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At the heart of it all there is an incredible passion and drive. People sometimes tell me I am crazy, and those who don’t say it probably think it. But Ivan, the team and I we keep pushing. We have to. We owe it to our clients to focus on more than great prices and solid solutions. You deserve innovation and creative problem-solving that does not just skim the surface but goes deeper. It has to be intentional, true, and genuine. If I had to sum up what drives us after all these years, it would be this: from-the-heart technology. That is what Makios stands for, and we have been extremely blessed to be allowed to help solve real problems with purpose and care for real people. That does not always make things problem-free or without confrontation, but that is what having heart is about. It means deep and intentional care to do right by others, even when it is uncomfortable. It means not backing down from the incidental issue but facing it head-on and pushing through. That is where growth happens, and that is where trust is built. Along the way, many people have walked through our doors—engineers, managers, specialists, and support staff. Some stayed for years, others for a season, but every single one left a mark. Each contributed in their own way to the strength, culture, and success of Makios. We are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and talent they invested in helping us grow into what we are today. This year marks 19 years of Makios Technology, nearly two decades of helping businesses harness the power of technology without the headaches. It all began with Arleene and me working out of what would later become our son’s bedroom, armed with determination, a few computers, and a vision to build something that actually made technology easier for people to use. How times have changed. Humble Beginnings From those humble beginnings in El Paso to becoming a regional leader in cybersecurity, managed IT, and cloud services, the journey has been one of constant evolution, grit, and a refusal to settle for “good enough.” Makios started with a simple mission: make technology work for people, not against them. Over 19 years, that vision has grown into a full-service technology partner serving clients across Texas and New Mexico, but also California and New York. With the internet, we can be everywhere. We even support my parents in France, so come on—how cool is that? We are making our footprint throughout the Southwest but never forgetting our roots in our beloved border town of El Paso. We continue to expand and grow, reaching new clients, new industries, and new communities while staying true to the same principles that started it all. We have built a business defined by reliability, transparency, and proactive protection, values that have remained solid even as the world around us has changed. At the core of Makios are our guiding principles, what we call CHIPS: Commitment, Honesty, Improvement, Professionalism, and Service. These are not slogans on a wall; they are the standards we live by every day. Key Milestones Cybersecurity-first approach: Long before “zero trust” became a buzzword, we built our managed services around security rather than convenience. It has always been about protection first, because when your systems are safe, your business can move freely. Expansion across the Southwest: From our El Paso roots to operations across multiple states, Makios now supports hundreds of organizations in a wide range of industries. We continue to pursue partnerships that are mutually rewarding, helping our clients grow and move forward with confidence. Launch of Makios One Portal: Our own centralized platform gives clients enterprise-grade capability with small-business simplicity. It brings every technology we manage into one transparent space, where clients can see exactly what we are doing and how it benefits their business. SOC and MDR offerings: We introduced advanced Managed Detection and Response to deliver enterprise-level security monitoring and protection to businesses of every size. It is about leveling the playing field so smaller organizations can have the same defenses as the giants. Community and people: We have invested, and will continue to invest, in our local community and talent. Our team of engineers and support staff is built right here in the Southwest because we believe the best service comes from people who understand the place they serve. The Next Chapter As we approach our 20th year, we are doubling down on what got us here: innovation with purpose. We are pushing further into our relationship with Oracle and advancing the development of our internal systems. The coming year will bring significantly more automation and smarter processes that make everything smoother for both our team and our clients. We will continue to simplify life through Makios One Portal, creating a single unified experience that brings all our tools and platforms into one clear view. We will also be leveraging AI throughout all systems we use more heavily than ever before. The goal is to add another layer of simplification and intelligence to everything we do for you, our clients. Our focus through 2026 is on standardization, refinement, and seamless integration, making technology not only powerful but easy. All the while, we remain committed to keeping rates fair and service levels unmatched. It is a tall order, but not one we shy away from. Every ounce of effort goes into making it real. Nineteen years in, we are still just getting started. The tech landscape moves fast, but so do we. As long as there are businesses to protect and systems to simplify, Makios will be here, making technology human again.