IT procurement is broken, but Jordan Solender, CEO and founder of IT Select, aims to translate what has traditionally been a time-consuming and inefficient process into a streamlined, efficient, and cost-effective procurement operation. In vendor selection services to mid-market and lower-enterprise companies, Jordan and IT Select have been able to offer the same work that top consulting firms can, but at a fraction of the cost. IT Select also strives to “cut through the vendor noise,” integrating AI to reduce the time it takes to select a vendor by 90%.
An Entrepreneur’s Approach
Jordan doesn’t come to IT Select from a conventional business background, but he does come from a family of entrepreneurs. His father, who began as a pizza delivery worker, built a thriving franchise that inspired Jordan from childhood. At thirteen, Jordan began his first business, taking a snowblower to the neighborhood. Later, while still in school, he launched a DJ company, eventually working in IT at Apple. But, while passionate about serving customers’ needs, he realized he could build something better on his own. That conviction prompted him to found Premier Technology Advisors in 2015, which nearly doubled its revenue year over year for several years, permitting Jordan an eight-figure exit in 2023.
A Hands-On Work Ethic
Today, Jordan brings his expertise and his scrappy, hands-on approach to his newer company IT Select, which has a mission of equipping leaders in IT with the right technology and the best customer service. Jordan’s success, he says, is “built on a relentless, hands-on work ethic; whether I’m making cold calls, managing projects, or personally training my team, I remain deeply involved in every aspect of the business.” This hands-on attitude has yielded several advantages. First, Jordan doesn’t suffer the executive’s ivory-tower distance from the business’s day-to-day operations; he is always involved in the thick of it. Second, this proximity to the actual work of customer service has helped Jordan understand and solve many customer challenges.
One of Jordan’s clients, Ken Caudell of 4riverselectric.com, says that IT Select has “shaved off at least 85% of the time” his business used to spend on IT procurement. “We no longer have to sift through endless pitches. With IT Select, we’ve eliminated the risk of overbuying or picking the wrong tools. They make sure every dollar is spent wisely.”
Building the Right Power Team
Besides forming closer relationships with customers, Jordan’s work ethic has also helped him create a very committed and tight-knit team. “I’m willing to do every single thing that I’m asking my employees to do,” Jordan explains. The other philosophy Jordan brings to team-building is the importance of strategic hiring: “I’m very slow to hire, fast to fire—because the company only works when you have the right pieces in place.”
This approach to developing his team has allowed Jordan to scale companies efficiently and consistently, both IT Select and his previous company. It’s a big part of how he was able to double Premier Technology Advisors’ revenue year over year for three consecutive years. He was also able to triple the headcount and double monthly recurring revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking ahead, Jordan has big plans for IT Select. “I see IT Select becoming the definitive partner for IT procurement—a trusted extension of every IT leader’s team,” he shares. “Ultimately, I aspire to redefine IT procurement as an effortless, automated, and highly efficient process.”
