(Cincom Systems, Inc., Cincinnati, OH, www.cincom.com) One of the largest and most experienced software companies in the world. Founded in 1968 by Thomas Nies, who has the distinction of being the longest-serving company chief in the industry, Cincom sells manufacturing, financial and sales force automation applications. It was the first U.S. software firm to promote the concept of a database management system, and it provided the first DBMS delivered by an independent software vendor.