Turning Technologies to cut 20 positions

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Downtown tech company Turning Technologies announced to employees this week that 20 positions will be eliminated and there will be changes to some roles and responsibilities.

A memo sent to employees explained that the company’s net billings for the first eight months of the year are down $4 million from last year.

When asked about layoffs, the company’s Director of Marketing Morgan Tondo Cretella sent this statement to The Vindicator Tuesday:

“Turning Technologies implemented a restructuring initiative in response to changing market needs. We made these difficult adjustments after careful deliberation as we are deeply committed to our clients, our employees and the Youngstown community. We have extraordinary opportunities to expand the reach and impact of our services, and we are confident that these changes will accelerate our efforts to achieve this potential.”

Turning Technologies was founded in 2002 as a company looking to make response technology that was more affordable and user-friendly.

Turning was supported by the Youngstown Business Incubator, which helps tech start-up companies get off the ground.

Within a couple of years of launching, the tech company received national attention for its software called TurningPoint, which allows audiences and students to respond to questions presented by a speaker or teacher. Five years after its launch, Turning was recognized as the fastest-growing, privately held software company in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine.

The company has evolved from selling desktop software to cloud-based solutions.

Last year, Mike Broderick, one of the company’s founders, retired from his position as chief executive officer.

Ethan Cohen, who was chief operating officer/chief technology, is the company’s current CEO.