EPC Group History | 29 years of Enterprise Microsoft Excellence Since 1997
Expert Microsoft consulting and implementation
Epc Group History — enterprise Microsoft consulting resource from EPC Group. We provide strategic guidance, implementation expertise, governance frameworks, and compliance-native delivery across the Microsoft ecosystem (Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Azure, AI Governance, Microsoft Copilot).
Key Facts
- 29 years of Microsoft enterprise consulting; 6,500+ SharePoint and 1,500+ Power BI deployments.
- Compliance-native delivery across HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, FINRA, CMMC, and GxP environments.
- Microsoft Solutions Partner with experience across core current designations.
- Senior architect named on every engagement Statement of Work.
- Engagement Operating Model: published seven-phase Microsoft project management methodology.
- Free initial consultation; fixed-fee scoped Statements of Work.
29 years of Enterprise Excellence
EPC Group began as a small Microsoft consulting firm in Houston. Now, it is a trusted partner for Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
Here are some key milestones and achievements that have shaped EPC Group's journey:
- Established partnerships with major technology providers.
- Developed innovative solutions for enterprise clients.
- Expanded services to meet global demand.
The Complete EPC Group Timeline
From founding in 1997 to pioneering AI governance in 2024, explore the key milestones that shaped EPC Group into a leading enterprise Microsoft consulting firm.
EPC Group Founded
Errin O'Connor establishes EPC Group in Houston, Texas, with a vision to provide enterprise-grade Microsoft consulting services. The company focuses on emerging SharePoint and Microsoft technologies for large organizations.
- Founded in Houston, Texas
- Initial focus on Microsoft technologies
- First enterprise client engagements
SharePoint Expertise Begins
EPC Group pioneers Microsoft's collaboration platform that would become a cornerstone of the company's services.
- Early SharePoint Portal Server implementations
- Built expertise in document management
- Established methodology for enterprise deployments
Microsoft Gold Partner Status
EPC Group achieves Microsoft Gold Partner certification, gaining direct access to Microsoft technical resources and demonstrating deep competency across multiple solution areas.
- Microsoft Gold Partner certification
- Multiple competency areas recognized
- Direct Microsoft technical support access
First Major Healthcare Win
EPC Group secures its first multi-hospital system implementation, developing proprietary HIPAA compliance frameworks for SharePoint deployments in healthcare environments.
- Multi-hospital system implementation
- HIPAA compliance framework developed
- Healthcare vertical established
Fortune 500 Focus
EPC Group pivots to serve exclusively enterprise and Fortune 500 clients, developing scalable implementation methodologies for organizations with 10,000+ users.
- Enterprise-only client focus
- Enhanced security and compliance offerings
- Scalable implementation methodologies
First Microsoft Press Bestseller
Errin O'Connor publishes first Microsoft Press book on SharePoint, establishing EPC Group as a thought leader in the Microsoft ecosystem. The book becomes a bestseller and industry reference.
- Microsoft Press publication
- Industry bestseller status
- Speaking engagements at Microsoft events
Government Sector Entry
EPC Group enters the federal government sector, obtaining security clearances and developing FedRAMP compliance expertise for classified and sensitive SharePoint environments.
- First federal agency client
- FedRAMP compliance expertise
- Government security clearances obtained
Enterprise Migration Milestone
EPC Group surpasses 50 million documents migrated with a proprietary zero-downtime methodology, becoming the go-to partner for large-scale enterprise platform transitions.
- minimal-disruption migration methodology
- Large-scale enterprise migration expertise
- 11,000+ engagement scale documents migrated milestone
Cloud Transformation Era
EPC Group launches its Office 365 migration practice, helping Fortune 500 organizations move from on-premises infrastructure to hybrid and cloud-first architectures.
- Office 365 migration practice launched
- Hybrid cloud architecture expertise
- Cloud security frameworks developed
Power BI Excellence Center
EPC Group establishes a dedicated Power BI consulting practice, creating enterprise BI governance frameworks and delivering analytics solutions for Fortune 500 organizations.
