For those who chose to embrace it, the early 1990's brought opportunities to the world that literally changed the shape of business. Financial districts, commercial parks, industrial areas, all hallmarks of commerce, were no longer the only viable option. Stable, affordable high-speed communication changed the rules, removed the boundaries. Divisions, departments, offices, could be scattered as far away as the electronic network allowed.

As President of Laguna Software, Bill Wulff recognized the advantages that could be gained from untethering himself from the corporate headquarters. A group of major customers were located in Canada, and it made good sense to relocate where he could better serve them. Equally compelling was a desire to move his young family out of the city and into a small family-centered rural community. Orcas Island, situated in Washington State's Puget Sound, seemed the ideal spot. Equidistant from Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., its phone system had recently been upgraded to permit T1 service. Laguna Software would be their first T1 customer in the county. There were many unknowns, not the least of which was whether he would find qualified staff in such a backwater community. That fear was soon put to rest. A pre-technology-age mini-migration had already preceded him to the islands. Dozens of professional folks, dissatisfied with life in the city had moved here during the 60s, 70s, and 80s and taken any jobs they could find or started their own businesses. It wasn't unusual to find the electrician had a master's degree, or the delivery driver a PhD. Smart, self-sufficient, functional people were here and eager for the opportunity to apply their talents to the new technology of internet development.

The Laguna Software office may have been the first high-tech industry to blossom in the islands, but it certainly wasn't the last. Soon a state-of-the-art ISP was offering services unparalleled even to those in the major metropolitan areas. Other companies have followed the example Bill set and opened offices here. It's a model being repeated throughout the country. The leading edge of the technology age really is sometimes found on the frontier.