IT firm KNS Technologies opens Metro Detroit office

KNS Technologies, a Virginia-based IT firm, is opening a Metro Detroit office in St. Clair Shores to take advantage of the rebounding automotive industry. KNS Technologies aims to go after automakers and their suppliers, offering services in cloud computing, data integration, CRM platforms and mobile apps. "With more integration of mobile technology and the automobile, mobile is going to become more important," says Len Capelli, director of business development for KNS Technologies. Capelli is a Metro Detroit native and an Eastern Michigan University graduate. He says he still maintained his membership at the Detroit Athletic Club after he left and wants his company to be part of the automotive industry's rebound. KNS Technologies choose St. Clair Shores for its Metro Detroit office because of its proximity to a number of the region's automotive centers, such as downtown Detroit, Dearborn and Rochester. He also liked St. Clair Shore's low start-up costs to establishing an office and its proximity to Lake St. Clair. "By next summer, I hope to have a boat there," Capelli says. KNS Technologies Metro Detroit office is a one-person venture right now, but Capelli expects that presence to grow to two people by the end of this year. He also sees it growing to seven people by the end of 2014. "We hope to expand it fairly quickly," Capelli says. Source: Len Capelli, director of business development for KNS Technologies Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.