- Power BI consulting practice launched
- BI governance frameworks created
- Enterprise analytics implementations
Azure Cloud Architecture
EPC Group launches its Azure consulting practice, helping enterprises modernize infrastructure with cloud-native architectures, migration strategies, and security frameworks.
- Azure consulting practice launched
- Cloud architecture certifications
- Infrastructure modernization services
Fourth Microsoft Press Book
Errin O'Connor publishes fourth Microsoft Press bestseller on large-scale migrations, cementing EPC Group's reputation as the go-to authority for complex enterprise transformations.
- Fourth Microsoft Press publication
- Migration methodology book released
- Industry speaking circuit expansion
Remote Work Transformation Leader
When the pandemic reshapes enterprise work, EPC Group leads rapid Microsoft Teams deployments and develops remote work governance frameworks for thousands of distributed employees.
- Rapid Teams deployments for enterprises
- Remote work governance frameworks
- Virtual collaboration best practices
Financial Services Expansion
EPC Group achieves SOC 2 Type II certification and expands into major banking and financial services clients, developing specialized compliance frameworks for regulated industries.
- SOC 2 Type II certification
- Major banking clients acquired
- Financial compliance frameworks
AI Governance Pioneer
EPC Group pioneers enterprise AI governance, developing responsible AI frameworks and leading Microsoft Copilot implementations for Fortune 500 organizations across healthcare, finance, and government.
- AI governance framework development
- Microsoft Copilot implementations
- Responsible AI consulting practice
Chief AI Architect Era
Errin O'Connor assumes Chief AI Architect role, leading EPC Group's mission to help enterprises navigate the AI transformation era with governance, security, and strategic implementation.
- Chief AI Architect leadership
- Enterprise AI strategy consulting
- Next-generation Microsoft solutions
Leadership Evolution
From founder to Chief AI Architect, Errin O'Connor's leadership has evolved with the technology landscape while maintaining a consistent vision of enterprise excellence.
Errin O'Connor
Founder, CEO & Chief AI Architect
Errin O'Connor has more than 29 years of experience in enterprise consulting. He has written four bestselling books published by Microsoft Press.
Under his leadership, EPC Group has expanded from a small startup in Houston to a reliable partner for Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
His areas of expertise include:
- SharePoint
- Power BI
- Azure
- AI governance
Leadership Eras
Founding Era
Founder & Principal Consultant
Building the foundation with early Microsoft technologies and SharePoint expertise
Growth Era
CEO & Practice Lead
Scaling to Fortune 500 clients and establishing industry expertise
Enterprise Era
CEO & Chief Architect
Leading cloud transformation and large-scale migrations
AI Transformation Era
CEO & Chief AI Architect
Pioneering AI governance and next-generation Microsoft solutions
20+ Years as Microsoft Gold Partner
Our partnership with Microsoft has been essential to EPC Group's success. We started as a partner in 1997. Now, we are proud to be an AI and Copilot implementation partner.
We have grown alongside Microsoft's enterprise solutions.
Gold Partner Benefits
4 Microsoft Press Bestsellers
Errin O'Connor's published works have become industry references for enterprise Microsoft implementations, migrations, and best practices.
SharePoint Enterprise Solutions
Comprehensive guide to deploying and managing SharePoint for large organizations, covering governance, architecture, and enterprise content management strategies.
Power BI for the Enterprise
Enterprise-focused Power BI handbook covering data modeling, DAX optimization, governance frameworks, and organization-wide deployment strategies for Fortune 500 environments.
Azure Cloud Architecture
Authoritative guide to Azure cloud architecture patterns, hybrid deployments, security frameworks, and cost optimization for enterprise-scale infrastructure modernization.
Large-Scale Migrations
Definitive methodology for executing minimal-disruption migrations at scale, covering planning, execution, validation, and post-migration optimization for 10,000+ user environments.
Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders Served
Over 29 years, EPC Group has built lasting relationships with Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries.
Healthcare
50+HIPAA-compliant SharePoint, Power BI, and Azure implementations for hospital networks, health systems, and medical research organizations.
Financial Services
100+SOC 2 and FINRA-compliant Microsoft solutions for banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and financial technology providers.
