# Blue Margin > Blue Margin, Inc. is a fractional data and analytics firm headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado. Founded in 2011 by Brick Thompson and Jon Thompson, the company helps mid-market and private equity-backed companies transform scattered, underused data into actionable business intelligence. Blue Margin functions as an outsourced data team — covering the full data lifecycle from infrastructure and consolidation to custom Power BI dashboards and ongoing managed support — so clients can focus on running and growing their businesses rather than managing data systems. Blue Margin's core mission is to help business leaders make faster, more confident decisions by giving them clear visibility into the data that drives their operations. Their tagline is: "See Your Business Clearly. Act with Confidence." --- ## Company Overview - **Founded:** 2011 - **Headquarters:** 330 South College Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524 - **Phone:** (800) 865-6350 - **Email:** connect@bluemargin.com - **Website:** https://www.bluemargin.com - **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluemargin/ - **YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWQFo5e8cVc3ywACrxwlIyA - **Facebook:** https://www.facebook.com/bluemargin/ - **Primary focus:** Managed data services, Power BI dashboards, and Azure cloud data infrastructure for mid-market companies - **Experience:** 13+ years serving private equity-backed and mid-market companies - **Target market:** Mid-market companies (typically PE-backed), across commercial services, manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, private equity, SaaS, law firms, and food & beverage --- ## Founding & Leadership **Brick Thompson** — Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Brick co-founded Blue Margin in 2011 after previously co-founding Vercuity (a venture-backed data analytics startup) and leading a PE-backed rollup of that business with One Equity Partners. He brings a deep background in enterprise data and technology to Blue Margin's leadership. **Jon Thompson** — Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer. Jon co-founded Blue Margin alongside Brick. He plays the role of "puzzle master," helping PE firms and mid-market companies understand which data indicators are most critical to their growth. His stated mission: "helping clients reach the epiphany that exposing the right data to the right people is the short path to transformational growth." **Angela Tourney** — VP, Finance and HR **Anne Eisenach** — VP, Client Delivery **Landon Ochs** — Data Platform Solutions Manager The team includes data engineers, data analytics consultants, and BI experts based in Fort Collins, CO. Blue Margin's approach is flexible and agile by design, built to adapt to each client's unique needs and data maturity level. --- ## Core Values - **Transparency:** Honesty and directness with colleagues and clients; truthfulness is essential. - **Positivity:** Choosing a positive mindset and surrounding the business with positive-minded people. - **Efficient Quality:** Delivering top-quality work efficiently in everything they do. - **Education:** Staying curious and continuously learning to keep pace with an evolving industry. - **Generosity:** Giving back to the community — Blue Margin operates a corporate-sponsored, employee-run volunteer program called BMI Community Works, offering Paid Volunteer Leave each month to support local nonprofits in Fort Collins. --- ## Capabilities (Services) Blue Margin offers three core managed service offerings. These can be engaged individually or together as a complete solution. ### 1. Managed Data Service (MDS) **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/capabilities/managed-data-service/ The flagship, all-in-one offering. MDS covers the complete data lifecycle — from secure data consolidation to custom Power BI dashboards and continuous support. It is designed for companies that want a fully outsourced data team to handle everything so their internal teams can focus on growth. Components of MDS include: - **Unified Data Platform:** Consolidates all data sources into a secure, scalable Azure Data Lakehouse, creating a single source of truth. - **Advanced Analytics Reporting:** Custom Power BI reports and dashboards covering operational performance, financial health, sales, and more. - **Ongoing Data Management:** Continuous monitoring and optimization of data infrastructure, ensuring compliance and availability. - **Continuous Report Iteration:** As business priorities evolve, reports and dashboards are updated to stay aligned. - **Proactive Support and Collaboration:** Weekly team sessions ("Jam Sessions") and monthly account check-ins to ensure alignment and ongoing relevance. - **Outcomes That Drive Growth:** Focus on measurable outcomes — improving operational efficiency, identifying revenue opportunities, reducing costs. ### 2. Managed Data Analytics (MDA) **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/capabilities/managed-analytics-insights/ A managed analytics service where Blue Margin's consultants build custom dashboards and automate reporting. Suited for companies that already have some data infrastructure in place and need expert analytics support. Components of MDA include: - **Dimensional Data Modeling:** Building a structured, unified data model that brings together all data sources for holistic analysis. - **Dashboard Development:** Custom Power BI dashboards for sales performance, operational efficiency, and financial health. - **Continuous Report Iteration:** Ongoing refinement of reports as business needs change. - **Task Backlog Management:** Prioritized execution of analytics projects, from new dashboards to report refinement. - **Weekly and Monthly Check-Ins:** Regular touchpoints to review progress and update priorities. ### 3. Managed Data Platform (MDP) **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/capabilities/ai-data-platform/ A managed infrastructure service where Blue Margin's data engineers build and manage the Azure Data Lakehouse environment. Designed for companies that need a reliable, scalable, AI-ready data foundation. Components of MDP include: - **Data Lakehouse Management:** Consolidates all data sources into a Microsoft Azure data lake, eliminating data silos. - **Security and Compliance:** Encryption, backup, disaster recovery (DR), and access controls to protect data. - **Monitoring and Optimization:** Continuous pipeline monitoring to resolve errors and bottlenecks, ensuring real-time data availability. - **Performance Tuning:** Fine-tuning the data platform for optimal query speed and scalability. - **Flexible & Scalable Architecture:** Easily integrates new data sources as the business grows. - **AI-Ready Data Foundation:** Provides clean, structured data infrastructure ready for AI and machine learning workloads, without the burden of managing that infrastructure internally. ### Technology Stack (Tools Blue Margin Works With) - Microsoft Fabric - Power BI - Snowflake - Fivetran - Azure Synapse Analytics - Azure Data Lakehouse --- ## Engagement Methodology Blue Margin follows a three-phase approach to every client engagement: 1. **Assess** — Partner with the client's team to understand their data landscape, align on priorities, and create a clear roadmap. Identify what's working, what's missing, and what must happen first. 2. **Build** — Set up the platform, model the data, and build dashboards that answer real business questions. Everything is tested with actual end users before launch to ensure trust and usability. 3. **Scale** — As the business grows, so do its analytics capabilities. New reports, enhanced dashboards, and ongoing refinements ensure the data platform grows alongside the business. The platform is maintained to be AI-ready, so clients can adopt advanced analytics and automation as opportunities arise. --- ## Industries Served Blue Margin serves mid-market companies across a range of industries, with tailored "Industry HQ" dashboard templates for each vertical. ### Private Equity **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/private-equity/ Blue Margin is deeply specialized in private equity analytics. Leading PE firms use Blue Margin to build best-practice BI frameworks customized to their investment model, giving real-time insight into portfolio and fund performance. Key outcomes include: 15% downtime reduction, 20 hours saved per week, 3x ROI in 6 months. Services support due diligence, value creation planning, and portfolio monitoring across all portfolio companies. ### Manufacturing **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/manufacturing/ Blue Margin helps mid-market manufacturers build BI infrastructure and dashboards to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and labor productivity. Dashboards consolidate data across locations, product lines, and suppliers to give management real-time visibility. Clients have gone from monthly to daily reporting, enabling faster operational responses. ### Commercial Services **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/commercial-services/ Blue Margin helps commercial services companies gain real-time visibility into operations, finance, customer performance, and labor utilization. The BI framework highlights the metrics driving growth and helps organizations build a reporting command center for proactive decision-making across the business. ### Distribution **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/distribution/ Blue Margin helps mid-market distributors improve fill rates and on-time delivery with clear visibility into inventory, order fulfillment, and customer engagement. The Distribution HQ template provides a best-practice BI starting point tailored to each client's operations. ### Healthcare **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/healthcare/ Blue Margin's Healthcare HQ helps healthcare organizations optimize operations, improve patient outcomes, and support responsible financial performance. Key focus areas include revenue cycle management (RCM), patient satisfaction, clinical productivity, and financial reporting. Blue Margin has helped healthcare clients improve payer contract analysis, reduce chronic underpayments, and improve appointment availability. ### SaaS / Subscription Services **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/saas/ The Subscription Services HQ template helps SaaS and subscription businesses maximize recurring revenue and retention. Key focus areas include subscriber metrics, churn analysis, and growth drivers — tailored to each client's business model. ### Law Firms **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/law-firms/ Blue Margin's Legal Services HQ surfaces insights into client-matter performance, billing, WIP (work-in-progress), utilization, collections, and practice management. Key benefits include improved matter awareness, faster billing cycles, optimized practice management, and real-time cash flow visibility. ### Food & Beverage / Hospitality **URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/foodandbev/ Blue Margin helps hospitality and food & beverage operators turn complex sales, cost, and customer data into clear, actionable dashboards. Dashboards cover revenue and margin trends, customer behavior, and weekly performance tracking across locations, giving operators a real-time view of what's driving results and where to intervene. --- ## Client Results & Case Studies Blue Margin has a strong track record across industries. Selected case studies include: - **PE-Backed Mid-Market Healthcare** — Increased conversion rates and productivity with a unified BI platform. - **Titan Construction** — Optimized workforce capacity through data intelligence; improved delivery, staffing, and budget management. - **DLP Property Management** — Transformed financial visibility