Local companies merging and creating inclusive job opportunities

eBizDocs, an electronic content solutions provider based in Menands, acquired Albany-based Image Data, a solution centric document scanning bureau.

The merge now makes eBizDocs one of the largest digital transformation providers in the Northeast, according Howard Gross, President and CEO of eBizDocs.

Both companies have been in business for over 20 years, helping businesses digitize their paper and important documents, which allows them to have their employees work remotely.

“During the pandemic, everybody had to work from home, and now everybody wants to work from home on occasion, we’re the organization that helps enable you to do that,” Gross said. “How do we do that? We have people scanning documents here, we scan microfilm, we scan large books, anything that is in paper form or non-digital form, we can help enable you to put those into digital formats.”

Since the start of the pandemic, the demand for service has increased by more than 30%, according to Gross.

One thing Gross says he is very proud of is his workforce. Years ago, he made the decision to employee those with disabilities, becoming a role model for other businesses in the Capital Region.

“It’s a ridiculously under employed population in the capital district, as well as the country,” Gross said. “They’re people who can do the jobs. I’m looking for people who can get the job done.”

Gross says he works with organizations like The ARC of Rensselaer County, RSS, the Glenmont Job Corps Center, and the Capital District Women’s Employment Resource Center to make sure his company is providing opportunities for people being served by those organizations. One of his employees, Katina Fronheiser, says she is grateful for her job.

“I love working here,” Fronheiser said. “They help me, really support me in what I need and the things I need to do.”

She has worked at eBizDocs for more than three years.

“I’ve learned so much because I didn’t even know this was an industry, to make things from paper electronic and it was awesome,” Fronheiser said. “It’s very cool to get to learn how that whole system works and how it’s a team, there’s all different people that do different things.”