Government
30+FedRAMP-aligned consulting expertise Microsoft deployments for federal agencies, state governments, and defense organizations with classified environments.
Manufacturing
75+Power BI analytics dashboards, supply chain visibility solutions, and Azure IoT integrations for global manufacturing enterprises.
Education
40+Microsoft 365 and Teams deployments for universities, K-12 districts, and education technology organizations serving millions of students.
Energy
25+Azure cloud migrations, Power BI operational dashboards, and compliance frameworks for oil & gas, utilities, and renewable energy companies.
Join the ranks of Fortune 500 companies that trust EPC Group for their Microsoft solutions.
View Case StudiesAwards & Certifications
Industry recognition for our commitment to excellence, security, and client success.
Microsoft Gold Partner
2003-Present
Held Gold Partner certification (2003–2022) across multiple competency areas including Cloud Platform, Data Analytics, and Collaboration & Content.
SOC 2 Type II Certified
2021
Achieved SOC 2 Type II certification demonstrating rigorous security controls, availability standards, and data protection practices.
Inc. 5000 Company
Multiple Years
Recognized among America's fastest-growing companies multiple years running.
Top SharePoint Consultant
Industry Recognition
Consistently ranked as a top SharePoint consulting firm by industry analysts for enterprise-scale implementation expertise.
Microsoft MVP Community
Ongoing
Active contributions to the Microsoft MVP community through published books, conference speaking, and technical thought leadership.
Best Microsoft 365 Partner
Regional Awards
Recognized as a leading Microsoft 365 partner for complex enterprise migrations and multi-tenant deployments in the Americas.
29 years by the Numbers
A legacy built on measurable results
Be Part of Our Next Chapter
For 29 years, we've helped Fortune 500 companies transform with Microsoft technology. Let's write your success story together.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was EPC Group founded?
EPC Group was founded in 1997 in Houston, Texas by Errin O'Connor. The company began as a Microsoft consulting firm focused on SharePoint and enterprise collaboration, growing over 29 years into a premier Microsoft Gold Partner serving Fortune 500 enterprises worldwide.
What are the key milestones in EPC Group's history?
Key milestones include: founding in 1997, achieving Microsoft Solutions Partner status (former Microsoft Gold Partner 2016–2022) in 2003, publishing the first Microsoft Press book in 2008, completing 6,500+ SharePoint implementations, expanding into AI governance and Microsoft Copilot consulting in 2023, and earning four consecutive G2 Leader awards for Business Intelligence Consulting.
Who leads EPC Group?
EPC Group is led by Errin O'Connor, Founder, CEO, and Chief AI Architect. With 29 years of enterprise consulting experience, he is a 4-time bestselling Microsoft Press author and trusted advisor to Fortune 500 CTOs and CIOs. The leadership team includes principal consultants across SharePoint, Power BI, Azure, AI, and security practices.
How long has EPC Group been a Microsoft partner?
EPC Group has been a Microsoft partner since 1997, achieving Gold Partner certification in 2003. The partnership spans over 29 years and includes multiple Gold competencies, Cloud Solutions Provider status, and recognition as an AI and Copilot implementation partner with direct Microsoft technical support and early access to new technologies.
How has EPC Group grown over the years?
EPC Group has grown from a small Houston startup to a national enterprise consulting firm serving 600+ clients across healthcare, finance, government, manufacturing, and education. Growth milestones include 625+ cloud migrations, 1,500+ Power BI implementations, 6,500+ SharePoint deployments, and expansion into AI governance and Microsoft Fabric consulting.
EPC Group History: Microsoft Consulting Since 1997
EPC Group was founded in 1997 in Houston, Texas by Errin O'Connor. Over the past 29 years, the firm has expanded its services significantly.
Initially focused on SharePoint and Exchange deployments, EPC Group now offers:
- Enterprise AI governance
- Microsoft Copilot
- Azure cloud architecture
This growth has allowed EPC Group to serve Fortune 500 and federal clients. Today, the firm holds core Microsoft Solutions Partner designations.
Key milestones
- 1997 — EPC Group founded in Houston, Texas by Errin O'Connor.
