Growing up in Central New Jersey, Peter Briden started in business at the age of thirteen delivering newspapers for the Newark Star Ledger. By the time he started his first career job twelve years later, he had over 25 unique job experiences and self funded his education at DeVry Technical Institute. A five year career in office automation technology followed with Lanier Business Products with time spent in Boston, Richmond, New York City, and ultimately Pittsburgh.
In 1990 Peter founded PC Network Services (PCNS – www.WeMasterIT.com). In what started out as an independent computer consultant, the company transitioned into an award winning computer network support company. By 2014, PCNS employed 26 people in its Sewickley, Pennsylvania headquarters and had received many industry awards; Pittsburgh Fast Growth 100 (5 times), MSPmentor 100 List of Top Technology Consulting Firms (4 times), and the CRN 500.
Over the 24 years in business, Peter led PCNS through a number of periods of dramatic industry change which led to major shifts in the company’s business model. What started out as a consulting company transitioned into a value added reseller, then to a professional services firm, then to an IT support company, then IT managed services, and finally managed cloud services. Throughout the entire time, while the business model continued to change, the mission remained the same; design, implement, support, and maintain stable, reliable, secure, and predictable IT solutions for small and mid-sized businesses and deliver a high level of customer service and trust.
In the summer of 2013 PCNS was approached by an investor group and the ensuing conversations led to PCNS being purchased in April of 2014. With this transaction, Peter maintained an equity stake in the company and continues to serve on the board of directors, however, he has phased out of day to day operations.
Over the following two years, Peter worked with TruMethods and Horrigan Resources as a consultant assisting their clients by coaching and mentoring IT services companies, and assisting financial services firms with IT management and security assessments. Both of these roles consist of helping companies with setting corporate / technical direction, culture and process management, and strategic technology goal setting. This last role gives him a unique opportunity to meet with a wide range of business owners and managers to assist them in utilizing technology to achieve their company’s business goals and solve business problems. After spending the past thirty years bridging the gap between talking the talk and walking the walk, he is very well suited to both of these endeavors.
In 2017, Peter, along with partner Lindsay Bahl founded PragSpective Business Advisors. PragSpective was founded under the premise that business leaders needed help with gaining command, accountability, planning, and problem solving. Both Peter and Lindsay are pragmatic by nature and excel at helping organizations turn strategy into outcomes.
In addition to his current vocational interests, Peter is a perpetual learner. He is a 22 year member of The Strategic Coach (an entrepreneurial coaching program), a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Katz Entrepreneurial Fellows Center (EFC) Program, member of University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, a leading member of TruMethods coaching team (a national IT industry peer group), and an avid reader.
Peter resides in Wexford, Pennsylvania with his wife Kathy, they have three grown children.