In April 1982 she was the first employee of International Data Corporation (IDC). While taking programming and business courses at night, she advanced to Vice President of IDC. IDC to become the largest data entry shop in St. Louis, with a staff of over 70 data entry operators on three shifts. Susan was responsible for generating and maintaining clients, preparing price quotes, programming and providing technical assistance.
In April of 1991, Susan found 3 investors and in July 1991, Data Dash, Inc. (DDI) opened for business providing data entry services, processing and marketing Unibase data entry software that runs on Novell and Unix. Susan’s responsibilities at DDI include administration, management, sales, client relations, marketing, technical support and programming.
Data Dash wanted to be on the leading edge with Document Imaging technology but did want to pay for another vendor’s research and development. DDI began by providing a team of operators off site to the St. Louis County Government to scan and key the index data for over 300,000 UCC’s. In 1994, Susan sent another team to the St. Louis Country Government to scan over 600,000 voter signatures.
In 1994, DDI bid on and won a large State government contract for data entry services for the State Of Illinois Department Of Revenue on the 1040 tax forms. This resulted in Data Dash tripling in size.
In 1999, Susan found office space and opened a second Data Dash facility in Farmington, MO. That office was operating in less than one week from when Susan first looked at the space.
In 2000, Farmington’s office doubled in size and Susan bought out her original investors. Additionally in 2000, Data Dash became a reseller in Visionshape Scanners and Laserfiche® document imaging software.
In 2001, Farmington again doubled it’s processing capacity. In 2001, Data Dash received certification as a Woman Owned Business Enterprise with the State of Missouri, Disadvantage Business Enterprise and WBE with the St. Louis Lambert Airport Authority and HUBZone with the United States Small Business.
Susan has served as President for the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals, ((AITP, (formally the Data Processing Management Association, DPMA)) in 2002 and has served as Executive Vice President, First Vice President and a number of chair positions.
Susan continues to serve on the St. Louis Special School District Business Advisory Council and has since 1988. Susan in an active member of the Women’s President Organization, (WPO), The Association for Work Process Improvement, (TAWPI), the Regional Commerce and Growth Association, (RCGA), the Direct Marketing Association, (DMA), the American Marketing Association, (AMA), the Gravois Business Association, the Farmington Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau.
Susan has served on the golf committee for the Jackie Smith’s Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Golf Scramble. Susan plays in several association golf tournaments throughout the year.
Susan has been participating in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society MS150 Bike Ride since 1999. Every year she sets her personal fund raising goal higher. In 2001 Susan started a Data Dash MS150 bike team. In 2002, the Data Dash team partnered with Dogfish Bike and Triathlon team to grow the team from three riders to over thirteen.