SYRACUSE - Usherwood Office Technology is in the midst of opening a new office in Albany that will help grow the company's revenue more than 57 percent next year.

The Syracuse-based company is projecting revenue of $17.3 million in 2009, up from about $11 million this year. Usherwood has four business units handling printing, copying, network infrastructure and hardware, and software applications for clients ranging from school districts to insurance companies to hospitals.

Louis Usherwood, the company's president and CEO, says the goal is for the firm to do business throughout New York Usherwood opened an office in Binghamton in 1998 and one in Rochester about three years ago.

"We had been eyeing Albany and Rochester for some time," Usherwood says. "We want to be a statewide distributor."

And while the company serves Buffalo-area clients from its other offices now, Usherwood also plans to open an office there in the future.

"You really expand your offering to customers when you have a physical location in a city," he says. It shows them you're making a commitment to the area with offices like that."

The Albany office will have 10 people to start, bringing the firm's total employment to 80. The location should he up and running within the next few weeks, Usherwood says.

Each of the company's offices offers its full range of services, he adds.

The growth across the firm also meant an expansion at Usherwood's Syracuse headquarters. The company is adding 4,500 square feet to its 18,500-square-foot office at 1005 W. Fayette St.

The expansion began Nov. 1 and should wrap up in the next few weeks, Usherwood says. The company is adding some new office space, which will free up room to expand its warehouse.

In addition to the geographic expansion, Usherwood also attributes the recent growth to the firm's business model. Customers will often begin working with Usherwood Office Technology in just one business area - copiers, for example.

The goal after that is to build that business so the customer eventually uses all of Usherwood's services. The firm also works with top manufacturers like Canon and Hewlett-Packard.

He says the firm is currently focused on expansion within New York and may look to smaller markets like Plattsburgh in the future or add a downstate presence in an area like Newburgh at some point. He also didn't rule out expanding the company beyond the state eventually.

Usherwood's parents, Charles and Carol, started the company in 1976. Usherwood started in sales at the business in 1986. His brother, Charles Usherwood II, is also involved in the company as its chief technology officer.

Louis Usherwood became president of the company in 1991, before buying out his parents in 1996.

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