Network Solutions Incorporated: global communicator.

Network Solutions Incorporated is traveling down the information super highway at breakneck speeds and the communications giant is positioning itself to become a global company.

"The keys to being successful in the domestic as well as the global communications marketer are focus and enthusiasm and we possess both," explains Emmitt McHenry, President and CEO of Network Solutions, Inc.

Network Solutions Incorporated, headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, designs, builds and manages large, complex networks for voice, data and video communications. The company's clients include federal, state and local governments and commercial clients like Nation's Bank and AT & T. NSI also performs equipment installation and maintenance at 2500 "A" network customer sites nationwide for FTS 2000, (the Federal Government Telecommunications System), and provides a global network information center services for the Internet and the Defense Data Network.

Network Solutions was founded in 1979 by McHenry, a former regional vice president for a large insurance company, and three partners. Today the company has 350 employees and $40 million in sales.

During the mid-1980's McHenry's firm conducted international business in Central Africa. But NSI withdrew its business because of problems involved with doing such transactions.

"There was more risk in the international marketplace than we could handle at the time," explains McHenry, 50. "There were risk factors like payment issues and the energy it took to close a deal. The time it took to close one deal overseas we could have closed two deals here in the US."

But now NSI is actively pursuing international business again. The company is negotiating a business deal in the Middle East and they have proposals in Eastern and Southern Africa.

"Our company is stronger now and we have both the financial and technical strength to make the move at this time. Secondly the world is changing dramatically and for the business that we are in, the telecommunications business, there are opportunities emerging in faraway marketplaces."

Emmit McHenry, President and CEO of Network Solutions Inc., is a previous recipient of the US. Small Business Administration's Administrator's Award for Excellence. NSI has been a BE 100 company for several years. He is also a previous supplier of the year award winner chosen by the National Minority Supplier Development Council. McHenry is the father of two sons.

* Telecommunications company owner * 350 Employees * Annual Sales: $40 million * Founded in 1979