterprise costs—exacerbated by post-pandemic remote work and digital transformation.[5][6] Market forces like SMB digitization and regulatory pressures (e.g., data security) amplify demand, while Mainstay influences the ecosystem through awards, volunteering, and high client satisfaction, setting standards for "conscious" IT providers that prioritize human impact over pure profit.[2][3][6]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Mainstay is poised for sustained growth as a regional IT leader, targeting its 100-year vision with expansions in AI/automation, cyber defense, and cloud services amid SMB tech adoption surges.[2][5][6] Trends like AI-driven efficiency and zero-trust security will shape its trajectory, potentially extending reach beyond New England via partnerships and remote capabilities. Its influence may evolve by mentoring SMB digital resilience, fostering community tech ecosystems, and exemplifying profitable, values-driven business—reinforcing that true success lies in the lives impacted, from frustrated teams to thriving organizations.[2][3][5]