Our Name

Averell Harriman, Chairman of the Board for Union Pacific Railroad, knew that American westward expansion was inevitable. Knowing this, he positioned his railroad to be the vehicle of choice for travelers heading west and dreamed of a way to attract passenger traffic to the West. Harriman, a longtime skier, struck upon the idea of developing a destination ski resort. To that end, he directed Count Felix Schaffgotsch to seek out the ideal site for such a resort - a resort comparable to the famous downhill resorts in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. He investigated Jackson, Alta, Aspen, Yosemite, Mt. Rainier, and other areas, but they failed to meet his specifications. The Count was in Colorado heading home, when a Union Pacific official suggested he look at Ketchum. He did, and less than a year later the Sun Valley resort opened.

The resort that Harriman constructed was first class -- the epitome of luxury and elegance. Even today his standards of excellence permeate through the town. It was the vision and foresight of Harriman that allowed the town of Ketchum such a vibrant revival. Not since the 1890s, when the price of silver declined and the mining boom ended, had this ex-mining town enjoyed such prosperity.

Thus, the beautiful town of Ketchum, Idaho, serves as the inspiration for our name. While our company lacks the long history of its namesake, we find parallels with the town in a metaphorical sense. Just as Harriman was confident that American Westward expansion was inevitable, so has Ketchum Integration dedicated itself to the future of VoIP. We are confident in this technological shift, not as a trend but as the foundation of the future of voice communications. Furthermore, we hope to position ourselves as the "vehicle of choice" for those who want to travel into the future of telephony. In the same way Harriman committed himself to an atmosphere of excellence, so does Ketchum Integration implement the highest standards in all areas of its business: the products, consulting, implementation, training, and support.

Therefore, it is no small coincidence that we share our name with a small resort town in Idaho, a town whose name is synonymous with excellence and vision.