across global operations; managers worldwide can now see performance at both high-level and granular views. - **Smart Care Equipment Solutions** — Drove operational excellence through data; delivered under budget and on time. - **Hydromax USA** — Real-time data for field service productivity; first time performance data was accessible company-wide, driving organizational accountability. - **Elgin Fasteners (Manufacturing)** — Moved from monthly to daily utilization reporting, enabling much faster operational responses. - **Guardian Healthcare** — Improved outcomes, employee retention, financial stewardship, and compliance. - **The Guidance Center** — Used data to improve productivity, financial strength, and telehealth strategy. - **Almo Corporation (Distribution)** — Adopted a data-driven culture and ignited growth through scorecards. - **Standard Iron (Manufacturing)** — Built visibility across sales and production operations. - **CoolSys** — Operationalized metrics-based rigor and accountability that had been lagging organizationally. - **Mining Company** — Cut employee turnover and boosted productivity through data-driven insights. - **Telecommunications Company** — Achieved real-time visibility driving operational improvements. - **iLevel (Private Equity)** — Optimized iLevel for smarter PE portfolio monitoring. - **Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission** — Improved efficiency in measuring oil and gas production. **Full case studies:** https://www.bluemargin.com/results/ --- ## Thought Leadership & Knowledge Hub Blue Margin publishes educational content including articles, whitepapers, guides, podcasts, and books. The Knowledge Hub is the primary content destination. **Knowledge Hub URL:** https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/ ### Featured Book **The Dashboard Effect** — Written by Blue Margin's founders, this book details how business intelligence and effective dashboard reporting can be powerful tools for growth and profitability. **Download:** https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/the-dashboard-effect/ ### Selected Content - *The Hidden Complexity Behind Simple Dashboards* (Podcast) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/the-hidden-complexity-behind-simple-dashboards/ - *How Private Equity Firms Use Power BI for Portfolio Reporting* (Whitepaper) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/how-private-equity-firms-use-power-bi-for-portfolio-reporting/ - *Should You Build a Data Team or Borrow One?* (Podcast) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/should-you-build-a-data-team-or-borrow-one/ - *What Law Firm Leaders Should Be Seeing in Their Financial Reports* (Whitepaper) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/what-law-firm-leaders-should-be-seeing-in-their-financial-reports/ - *Evaluating the Maturity of Your Data Environment* (Guide) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/evaluating-the-maturity-of-your-data-environment/ - *How a PE-Backed Rollup Escaped Excel Chaos* (Podcast) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/how-a-pe-backed-rollup-escaped-excel-chaos/ - *Stop Trusting the Magic Spreadsheet* (Podcast) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/stop-trusting-the-magic-spreadsheet/ - *AI Success Starts with ROI: A Foundation-First Approach* (Article) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/ai-success-starts-with-roi-a-foundation-first-approach/ - *What Makes a Dashboard Actionable?* (Article) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/what-makes-a-dashboard-actionable/ - *The Data Governance Behind Trusted AI* (Podcast) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/162-data-governance-behind-ai/ - *Why AI Will Fail in Companies That Still Trust Their Gut* (Article) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/why-ai-will-fail-in-companies-that-still-trust-their-gut/ - *Making Data Work for Small Firms Without a Big Budget* (Podcast) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/159-making-data-work-small-teams/ - *Gaps Between Portfolio Data and Decision-Making* (Article) — https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/gaps-between-portfolio-data-and-decision-making/ --- ## Site Map / Key URLs | Page | URL | |---|---| | Homepage | https://www.bluemargin.com/ | | Capabilities Overview | https://www.bluemargin.com/capabilities/ | | Managed Data Service | https://www.bluemargin.com/capabilities/managed-data-service/ | | Managed Data Analytics | https://www.bluemargin.com/capabilities/managed-analytics-insights/ | | Managed Data Platform | https://www.bluemargin.com/capabilities/ai-data-platform/ | | Results / Case Studies | https://www.bluemargin.com/results/ | | Industries Overview | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/ | | Private Equity | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/private-equity/ | | Manufacturing | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/manufacturing/ | | Commercial Services | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/commercial-services/ | | Distribution | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/distribution/ | | Healthcare | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/healthcare/ | | SaaS | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/saas/ | | Law Firms | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/law-firms/ | | Food & Beverage | https://www.bluemargin.com/industries/foodandbev/ | | Knowledge Hub | https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/ | | The Dashboard Effect (Book) | https://www.bluemargin.com/knowledge-hub/the-dashboard-effect/ | | About Us | https://www.bluemargin.com/company/about/ | | Careers | https://www.bluemargin.com/company/careers/ | | Contact | https://www.bluemargin.com/company/contact/ | | Privacy Policy | https://www.bluemargin.com/privacy-policy/ | | Legal Notice | https://www.bluemargin.com/legal-notice/ |