Gentian Likaj is the founder and CEO of Communication Progress. He started his carrier in 1995 as a software expert in Alcatel Italy for Central Offices exchanges. He developed his technical skills during the preparation of software package and database for the Albanian telecommunication network. Gentian together with two other system engineers colleagues established in 1998 the company “Communication Progress”, staffed it with the best available professional staff, capable of developing, and implementing demanding networking, software applications and high technology projects. Gentian has led many projects, initiated a number of national programs and formed numerous partnerships in the Balkans. As such, Communication Progress has developed partnership relations with many of the world’s leading technology companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Iskratel, Nokia Siemens Networks, Microsoft, Promethean, Supermicro, Polycom, Optoma, Transition Networks, Fortinet, OpenERP (Odoo) and many others. The company has continuously broadened its service portfolio in the data and private branch exchange networks. Today, Communication Progress has over 40 employees, where over 30 are engineers and software developers. Mr. Likaj holds a Bachelor degree in Telecommunications, and counts numerous professional certificates on data networks, managed networks, telecommunication networks, applications and business management. - See more at: http://startupgrind.com/event/startup-grind-tirana-presents-gentian-likaj-communication-progress/#sthash.rnzwBZn6.dpuf

1. INTERVIEW WITHGentian Likaj, COMPANY ADMINISTRATOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2014
Communication Progress | ISO 9001:2008
Rr. Durrësit, Pall. M.C. Inerte, Kati 1, Laprakë, Tiranë, AL
NUIS: K01625001C DUNS: 366119555
tel/fax: +355 4 2413901• cel: +355 664042416
email: cp@commprog.com• web:www.commprog.com
Gold Partner:

3. Bio Gentian Likaj
Founder and General Manager of Communication Progress Ltd. from 1998 to the day, Gentian Likaj helped establishing and reassuring a leading positioning for the company in the local (and beyond) ICT market.
A professional with more than eighteen years of experience, ten of which focusing on large-scale projects, organisational and change-management aspects, methodology definition, development of functional mechanisms, technical studies on the quality assurance of resources and services, Gentian is holder of a BSc. in Electronics Sciences, Polytechnic University of Tirana (1995) and several internationally recognized certifications in the ICT and Management fields, such as Managing IT Projects, Project Management Institute-PMI (2011); Quality Management Systems, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Qualitat e.V-DGQ(2007); ICT Systems and Infrastructures, Alcatel (2005); Modern Information Technologies and Solutions, Iskratel(2004),etc.
It should be emphasized his ability to lead, train and coordinate work teams, assuring quality of -national, regional and worldwide -deliveries. Recent focal involvements include projects in R&D related to Innovation, Institutional Development, Academia, etc.
Communication Progress | ISO 9001:2008
Rr. Durrësit, Pall. M.C. Inerte, Kati 1, Laprakë, Tiranë, AL
NUIS: K01625001C DUNS: 366119555
tel/fax: +355 4 2413901• cel: +355 664042416
email: cp@commprog.com• web:www.commprog.com

5. Milestones and Important Projects
•Founding of Communication Progress Ltd. (limited liability Company)
•Official partner of Alcatel-Lucent for the territory of Albania and Kosova
1998
•Implemented the first Albtelecomproject for public access to broadband ‘adsl’ Internet
2001
•Official partner and Center for Technical Support of IskratelSlovenia for the territory of Albania; Starting of the activity for the implementation of about 60 % of the public telephone and Internet network/services in rural, urban and suburban areas.
2002
•Implemented ‘C4’ project (command, control, communication, computerization), an Information System for the Ministry of Defense (pre-admission to NATO reform)
2003
•Built the voice network -GovNet2 -for 15 Albanian Ministries
2007
•Built the Information System for the National Center of Blood Transfusion
2008
•Built of Intranet for 300 Points of Presence (PoP) of the Albanian Post in the territory of Albania, including services for: Voice Communication | Telepresence| Digital Signage | Monitoring center | Internet (a project known as ‘Digital Albania')
2010
•Launch of the structured activity for software application development
•Built of multi-site Telepresencesystem for the Albanian Missions of the Armed Forces in the world
2011
•'IMPRO' Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): Communication Progress becomes the first company to offer an ERP product, adapted for the Albanian enterprise
•Implemented ‘IMPRO’ in a network of 50 Franchise shops
2012
•Built centralized system of data reporting (.nettechnology) from the Albanian second tire banks to the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA/ASD), funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
•20+ ‘IMPRO’ projects implemented
•Sign-up of the first contracts for export of the software services to North America (ERP and Web development and integration)
•Albanian Deposit Insurance Agency-ASD -EBRD
2013
2013
•Communication Progress, software segment, exhibits in CEBIT (world #1 ICT trade fair), Hannover-Germany
•Upgrade of Microsoft Active Directory/Exchange in Bank of Albania
•Built of the Digital Archive (Microsoft SharePoint) for the Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (AKEP)
•Start of software services export to Germany (Web development)
2014 Ongoing

6. Communication Progress | ISO 9001:2008
Rr. Durrësit, Pall. M.C. Inerte, Kati 1, Laprakë, Tiranë, AL
NUIS: K01625001C DUNS: 366119555
tel/fax: +355 4 2413901• cel: +355 664042416
email: cp@commprog.com• web:www.commprog.com 6
Markets
•Public and Private Carriers
•Public Administration
•Corporations
•SME-s
•Health
•Education
Strategic Partners
•Alcatel-Lucent
•Odoo
•Microsoft
•Supermicro
•Cisco
•Oracle
•SAP
•Promethean, etc…
International Organizations Collaborations
•World Bank
•EBRD
•USAID
•UNDP
•EU
•GIZ
Sustaining Customers
•AlbTelecom
•Albanian Government
•Banks: Alpha, Intesa, Raiffeisen
•Vodafone, AMC
•Digitalb, Klan TV
•ASD, QKR
•Bank of Albania … 2014…
2011-2013
Average Revenue:
USD 2 500 000
EmployeeNumber: 40+

7. Certifications and Professional Adherences
Licensed: Service Provider for Data Transmission, from AKEP (the Albanian Authority for Electronic Mail and Communications)
Certified: Quality Management Systems -QMS ISO 9001:2013 (as of 2010)
Ongoing Certification: Information Security Management Systems -ISMS ISO 27000:2013
Ongoing Certification: Software Development CMMI Level 3 (Capability Maturity Model Integration)
Program Enrollment: European Union (EU) strategic program for Exports of Information Technology (IT Outsourcing) services to EU countries, implemented by CBI-Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Netherlands
AITA-Albanian ICT Association
ACN-Albanian Consulting Network
AmChamAlbania -American Chamber of Commerce in Albania

8. Communication
Software
IT Infrastructure
Interactive & Electronic Education
The company operates localy, regionally, EU and North America.

13. Software

18. Solutions that last since 1998…

19. IT Infrastucture

20. Interactive Education

24. Communication

29. Project: Web Portal

32. IT Infrastructure

33. Project: Server Room

34. Project: Telepresence &
Digital Signage

35. Partnership: Promethean

36. Product Presentation: IMPRO
Enterprise Resource Planning

37. Social Significance:
Summer Development Program

38. Consultancy: Albanian
Consulting Network (ACN)

39. Product Presentation: SharePoint

40. Product Presentation: SharePoint

41. CeBIT, Hannover, Germany

42. 10 Shtator2014
Gold Partner: