For 15 years Anthony Goode Smith worked in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries as a sales rep. A decade and a half was all he needed to know that his best move was to start a business in Detroit -- Standard Medical Services. "After being downsized, rightsized and flipsized, I decided to harness my knowledge to start my own company," says Smith, the managing director and sales director for Standard Medical Services. In 2005 it was just him and his wife Stephanie. Today he has 25 sales reps and five managers under him. His TechTown-based company has offices in Michigan and Virginia with plans to open two more in Washington, D.C., and New York City. He is also planning to start an internship program.

Setting up shop in Detroit, and Michigan for that matter, is becoming a little easier thanks to TechTown's new International Soft Landings program. The program helps smooth the way for international companies doing business in Michigan. Think of it as sort of a guide for out-of-town businesses so they can avoid the pitfalls of getting a foothold on new turf.

Making the move to the IT world has turned out to be the right decision for the two people behind IC Data Communications.