LOS ANGELES — GPL Technologies (www.gpltech.com), a provider of technology solutions and managed services to creative and high-performance computing industries, has opened its first Canadian office in Vancouver, British Columbia. GPL Technologies, Vancouver will provide IT consulting, solution design/deployment/maintenance, staffing solutions and extensive support services for post production facilities and other creative, high-performance computing companies. In addition, GPL’s flagship service VFXnow will provide creative production pipeline support to VFX companies and others though its hardware-as-a-service model.
The new Vancouver office is led by Jake Warken (pictured), an IT specialist with more than 10 years of experience in the region. His background includes posts with FlexITy Solutions, Softchoice and Long View Systems. Warken received his IT training at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and Medicine Hat College, and began his career with The RAM Group.
GPL Technologies CEO Brian Terrell says the company’s presence in Vancouver addresses a shortage of IT services directed at the city’s thriving post production industry. “We fill a critical need for technology services and expertise in the creative industry,” Terrell observes. “We offer proven experience in supporting the rental and managed services requirements of such companies. We understand the technology, how to implement it in existing pipelines and how to build out new workflows.”
GPL’s VFXnow division is already providing support to several Vancouver visual effects facilities. The HaaS specialist pairs an agile, production-minded engineering team with a top-tier arsenal of rentable hardware to deliver immediate and cost-effective production pipeline solutions. “VFXnow allows companies to quickly ramp up to meet project needs without having to invest in infrastructure they may not require over the long-term,” explains Terrell. “We help companies meet critical deadlines, without jeopardizing their bottom lines.”
Warken adds, “GPL sets itself apart by being true technology specialists within a focused field of high-performance computing. The expertise, experience, and vast capabilities our team possesses in creative production, machine learning, and artificial intelligence technology is unlike anything I’ve been part of in my experience to date. There is nothing like working in technology at this level, it’s with immense pride and excitement to be part of bringing all GPL offers to Canada from the northern point of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor.”
Warken is also leading the development of a new GPL offering Blockchain Technology Services (BTS), initially supporting the exploding cryptocurrency innovation and mining industries across Canada. The company had a natural alignment with the new industry, not only as a supplier of the high demand components it requires, but also the custom systems design experience and operational expertise required to deploy commercial to enterprise scale cryptocurrency mining operations.
“Blockchain’s decentralization technology will be the most impactful tech to humanity, not only within the entirety of my professional career, but lifetime.” says Warken. “It’s started by literally reinventing our money, but fintech is just the beginning. Healthcare, elections, identity management are all prime examples that will be completely revolutionized by Blockchain technology.”