History
Solomon Software's Heritage
Plumbline Solutions has a long-running and rich heritage that sets it apart from other software engineering and consulting service companies. Based in Findlay, Ohio, Plumbline's roots go back 30 years - when co-founders Gary Harpst, Jack Ridge, and Vernon Strong, started TLB, Inc. in 1980. TLB later was renamed Solomon Software, which continued as a leading developer and marketer of accounting software for small and medium-sized companies.
Solomon Software was acquired by Great Plains Software in 2000 and subsequently, Great Plains was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in 2001.
After four years of being an integral part of Microsoft Business Solutions, Solomon software development and technical support was outsourced by Microsoft to the newly created Plumbline Solutions in 2004.
The History
Founded in 1980 by Gary Harpst, Jack Ridge and Vernon Strong, Solomon Software was initially founded as "TLB, Inc.", which stands for "The Lord's Business". TLB was named to remind the founders why the business was started - to conduct the business according to biblical principles.
Solomon designed and released its first accounting software products (Solomon I and II) for the CP/M operating system, on Z-80 microprocessors in 1981. In 1982, it began development of its first 16-bit accounting software product, (Solomon III). In 1984, Solomon III was introduced as the first microcomputer accounting software written in C, based on a single integrated relational database management system (MDBS), optimized specifically for the IBM Personal Computer and the MS-DOS operating system. From 1985 to 1991, Solomon accumulated more awards and honors than any small business accounting software.
In 1991, Solomon began development of its next generation product line (Solomon IV for Windows), a product written in Microsoft Visual Basic, using open architecture and industry standard tools, designed for the Microsoft Windows operating system. Solomon IV was released in February of 1994. By 1995, Solomon IV for Windows continued the award-winning tradition, by once again winning the coveted Editors' Choice award from PC Magazine/Price Waterhouse. From 1995 to 1999, Solomon IV had again won awards, honors and recognition from value-added resellers, computer publications, CPA and accounting firms, and the programmer/developer community. These reviewers and industry experts specifically heralded Solomon IV's strengths for customization, flexibility and its use of industry-standard tools.
In 2000, Solomon Software was acquired by Great Plains Software and subsequently, Great Plains was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in 2001. After several years of being an integral part of Microsoft Business Solutions, Solomon software development and technical support was outsourced by Microsoft to the newly created Plumbline Solutions in 2004.
Since 2004, Plumbline Solutions has supported the Dynamics SL product line and has expanded the development and service offerings to the broader Microsoft Dynamics line of products including Dynamics AX and Dynamics GP. Plumbline Solutions' offerings have been made available to the partner and ISV communities leveraging all of the best practices learned while growing a small company, transitioning through a series of acquisitions, being part of the Microsoft team, and then returning to a small company culture. The team continues to employ the best of the best to deliver business solutions that form lasting relationships.