Douglas Tate
When Douglas Tate founded Alpha Technologies in 2000, he had a plan to help bridge the gap between business and technology for companies in West Virginia. His modest goal was to hire five employees to service potential clients. Today, his company, recently rebranded to Alpha Innovations, has offices in Hurricane and South Charleston and employs about 55 people, serving customers in more than 20 countries around the world.
“At Alpha Innovations, we’ve assembled a team of top-tier technical engineers, cybersecurity and AI experts who specialize in transforming complex technologies into business capabilities. Our deep local roots mean we understand the unique needs and challenges of West Virginia businesses, allowing us to deliver personalized, top-tier service with the reliability and innovation of a global provider,” he explained. “With Alpha Innovations, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for location; you get the best of both worlds.”
Originally from Sissonville, West Virginia, Tate retired from the military and started working for a large computer systems integrator. Wanting to return to his home state, Tate joined what was then Charter Communications, where he was part of the team that helped start Charter Business Networks.
“I noticed that many telecommunication companies delivered technology but left customers unsure how to use it,” Tate said. “There was a gap between providers and their customers.”
Soon thereafter, Tate began assisting businesses by installing servers to support their operations and firewalls to safeguard their networks, and Alpha Technologies was born.
“My goal was to build a company that would bridge that gap, and I’m very proud of the fact that Alpha handles the technological complexities so our clients can focus on their core business.”
When Charter was sold in 2004, Tate dedicated himself to Alpha full time. Since then, the company has grown to support large and small businesses as well as local, state and federal government agencies. With two established data centers in South Charleston and northern Virginia, Alpha is in the midst of building its third data center, which will be located in Huntington. Alpha also competes effectively with major, out-of-state technology service providers.
Tate credits God for helping him grow the company to where it is now. Alpha Technologies, now Alpha Innovations, has grown mostly by word of mouth and without much advertising.
“As Alpha Innovations, we strategically position ourselves to not only identify and respond to customer needs but also to stay ahead of market trends,” Tate explained. “Our approach allows us to make a substantial impact across various sectors, whether through data centers, fiber networks or server technologies. Our unique advantage lies in our optimal size: agile enough to ensure rapid response and implementation, yet robust enough to support both small and large enterprises effectively. This balance of speed and capability empowers Alpha to deliver exceptional service and handle significant demands with expertise.”
Tate said in rebranding to Alpha Innovations, the company marked a significant evolution in its strategic direction. The name change reflects the company’s commitment to provide a broader scope of services focused on AI, cybersecurity, data center and cloud services, he said.
“Alpha Innovations continues to deliver the high-quality managed services its clients trust, while also leading the way in innovative technology solutions that empower businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital world,” Tate said. “This rebrand represents not just a new name, but a renewed dedication to driving technological progress and offering comprehensive solutions that meet the evolving needs of the modern enterprise.”
In 2018, Tate won the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Person of the Year award for West Virginia. He was also the runner-up for the national Small Business Person of the Year award.
“From a company perspective, it’s a pretty humbling award,” Tate said. “It’s not about me; it’s about the company. It’s about the people here and the leadership that we have.”
Steve Roberts, president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said the organization is proud of the “cutting-edge” work Alpha is doing.
“Their team is distinguished, and their projects create excitement,” Roberts said. “West Virginia is a world-class location with world-class people. Alpha Innovations proves the point.”
Tate is optimistic about West Virginia’s potential for significant growth in the coming years, particularly through strategic partnerships between academia and industry. He highlights Thundercloud, an initiative to establish Huntington as the state’s first open-access fiber city, and the role of Alpha Innovations’ upcoming data center in this transformation. Additionally, the collaboration with Marshall University’s Institute for Cyber Security and the National Center of Excellence for Cybersecurity in Critical Infrastructure, hosted in Huntington by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), are both set to foster additional business, innovation and educational opportunities.
Tate predicts robust development in the region, enhanced by a dynamic partnership with the DOD. This collaboration is poised to create new jobs and leverage Marshall’s educational resources, while Thundercloud and Alpha Innovations provide the essential infrastructure and connectivity.
Tate said he believes the state is on an upturn with the investment of companies like Nucor Steel, Berkshire Hathaway, Form Energy, LG NOVA and others. He said he’s hopeful that these kinds of jobs will help reverse the trend of high-paying jobs being outsourced elsewhere.
A father of five, Tate said three of his children followed their careers out of state. The other two are in high school and college in West Virginia. A lifelong learner himself, Tate recently earned his Doctor of Business Administration from Fox School of Business at Temple University.
“The partnership between business and academia presents an opportunity to create a new economic future that can propel our state forward for 20, 30 years into the future,” Tate said.
Tate emphasized the importance of business reinvestment in West Virginia to bolster the state’s economic future. Demonstrating this commitment, Alpha Innovations contributed a $100,000 scholarship to Marshall University’s cybersecurity program. Tate’s vision includes expanding these efforts in a way that cultivates a skilled technology workforce.
Alpha was one of the sponsors of the Chamber’s 2024 Annual Meeting & Business Summit at The Greenbrier. There, the company unveiled its new service line that assists businesses in the efficient use of artificial intelligence. AI technology allows people to research and produce
information in minutes that, in the past, would have taken weeks or months, Tate noted.
“We’re trying to demystify the AI concept and how to use it,” he said. “Alpha is focused on helping our customers utilize this technology to add value to their business.”