... Corporate Culture

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Compiled from interviews conducted by Marian Neilson during a January 2003 internship.

Founder and CEO Joanne Peterson started Abator (then known as " Avatar ") in 1983. Abator began small -- headquartered in her basement; happily we’ve grown over the years and now have corporate offices in Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania with a branch office in St. Louis, Missouri. Due to a federal trade registration dispute, Avatar became Abator Information Services in December 1986. The name means one who "terminates nuisances", which accurately describes our purpose – eliminating IT staffing problems encountered by Abator’s clients and consultants. The company was incorporated in Pennsylvania on April Fool’s Day 1984 (it is ok to smile ... we do have a sense of humor).

Having worked for four competitors, Joanne figured that she “could do just as well or better” on her own. She started Abator to perform information technology and systems projects – this goal has not changed. Initially she started as a 1099 sales consultant for a friend in Rochester, NY “he did the billing/collections and [she] did the rest.” Her first act was to negotiate a corporate contract with Westinghouse, starting her first engagement with them in May 1983. Within ten months, Joanne bought out the contracts from Rochester.

In establishing Abator, Joanne wrote a business plan securing funding from Mellon Bank, who granted the company a 25 thousand dollar credit line. “In February 1984 President Reagan had a big push on equal credit availability for women, so an Accounts Receivable based loan was [easy] to get. [Mellon’s] risk was limited because [she] couldn’t borrow if there were no sales.” At times, Joanne was forced to utilize credit card funds. In fact, one payroll in 1985 was done completely on personal credit cards. Abator’s standard practice of  compensating consultants in a timely manner will always be accomplished, one way or another.

Abator focuses on IT consulting services and appropriate placement of resources. Over the past two decades, Abator has fine-tuned processes to provide the right candidates for the right projects in a timely manner. Twenty years ago, the IT industry was a much smaller community and many consultants first learned about the company through word of mouth. Jack Duncan, one of Abator’s long-term consultants, first heard about us “through another consultant who was on contract with [us], Mr. Jack Jackson.” Abator takes prides in maintaining long-term relationships with both consultants and clients. In fact, we continue to represent our first consultant engaged in 1983, and many of our client relationships have lasted more then a decade.

The driving force behind Abator’s corporate personality, atmosphere and policies is its founder Joanne Peterson. Another long-term consultant, Wayne Mowers, states: “It has been my pleasure to have been doing business with Joanne these past twenty years. I consider her a friend, and a trusted business partner.”

96% women owned and operated, Abator is also a family business. Charles Peterson, Joanne’s father, was an early financial backer and later joined the company in March of 1985 in Sales. Though basically retired, Mr. Peterson still functions as a Vice President and as a Member of the Board. In 1986, Judy Gillespie joined Abator, as it’s first non-family employee. “She had previously worked for a customer (Westinghouse) and then briefly for a competitor before we hired her into project staffing.” Don Neeley, Abator’s Manager of Customer Service, also worked for an Abator customer (McDonnell Douglas) before joining the company.

Family businesses have their pros and cons. Drawbacks to family business are that family can be “in your face and business can affect family relationships and vice versa.” However, the family influence is significant to Abator’s corporate personality and the way business is done. These days much business occurs in the “virtual” mode with little face-to-face interaction. Abator strives to maintain a personal relationship with consultants and clients. Ismenio Sousa wrote ... – “Dear 'Abators' (Joanne, Joe, Bob, Wendy, Lisa, Jeannie, Kevin, Ruth, Marian, Andrew and anyone else I may have missed!) ... I am still amazed with all the tremendous support and help you gave me. You trusted me and this relationship, as I see it, has gone beyond the strictly 'cold business relationship' between a Recruiter and a Consultant. This treatment really makes the difference." Don Neeley puts it best – “The real difference [between Abator and other vendors] is that I continue to feel like a part of the family that is Abator as opposed to being just [a] part of the organization.” 

Abator is a member of the Pittsburgh Technology Council and was a finalist in several Entrepreneur of the Year competitions sponsored by INC Magazine. Within our industry, Abator would be defined as moderate-sized -- a definition we strive to retain! Abator never intended to be the biggest provider; rather we endeavor to be the best. Roger Lipe, another long-term consultant, states: “Their honesty and integrity of purpose is the best I have ever seen in a business that lacks such clarity!!” 

Abator is the sum of its people – employees, consultants and customers. We take pride in past accomplishments, but our goal is continued quality service. Abator’s philosophy is based on a triangle model:    equal components ~ consultant, client and vendor. We know we cannot be in business without viewing consultants and customers as equally important components. Without our consultants we would have nothing to sell, if we don’t treat our customers well we have nothing to offer the consultants.

Specific information about Abator's organizational structure, financial standing and stockholders may be found here.