Back when resellers were getting 30 points of margin off a single PC there weren’t many channel executives interested in selling security.
But Rick Uhrich took that bold step and helped to create one of the best and largest security solution providers in Canada in ISA – Information Systems Architects Inc. of Toronto.
It is with deep sadness that CDN reports the passing of Uhrich who became known in the Canada IT channel community as one of the top security minds in the business.
Uhrich is survived by his wife Jill and his two children, Jesse and Clare, his brother Brad and his sister Janet. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, employees and business partners.
ISA said Rick Uhrich was a tremendous business leader, a loving husband, father and brother. He will be dearly missed by everyone whose lives he has touched with his kindness and fairness.
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Ulrich started his career at MSL Limited, one of the largest IT Technology companies in Saskatchewan in the ‘80s as a computer programmer. Shortly after he moved into a sales role with MSL. In 1987 Ulrich and his wife Jill moved to Toronto where he managed an MSL branch office. After MSL was acquired by Westbridge and ISM, he was a manager of the Professional Services team until 1992.
In January of 1992 Ulrich founded ISA and led this company for over 22 years to what it is today, one of the largest IT Security providers in Canada. ISA ranks 65th on the CDN Top 100 Solution Providers list.
ISA also said that everybody who knew Rick was aware of his passion for hockey. Rick was an accomplished hockey player, winning the 1973-74 Memorial Cup with the Regina Pats. His passion for hockey stayed with him for his entire life as he enjoyed playing recreational hockey in his spare time.
“We are all saddened by this tragic news we received today but all of us at ISA are determined to carry on and continue with Rick’s dreams for this company. Both Val Serebryanny and I will continue to run the company in Rick’s absence as he would have wished and expected and we will do it in a fashion consistent with the values Rick held and the culture he created at ISA,” said Kevin Dawson, the VP of sales for the company.
Uhrich believes that the key to success is maintaining quality relationships over the long-haul and having fun along the way.