Our extensive History in DATA
Our Origin
Our story began back in 1946 when my grandfather, Robert Rathe Sr., founded Southern Microfilm Corporation. SMC's strategic focus was centered on micrographics.
Following World War II, microfilm technology expanded rapidly into various sectors, including libraries, archives, government agencies, and businesses. Microfilm became a popular method for preserving and accessing large collections of documents.
In the mid-20th century, microfiche was introduced as an alternative to microfilm. Microfiche consisted of small sheets of film, typically about 4 x 6 inches, containing multiple images of documents. Microfiche readers allowed users to magnify and view individual images.
My father, Robert Rathe Jr., joined SMC in 1978. He worked his way up from a junior salesman to an executive role handling strategic initiatives. In the early 1980s, he formed a partnership with Minolta, making SMC the New Orleans Minolta dealer. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, he grew the company through strategic acquisitions and innovations.
He became President of SMC in 1985. He and his brothers went on to purchase SMC from my grandfather in 1995. SMC then became RACOM.
2nd Generation Part 1
In 1995, the newly acquired company became RACOM. In just two and a half years, RACOM tripled in size. Our workforce grew from less than 200 employees to over 750 employees.
RACOM's dramatic growth and success did not go unnoticed and was purchased by Lason, Inc. in 1998. Lason became a publicly traded company in 1996, and by 1999, Lason had multifunctional imaging and data capture centers across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, India, Mauritius, and the Caribbean.
2nd Generation Part 2
In 2002, Robert Rathe Jr. created The Windward Group, specialized in document management, recognizing the need for better ways to deliver document services to businesses and government agencies as technology advanced.
In 2009, I began working alongside my father and brother. Over the years, I worked my way up from an on-site scanning operator to becoming the Director of Operations.
In 2015, my brother and I started another document management company, but ultimately, we went our separate ways in 2024, leading to the creation of GGS Data.
Robert Rathe Jr. sold TWG in 2019 to AVENU. He has since retired from the Document Management Industry.
Our Mission
GGS Data continues to follow our forefathers' guidance and is dedicated to providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to our customers. We are proud to have a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about what they do. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the industry, our team is committed to providing our customers with the highest level of service and support.