Defining the Cloud and Facing Fears

As a managed and cloud hosting provider, Contegix is focused on providing clients with a service partner they can trust to keep their data and IT infrastructure secure. This responsibility has prompted Contegix’s leaders to work to help define ‘cloud’ for the public in an effort to alleviate both the fear of moving important data to the cloud and the worry over loss of control. The truth is that Cloud computing can take on many forms and is never one size fits all. The benefits of Cloud computing often outweigh the risks, especially when the service is specifically tailored to suit the client’s needs. This conversation will focus on ways to help customers determine what cloud should mean to them, what language a business owner will need to hear to give cloud a try and ways in which industry can shape public opinion regarding the unique and growing Information Management tool, known as ‘Cloud’.

Contegix provides high-level managed hosting solutions for enterprise applications and infrastructure. The company delivers proactive, passionate support that is unparalleled in the industry. All Contegix solutions encompass supporting dedicated hardware and operating system management, deploying and configuring software, and offering complete licensing management. Contegix’s award-winning service is delivered by a staff of Tier-3 engineers from its global headquarters in St. Louis, MO.

In his presentation, Matthew Porter will discuss:

• The way Contegix treats clients
• Fear of Cloud Computing
• Definitions of Cloud Computing
• Classes of Cloud Computing


Matthew Porter

About Matthew Porter

Matthew E. Porter is an entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and MS advocate. He is the Senior Partner and Co-Founder of Eonova, a growth advisory firm built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, and serves on the boards of multiple companies, from high-growth startups to established enterprises. Porter founded Contegix in 2004, growing it from a bootstrapped startup to an industry leader in managed hosting, cloud computing, and Atlassian services. Under his leadership, Contegix expanded to over 350 employees and $100M in revenue before being acquired by Valiantys in 2024. He has also held executive roles at EmpowerMe Wellness, Clayco, and Invisibly and was inducted into the John Cook School of Business Smurfit-Stone Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame at Saint Louis University. Recognized for his leadership, he has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Forbes and was named to Saint Louis Business Journal’s “30 Under 30” and “40 Under 40” lists.

Beyond business, Porter is an ultramarathoner who channels his endurance running into advocacy for multiple sclerosis, a disease he battles himself. Since taking up trail running in 2010, he has completed numerous 100-mile races, including Leadville Trail 100, and has raised funds for MS research through his races. In 2022, he and a fellow MS warrior ran 103 miles nonstop to Missouri’s state capital, Jefferson City, to engage policymakers in the fight against MS. Porter lives in Weldon Spring, Missouri, with his wife and three children, guided by his family’s mission: “We have a debt to those before us and an obligation to those after us. We maximize life and potential through heart, intelligence, and grit. We focus on our bond. We do all of this together because we are always stronger together. Mostest.”

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