By: Dyke Hendrickson

Any economy can be a good economy for outsourced services. In a cold economic climate, managers would rather outsource than hire. In a hot economy, growing companies need capable staff immediately.

"We're fortunate that we are not affected by extremes," said Lawrence Bolick, who recently took over as chief information officer for Aquent Inc., a global professional services firm delivering graphical and IT solutions.

"Right now, when things are slow for many companies, we're busy helping clients fill positions without hiring a full-time staff."

Aquent, based in Boston, has close to 800 employees, Bolick said. The company, which was founded as MacTemps to supply temporary Macintosh specialists, is now a major player in providing tech professionals to business. Company officials say they have nearly 16,000 independent professionals that they can call on. Managers oversee a client base spanning 69 offices in 13 countries.

Many of the professionals that Aquent provides are involved in the creative side of communications, such as graphics, production and Web design.

A sector that the company plans to exploit is taking in outsourcing work from large corporations that want segments of their marketing campaigns handled by talented free-lance staff.

Bolick's job is to keep tech systems running for both in-house operations and clients who access its systems

Most recently, Bolick served as vice president of operations for SilverBack Technologies, a managed service provider that is finance by several top-tier venture capital firms in the New England region.

Prior to that, he was chief information office with Cambridge Technology Partners during a growth period when the company grew twenty-fold into a global systems integrator.

He also has held consulting management positions with both Big Five and systems integration firms.

"One reason I was interested in the Aquent position is that there are parallels to my position at Cambridge Technology Partners," said Bolick, who migrated to Boston to take the post at CTP. "Cambridge Technology Partners was much smaller then, and we grew rapidly.

"At Aquent, we have many offices and a plan for more. I look forward to helping the company grow and capture market share."

Bolick earned a master's degree in applied mathematics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Va. He has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

The new CIO says that one of his greatest lessons learned in business is that managing people is as important as any other component of running a company.

"In every position I've held, it's the people who make the difference," said Bolick. "Certainly in an industry in which Aquent operates, that's true."

To that end, Aquent has been developing benefits programs for free-lancers who frequently work for the company.

One of the improvements that differentiates his company, he said, is a concern for those who help the company most.

"Just this week we've sent out communication informing many of our consultants of a new and improved benefits package," he said.

"It takes effect in January, and we feel we are one of the few staffing companies that offers such a robust program."