Biography
Fran Craig’s passion and vision was and is to enrich business performance through affordable and easily accessible software. With experience in leading IT organizations for Carnegie-Mellon University, GTE Telenet, and DHL Courier, she understands the challenges of customers in building a profitable organization. Fran designed and developed state-of-the-art distributed applications including order management, billing, and financial applications.
Fran founded the professional services company, Computer Strategies, in 1988, her first company, to set a higher standard for meeting and exceeding customer needs and to create a culture of high energy, bright, responsive, caring, and dedicated team members. Computer Strategies provided strategic technology planning, quality and organizational management, and programming services.
In 1997, Fran originated the concept of the web-based timesheet and morphed the professional services company into a SaaS software company. She led the company’s strategy and positioning, recruited the Unanet management team, board members and advisors, won key customers, and developed alliances. In 2015, Unanet released the cloud Unanet ERP software for managing projects, people, and financials. Unanet’s vision was to be the software market maker and leader for professional services organizations.
In 2019, private equity firms, JMI and later Onex invested in Unanet to accelerate product innovation, go-to-market strategies, and plans for continued growth. Today the vision is realized as Unanet is a leading provider of ERP solutions, purpose-built for Professional Services, Government Contractors, Architecture and Engineering, and Construction.
Today, over 400 employees support 4000 project-driven organizations that depend on Unanet to turn their information into actionable insights, drive better decision-making, and nurture business growth.
While now retired, Fran Craig still serves on the Unanet Board, participates with customers, employees, and the community, especially with technology companies. Fran mentors and speaks on corporate culture, entrepreneurship, women in business, starting and operating small business, and management effectiveness.