ESPERANCE company neal.IT is certainly carving a name for itself in the IT industry after winning two awards and now being named as a finalist in the prestigious 2008 Telstra West Australian Business Awards.

Neal.IT Director Steve Neal is especially proud of the company being named a finalist considering this was their first time entering the competition.

Telstra Business Awards Ambassador Deena Shiff said hundreds of entries were received for this year’s awards.

Having outshone the other entries the IT services provider is one of twenty businesses from Western Australia selected for the finals, having been been chosen in two categories out of five: the MYOB Small Business Award and the AMP Innovation Award.

If neal.IT wins in both categories they will be awarded $14,000.

The business has come a long way from its humble beginnings operating from the front room Mr Neal’s home in 2000. Mr Neal had always had a vision that it would grow and now that vision has become a reality.

With a store located on the Esplanade neal.IT has a staff of six people including the owners Mr Neal and his wife Lorri, and his services extend beyond Esperance.

“I had a goal to have this company look after Esperance and also regional WA,” Mr Neal said.

neal.IT staff will fly to Perth to attend the award ceremony at Burswood Entertainment Complex on August 29. Because of this neal.IT will be closed from August 29-30.