25th Anniversary

In an environment that moves as fast as ours, it’s not easy to pause and reflect, but a 25th anniversary certainly warrants it. Allow me to share a few thoughts about where we have been and where we are going.

My first thought is one of gratitude to the school business community. We have been able to build a business around serving this community and have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with them for over two decades. When you factor in the MYP program in which we partnered with School Services of California, it is safe to say that 800 or more districts, community colleges and county offices of education have used Escape software over this period. A lot of people have believed in us, worked with us and provided encouragement to build our systems.

For Escape itself, I’m most proud of the culture we have created. There are several important elements. The first is competence in the area of school business. For the management team, we love school business! And the employees that are successful here have made it their career as well. The second is an intense desire to provide service. We expect our systems and our support to work with and complement our users’ needs. To the best of our ability, at any given time, we try to exceed expectations. We have not always succeeded, but we have never given up trying. And won’t. We are a very strong team right now, the best we have ever been.

For our flagship product, the Escape Online 5 suite of school business applications for districts, CCD’s and COE’s, I have a high regard for both its existence and its future. Although it took us several more years to get live than we originally anticipated, the fact is that most companies are never able to complete a successor system. We did, and at this point, we have about 175 organizations live on this system, and I’m talking about a wide range of sizes from very large to very small.

Despite this large installed base, the system is still young and growing. February 2010 marks only its second birthday as a live system in a county-wide setting. We are glad to have that “toddler” year behind us, and are now focusing on major new functionality. It is already the most feature-filled and comprehensive system available in the school business market, and our advances over the next few years will simply amaze people.

I also find it pretty surprising that our company is still working the same business plan developed in 1989. Our intention then, and now, is to become the vendor with the best business software and support, for the school business community. My two partners and I have worked toward this consistently over the years. With the addition of our COO Ramona Marshall in 2008 we increased our effectiveness dramatically. My thanks to all three for your many contributions to our success.

We have a good story, a good history. But it’s the future that really has me excited. Once again, thank you!

25th Anniversary

To celebrate our 25 years in business, we invited a few friends and customers to the Escape Technology headquarters for a little open house buffet. With live music, great food, and excellent conversation, fun was had by all.


Over 100 friends, family and customers joined in the festivities.


There was a lot of laughter and good times.


Mike Fury and Pat Keegan share a light conversation.


Friends from Placer County Office of Education have a good time.


Company associates and Barry Collins and Ramona Marshall mug for the camera.


The food was delicious and plentiful.


Gayle Lucas, Carole Williams, Tina Rodriguez, Bambi Weinberg-Tuttle, and Carolyn Bischof show how business relationships often build into friendships.


Robin Fiske, Chad Guest and Carole Williams show the same is true for fellow employees.


Rocklin Unified was well represented.


Sally Savona and Nancy Miyashiro of Sacramento City Unified with Bob Towery. Nancy is retiring this year, so it was especially great to see her. Nancy and Bob first started working together in 1991!


Susan and Nancy reminisce about old times.


Deciding what to eat.


Good times.


Escape's very own Bill and Mike.


Live music added to the festivities.


Bob and local business leaders, helping each other grow and sustain the larger business community.


Many friends and associates wrote kind wishes for our continued success. See below for closer look.

Wishes and Memories

You make a lot of friends in 25 years. I would like to share some of their well wishes and memories of good times.

We would love to hear from you! Send us an email and tell us your Escape story.

"It seems like a lifetime ago when I was at Santa Rosa City Schools, and we were using a couple of food service programs from a little company called Escape Technology. We sure like how the company has “grown up.” Escape has been a great partner in our Finance/HR/Payroll implementation for Sonoma COE and 65 of our districts and charter schools. We wish you many more years of success, because we are counting on you!"
~ Denise Calvert, Deputy Superintendent, Sonoma County Office of Education

"Wow – 25 years goes by fast. I recall walking down Main Street in Ventura probably more than 20 years ago and chatting with a young, newly married, Bob Towery about his plans and hopes for his young company. look at Online 5 now and remember the early instances of Escape’s Purchase Order system from that time and marvel at how far the company has traveled. Escape has transitioned from offering a few nice departmental packages to the current product, a full blown, integrated, enterprise financial system. Congratulations to Bob, Barry and Chad on all that they have accomplished. Not the least of their accomplishments has been attracting and hiring great staff. Best wishes for many successful years! "
~ Anne Castleberg, Consultant

"Although Tehama County is a new Escape customer, we have been discussing this change for many years. Bob, you were persistent and came through on your commitment to provide the functionality we needed for a county-wide operation. Additionally, you were responsive when we indicated, along with our partners in Modoc and Trinity counties, that we needed a little different set-up and you created the XCOE model which has been very effective for us. After a little over a year with On-Line 5 and going into our second full budget cycle, we are still learning and expanding our use of the system. We very much appreciate the tools the Escape system provides! "
~ Georgene Neher, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services Department, Tehama County Office of Education

" Congratulations on the first 25 years &emdash; another 25 to go at least. "
~ Sally Savona, Sacramento City Unified

" It's been such a great experience! "
~ Tina Rodriguez, Sonoma County

" Congratulations! SO happy for you and so happy to have Escape in our district and County! "
~ Barbara Patterson, Rocklin Unified

" Happy anniversary! "
~ Janice Fett, Rocklin Unified

" I'm so impressed! 25 Years! "
~ Faith Hodkin, Placer County

" Thanks for all you do! "
~ Roveta Waters, Placer County

" Congrats! "
~ Joel Toste, Placer County

" Great job! "
~ Pat Nishi, Rocklin Unified

" I've escaped :). Thanks for all you do... "
~ Bambi Weinberg-Tuttle, Sonoma County

" Congratulations on your 25th. "
~ Nancy Miyashiro, Sacramento City Unified

" It's all good. "
~ Kate Lane, Tehema County

" Love it! "
~ Penny Whiting, Corning UHSD

" We're having fun learning Escape "
~ Karen DiPiero, Kenwood Elementary

" We love Escape. "
~ Anne Kopache, Kenwood Elementary