Lisa Brown

Our CEO - Lisa Brown

I.T. that works for you

Started in 2000, CST Group is a complete technology solution provider. We are 100% committed to making sure business owners have the most reliable and professional I.T. service on the East Coast. Our team of talented I.T. professionals can solve your I.T. nightmares once and for all.

CST Group Inc. is classified as a Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned Business.

Here’s why so many businesses depend on CST Group for complete IT services and support:

  • Knowledge– The entire team at CST Group has the knowledge to troubleshoot any technology issue.  From software problems to complex networks, we do it all.  We are your one-stop shop.
  • Experience– We don’t just talk a good game, we have years of experience and hundreds of happy clients to prove it.
  • Dedication– We care about our clients and their businesses.  We want to ensure 100% up-time so you can focus on growing your business and not on technology problems.

Our custom service packages deliver what you need and want without overstepping the boundaries of your budget. From cloud services to data backup, CST Group is here to team up with you and your company for expert support.

“Passionate NOT Pushy” About Your Technology

From our CEO & Founder, Lisa Brown

I talk to a lot of companies looking for I.T. Services.  Honestly, I LOVE IT!  (Which is why we offer FREE Network Assessments.)  For companies to make great I.T. decisions, they MUST have information and being able to talk to an industry expert is always helpful in the decision-making process.  I am NOT a salesperson; I am more of a consultant who is truly vendor agnostic.  I honestly don’t care who your vendors are as long as they are doing a great job for you. I digress…

So why, “Passionate NOT Pushy”?  I tend to get a little…ok A LOT…excited about technology.  I LOVE what I do and I LOVE to educate and apparently it shows in my voice and my expressions.

I was invited to meet with a local municipality to help educate them on IT and the requirements necessary for compliancy.  Basically, they asked for that FREE assessment.  I met with four people and spent two and a half hours with them.  I shared information, toured their building and overall, had a wonderful experience.  I left feeling like I had accomplished what I had intended – education!  Now, of course I want their business but not every company I do an assessment for is a good fit for us.

The following day, I received a phone call from my original contact, David.  David started by saying that Gregg thought I was PUSHY!  Wait, What?  I immediately began to apologize as that was never my intention.  David immediately stopped me and said, “Lisa, don’t apologize – you are Passionate NOT Pushy”!  And that is where it started.  Yes, I am “Passionate NOT Pushy” about your technology and I’m proud of it!

Shouldn’t all of your vendors be “Passionate NOT Pushy” about what they do?

Our Story…Who Am I And Why Should You Do Business With Us?

From our CEO & Founder, Lisa Brown

Why do business with me and my team?  If you have ever searched for an IT Provider, you’ve probably heard it all; “we are the best”, “our customer service is amazing”, “you’ll talk to a live person whenever you call”, etc., etc.  Then you do business with “them”, and it all goes down the crapper.  Trust me, before I started CST, I had heard it all and worked with many tech companies doing a horrible job.  Which is one of the reasons CST exists.  The other reason? My Kids!

I had a good job working for local government but after a failed marriage, I found it difficult to manage the schedules and really be there for two little humans I was now responsible for.  I loved my job and was darn good at it, but I watched so many other IT companies doing a horrible job that it made me a little crazy.  Let me just say, there is nothing more powerful than a single Mom needing to be there for her kids and watching other IT firms succeed at doing a crappy job.  So, what does one rational, single mom do?  She quit her job and started her own company.

I must admit it was scary and sometimes I did more crying than I should have, but while my kids slept, I worked and while my kids were at school, I worked.  My entire world revolved around them, and work was no exception.  By the way, I also earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in communication all while I was running a company and raising two kids.   Let me just say, I didn’t sleep a lot which, to be honest, was fine with me.  I am more motivated and determined than most people I know so none of this was work for me.  I enjoyed every bit, and it was supporting myself and my family.  The problem was it was just ME.  I was tech, account manager, finance, office manager, phone answerer, and maintenance.  I was that one-person band.   I was IT!  Literally and figuratively.

Shawn Brown

Our COO - Shawn Brown

I married my childhood sweetheart, Shawn, in 2004 and he joined the company shortly after.  Together we make an incredible team.  I am one that has no problem jumping off a cliff and will find a parachute somewhere on my route to the ground.  He is significantly more cautious than I am (his military background has something to do with that) and would prefer we have a parachute before we leap.  He also understands that with me, the parachute may have a few holes in it but just having one makes for a better relationship.

Now, more than 22 years later, we have a team of incredible people that ensure our clients are taken care of.  We go above and beyond, and we enjoy every minute of it.  We have offices in Northern New York and Southwest Florida and our clientele ranges from local government, accounting firms, legal practices, insurance providers, automotive industries, dental practices, building industries and everything in between.  We believe you ALL deserve an amazing I.T. team who supports your organization’s growth.

If you would like to work with a woman-owned, veteran-owned, hardworking, passionate IT Firm why not give us a try?

Organizations We Support

Our dedicated team loves to support organizations outside of our work schedules.  Here are a few we encourage you to support.

NORTH COUNTRY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Website:  www.nchabitatforhumanity.org

Both Lisa and Jessica serve on the Board of Directors. Lisa has been involved for over 16 years and serves as Comptroller and Jessica joined the board in 2021 and serves on several committees. North Country Habitat for Humanity eradicates substandard housing in Franklin County, NY

PARADE OF LIGHTS

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/maloneparadeoflights

If you thought Carrie was AWESOME as your Account Manager, you will understand her passion for her community.  She founded the Malone Annual Parade of Lights Festival in 2017 after seeing it happen in another community.  Christmas has always been a favorite holiday of hers. Bringing the Community together with a huge light parade and seeing the kids' faces light up is the most magical thing.

SMALL TOWN PRIDE

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/smalltownpridemaloneny

Sara is our Sales Development Rep/Appointment Setter and is normally your first point of contact when you want to do business with us. Small Town Pride is one of the organizations she supports. She enjoys helping Youth and Families within the LGBTQIA2+ community. She believes that ALL individuals should feel safe and be allowed to represent themselves however they choose and be free from ridicule. “Together We Can.”

FOCUS ON FERALS

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/focusonferalsinc

If you have ever visited our Northern NY Offices, you may have encountered an animal or two (or three).  Carrie became a foster mom in 2018 and has had over 100 cats and kittens pass through her home.  Her passion for helping animals that need help keeps her going (even though she has adopted 3 of her fosters in the past).  We are never surprised to find her hanging from a tree, deep in the woods or under a structure trying to rescue a cat.  If she is needed, you can count on her!

Our Mission

CST Group is a PROACTIVE Technology Management firm that specializes in helping municipalities and compliance-driven industries to SECURE, PROTECT and MANAGE their technology.

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