Our Partners
Solutions Management Group partners with education institutions to help manage dedicated services like tier 1 and tier 2 support for it's IT department, Technology Lifecycle Management, Audio/Visual, Structured Cabling, Video Security and Access Control, and Print and Document services.
Dr. Jesse Ulrich
President
Iowa Central Community College
Partnering with SMG has been a transformative step forward for our institution. They’ve become more than a vendor—they’re a trusted partner who truly understands the unique challenges and opportunities of higher education. SMG’s support has freed up our internal IT staff to focus on mission-critical priorities like digital learning, cyber security, student analytics, and instructional innovation. Their responsiveness has helped us reduce downtime, adapt quickly to emerging needs, and better support hybrid and online learning. SMG is now an essential part of how we deliver modern, high-quality education.
Bill Lamb
Retired – VP of Academic Affairs
Kirkwood Community College
"SMG consistently provided Kirkwood Community College faculty and staff a high level of support and guidance. The academic environment was enhanced by technology, and their upgrades and training in classroom pedagogy created a seamless teaching and learning experience. They created systems that worked as they were intended which in turn gave our faculty the confidence to focus on instruction without the distraction of technical issues. More importantly, their support enhanced the learning atmosphere for students, making classes more engaging, consistent, and aligned with the expectations of a modern education. SMG’s partnership was instrumental in raising the bar for how we deliver education."
Bill Latour
VP of Operations
Des Moines Area Community College
"I greatly appreciate the stability and foresight that SMG brings to our technology planning. Their accurate, year-over-year budgeting has allowed us to consistently replace computers and classroom technology in a predictable, strategic manner, eliminating surprise expenses and improving long-term financial planning. Their understanding of the financial and operational demands of higher education makes them an invaluable part of our success."
Mona Parekh
Associate Professor
Kirkwood Community College
I have had the pleasure of working with the SMG team at Kirkwood for the past 15 years. They are an innovative and highly engaged group of cheerful professionals who consistently bring the latest technology into my classroom. Their support enables me to effectively teach a new generation of students, many of whom face unique challenges.
Their responsiveness has also been crucial in facilitating my classes (online, in person and Web Live). For example, when I reported an issue with my computer’s sound system, it was resolved the very same day. Another example, is when they empowered me with several examples of how I can set up my own recording system in my home. This allowed me to spend time thinking about how to deliver material to online students.
Simply put, I could not do my job without the dedication and expertise of the SMG team.
Mialisa Wright
Director of Engagement and Student Support
Kirkwood Community College
Jon Neff
VP of Technology Services
Kirkwood Community College
Our partnership with SMG began on the print side of the house. I had been asked to take over a print RFP for the partial replacement of MFPs at Kirkwood after the original project lead accepted another position. I withdrew the existing RFP, asked two companies to perform a full inventory of our print assets, and then developed a new RFP designed to right-size our fleet. The goal was to identify a true partner who would engage with each department, gather input on specific needs, and deliver solutions that were both efficient and cost-effective.
During the vendor meeting to discuss the revised RFP, only one company demonstrated a clear understanding of our objectives—SMG. While other vendors focused solely on selling replacement equipment, SMG embraced our collaborative approach. As a result, we reduced our fleet from 1,200 devices to 350 and achieved annual savings of $500,000. SMG did an outstanding job aligning equipment with departmental needs, maintaining high uptime, and ensuring replacements followed a predictable and sustainable cycle.
When we later revised our classroom and endpoint support models, we again partnered with SMG to extend their services into those areas. Together, we implemented many proactive measures to improve classroom uptime and enhance the overall user experience. SMG has consistently been a strong partner in implementing and executing new processes we create—always with a focus on improving the experience for our staff, faculty, and students.
Mick Starcevich, SMG Ambassador
Retired-President
Kirkwood Community College