Romaine & Associates: Darien Man Makes Business Compute

It was a college job that led Darien resident David Romaine to eventually create his own consulting businesses, one of which is aimed at helping small entrepreneurs.

A Tennessee native, Romaine got his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science.

“My advisor, one of my main professors, helped design the Univac 1108,” he said. “Those were the kind of guys who were in Tennessee. These were guys who’d been out in industry, were turned on by what they did, and they were coming back to teach it.”

Romaine had planned to work awhile before going to graduate school. But when he didn't get a job, he decided to work on his master’s degree. Northwestern University in Evanston was one of the few schools that accepted last-minute applications.

“I applied in the middle of August, was accepted by the end of the month and started classes by the second week of September,” he said.

Once he got to Northwestern, Romaine had to find a way to finance his education. He came across an ad from a company needing help to set up their new computer system.

“The promise (from the computer company) of two weeks to get all their software up and running came and went, and this computer was still sitting there. So they put an ad in the paper. They were clueless,” he said. “So I answered it. The fellow was an accountant. He said, ‘I’m recommending that the company not hire you, but use you as a consultant, as outside services.’ And that’s how my business started.”

Romaine got to know another young man working for that same company. That friendship opened another door for him.

“His dad owned a fastener company in Broadview. And so, as we got to know each other, I met his dad,” he said. “One thing led to another. You know, ‘Come over and take a look.’ He had an IBM System 34, and what that thing could do in a five- or ten-line program, I had a routine of 600 lines. It was built to run businesses. And that’s how I got into the IBM side of things.”

By the time Romaine had earned his master’s in electrical engineering and computer science, his business and his future were established. In 2001, he formally incorporated his business as Romaine & Associates.

Romaine specializes in midrange systems from multiple vendors. He creates applications and helps his clients with the installation and maintenance of their systems.

“I used to write Assembler language programming,” he said. “I loved it. That’s the kind of detail that I bring to the table, even though I just stayed on the application side.”

In March 2004, Romaine expanded his services by creating another business called Corporation 2.

“My clients were saying, ‘Can we put this on the web?’ or ‘Can we do that on the web?’ Most of the time, their annual revenues are what some of these other larger companies spend on this stuff,” he said. “I wanted to be able to help them develop a marketing plan. That’s why I founded Corporation 2. And the idea, the buzzword there is, ‘Release the energy that’s inherent in your business.’ You’ve got a business, and there’s something unique about your business. So let’s define it, and that’s what we’ll advertise.”

Romaine’s business has prospered by word-of-mouth and networking. His clients appreciate his ethics.

“If someone is paying for my services, I don’t hold anything back. If I think they can get something cheaper somewhere, I’ll tell them that. My job is to serve them. And for thirty-plus years, it’s been a good philosophy," he said. “I bring value to their businesses. I bring value to my clients. I help them do their business in a better, smarter way that helps them serve their customers better, and saves them money along the way. That’s really what it’s about—serving your customer and helping them serve their customers. There’s a lot of satisfaction in that.”

For more information on Romaine & Associates Inc. or Corporation 2, contact David Romaine by emailing romaine@ieee.org or calling 630-963-0772.