Today marks 20 years since Rob Giannini stepped away from Hewlett Packard to start GiaSpace.
November 5, 2005. Just a home office with no employees, no remote software, and a willingness to drive anywhere for a handful of clients.
Twenty years later, GiaSpace is stronger than ever. A hand-picked team. Offices in Gainesville and a Datacenter operation in South Florida. Local expansion into Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa markets while serving clients nationwide. A track record of surviving everything the economy & IT industry has thrown at it. When asked what is the top lead source for GiaSpace, Rob says “GiaSpace is built on referrals. First from my HP co-workers who sent clients my way. Now from the clients and partners who trust us with their networks.”
We asked Rob to share his journey, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and what’s next for GiaSpace.
Learning Everything the Hard Way
What surprises you most about how GiaSpace has evolved over 20 years?
“We learned everything the hard way and it has made us a stronger company,” Rob says. “We did not have the luxury of buying our way out of issues or having such a large staff that we figured out things early on and kept learning along the way.”
Those early years were brutal. Rob took on every job that came his way, even if it didn’t fit the business model. Small doctor’s office in Gainesville for a tiny project when he lived in South Florida? Sure. Wrong pricing attracted the wrong clients and saturated utilization.
Remote support tools barely existed, so nearly every call was onsite. It didn’t matter how far, he drove.
“The internet did not have the collection of information it has today, so you had to work harder to figure things out and may cause multiple visits,” Rob explains.
Every mistake became a lesson. Every challenge forced evolution.
Surviving Every Test
What moment made you realize GiaSpace had truly made it?
“After surviving the market crash of 2008, which was the first real business test as we had clients closing their doors, we re-aligned with really good clients that most are still with us today.”
But Rob never sat back and declared victory.
“I never sat back and said we made it because even today I know it can all go away if I get comfortable.”
The 2008 crash. Ransomware attacks. COVID. Each event could have ended GiaSpace. Instead, each made it stronger.
“We not only survived many tests with the economy and hackers but are in a better place after each event.”
The Gainesville Relocation: A Breath of Fresh Air
When COVID hit, most businesses were just trying to survive. GiaSpace relocated from Fort Lauderdale to Gainesville.
“We relocated to Gainesville from Fort Lauderdale during Covid and the new environment is a breath of fresh air,” Rob says. “Our office space allows us to be creative and focused.”
The move opened new doors. Rob joined Vistage in Gainesville, connecting with other business owners across industries. The company shifted to managing primarily remote employees while expanding into new Florida markets.
“The proudest achievement is being able to relocate here to Gainesville and still being able to manage the company of primary remote employees while now trying to expand into local markets in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando and Tampa.”
How the IT Industry Changed (And How We Adapted)
When GiaSpace started in 2005, the IT landscape was completely different.
“When we started the IT industry was not dealing with cyber-attacks and BYOD to the degree we see today,” Rob explains. “Viruses would slow down systems but not ransom the end user.”
Companies used less technology. Support was simpler. Cloud services and AI weren’t household words yet.
Then the big players started marketing directly to clients. Amazon. Dell. Microsoft.
“We thought it was going to put us out of business, but over time we built up our service offerings and became more business focused than a commodity.”
Instead of competing on price, GiaSpace focused on understanding how clients actually work and adapting to their workflows. The shift from commodity to strategic partner saved the company.
The Hand-Picked Team Culture
How do you maintain the “hand-picked team” culture as GiaSpace continues to grow?
“GiaSpace was never designed to be the largest player in the industry,” Rob says. “I wanted to build a high-level service-oriented company with a team that I would feel motivated and proud to have on this journey.”
From the initial interview to the first 90 days, Rob can tell who has what it takes.
His motto to every employee: “If one day you get an opportunity you cannot pass on, I want to make sure the work we are doing today is what prepared you to get to that level.”
Nothing could be worse than seeing a former employee take a step down from where they were at GiaSpace.
Fast, Friendly, First Time Fix: What It Means After 20 Years
The tagline didn’t come from a marketing meeting. It came from client surveys.
“We put those words together from reviewing what was the common element that our clients are praising us for,” Rob explains. “What it means to me is what every service industry should focus their results on.”
Fast. Friendly. First Time Fix. Four Fs.
“Imagine every time you went out to eat or had your car fixed that they lived by the 4 Fs.”
It’s not a slogan. It’s the standard.
What’s Next: The Unknown Journey
After 20 years, what excites you most about GiaSpace’s future?
“The unknown journey expanding into markets that we never have been in prior. I wake up early every day putting in the work that gets us closer to the next ideal client.”
GiaSpace has the systems, the team, and the track record to handle whatever changes come next.
And AI? Rob’s all in (even though it’s rough around the edges right now).
“I am passionate about AI even though it is a bit rough around the edges, but once this technology matures it has the potential to take on those impossible tasks, or shortage of help for companies that are grinding to get to their potential.”
Growing a Family Alongside the Business
This year brought another milestone: Rob welcomed his son.
“I have 2 daughters that have grown up during the tough times at GiaSpace and now are young adults. My son who has joined us this past August comes at a point the company is growing again, but with a seasoned team that is behind us this round.”
The parallels aren’t lost on him.
“As a father and CEO, you have great responsibility and need to protect those who make up your family and business. You can apply what you learn in each dynamic if you are working to be the best in each role.”
The Hulk Philosophy
Ask Rob his favorite superhero and he’ll tell you: Hulk.
“During the day he is calm and analytical but when someone or something goes too far, he turns into a massive force that can remove any further discomfort. I feel that resonates with how I feel at times. I want to keep the peace wherever I am but at times you need to step up to address whatever is happening.”
It’s a philosophy that’s guided GiaSpace for 20 years. Stay calm. Solve problems. But when something threatens your team or your clients, become the force that fixes it.
Life Outside GiaSpace
When he’s not running the company, Rob has a 20-acre smart farm outside Ocala connected via Starlink. Solar equipment. Security systems. Entertainment tech. It’s all connected.
“I do have a smart farm with 20 acres outside of Ocala that is connected via Starlink that serves all the electronics that are in place to secure and entertain. I am intrigued with solar and have invested in plenty of equipment to date.”
He’s also hoping to get back to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after stepping away for family and business focus.
“I would like to get back to BJJ (jits) as it went well with my personality and I made some good friends over the years.”
And he rarely misses a UFC event, often entertaining guests at his Gainesville home.
The Lessons: What 20 Years Taught Us
Rob’s advice to anyone starting an IT business today:
Don’t hire family or friends. Keep business and personal separate.
Be hungry and driven. Long days and nights are part of building a client base.
Learn constantly. Read business books, listen to audiobooks, watch YouTube. The information is out there.
Delegate and focus. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Focus on what moves the company forward.
Choose partners carefully. If you can build without a business partner, do it. If you need one, make sure their strengths don’t overlap with yours.
Get everything in writing. Protect the work you’re doing for years to come.
And most importantly: never get comfortable.
“I know it can all go away if I get comfortable.”
Thank You
Twenty years. Thousands of client relationships. Countless problems solved. A team that embodies Fast, Friendly, First Time Fix every single day.
GiaSpace wouldn’t exist without the clients who trusted us in 2005 and stuck with us through market crashes, ransomware attacks, and a global pandemic. Many of those clients from the 2008 realignment are still with us today.
And to the hand-picked team that makes GiaSpace what it is: thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to 20 more years of learning, evolving, and proving that exceptional IT service isn’t just possible. It’s the standard.
Happy 20th Anniversary, GiaSpace.
Published: Nov 5, 2025