- 2001 — Early SharePoint Portal Server and Exchange deployments. One of the first Microsoft SharePoint specialist firms in North America.
- 2003 — Achieved Microsoft Gold Partner status (2016-2022). Held it continuously until 2022 — the oldest continuous Gold Partner in North America.
- 2008 — Published first Microsoft Press book. Errin O'Connor became a Microsoft Press bestselling author.
- 2010s — Led Office 365 cloud migration wave for Fortune 500 clients. Expanded to Power BI, Azure, and Dynamics 365.
- 2022 — Microsoft retired the Gold Partner program. EPC Group achieved core Microsoft Solutions Partner designations on launch day.
- 2023 — Launched AI governance and Microsoft Copilot consulting practice. Introduced vCAIO (Virtual Chief AI Officer) retainer services.
- 2025–2026 — Four consecutive G2 Leader awards for Business Intelligence Consulting. 11,000+ enterprise engagements completed.
Founder: Errin O'Connor
Errin O'Connor is EPC Group's CEO and Chief AI Architect. His career spans the full history of the Microsoft enterprise platform — from Windows NT to Azure OpenAI.
- Microsoft MVP (Errin O'Connor, first awarded 2003) since 2002–2003.
- Original SharePoint Beta Team member (Project Tahoe, 2001).
- Original Power BI Beta Team member (Project Crescent).
- FedRAMP framework contributor (EPC Group founder Errin O'Connor).
- Worked with U.S. CIO Vivek Kundra on the Obama 25-Point IT Reform Plan.
- Lead Architect on the NASA Nebula Cloud project under CIO Chris Kemp.
- Author of four Microsoft Press / Sams bestsellers (full ISBNs on the bio page).
- Over 29 years of enterprise Microsoft consulting leadership.
The Microsoft partnership: 29 years
EPC Group's Microsoft partnership is one of the longest in North America. The relationship started before SharePoint existed as a product.
- Microsoft Gold Partner 2016-2022: (oldest continuous in North America).
- Microsoft Solutions Partner: core designations since 2022 (Data & AI, Modern Work, Infrastructure, Security, Digital & App Innovation, Business Applications).
- Microsoft field teams use EPC Group's credentialing as a vetting reference for Customer 0 nominations.
- Cloud Solutions Provider status and direct Microsoft technical support.
- Early access to new Microsoft technologies including original SharePoint Beta, original Power BI Beta, and Microsoft Copilot early access programs.
Scale and reach today
From a Houston startup, EPC Group has grown to serve Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and enterprises across North America.
- 11,000+ enterprise engagements completed.
- 6,500+ SharePoint implementations.
- 1,500+ Power BI deployments.
- 500+ Microsoft Fabric projects.
- 70+ Fortune 500 clients.
- Offices: Houston (HQ), Dallas, Chicago, San Antonio, Kansas City, Washington DC.
- Compliance coverage: HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, CMMC, FERPA, GDPR.
Service evolution: 1997 to 2026
EPC Group's services have evolved with the Microsoft platform. Each era added a new layer without abandoning the previous one.
- 1997–2005: Windows NT, Exchange Server, early SharePoint Portal Server.
- 2005–2013: SharePoint 2007/2010/2013, SQL Server BI, early Azure.
- 2013–2020: Office 365, SharePoint Online, Power BI, Azure cloud migrations.
- 2020–2023: Microsoft Teams, Viva, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Fabric.
- 2023–2026: Microsoft Copilot, Azure OpenAI, AI governance, vCAIO, NIST AI RMF.
Frequently asked questions
When was EPC Group founded?
EPC Group was founded in 1997 in Houston, Texas, by Errin O'Connor. The firm started with a focus on Microsoft infrastructure and SharePoint. It has since grown to cover the entire Microsoft enterprise stack. This stack now includes:
- Microsoft 365
- Power Platform
- Azure
- Dynamics 365
- AI governance
- Copilot deployment
How long was EPC Group a Microsoft Gold Partner (2016-2022)?
EPC Group held Microsoft Gold Partner status from 2003 to 2022, totaling 19 years. This accomplishment made EPC Group the longest-serving Microsoft Gold Partner in North America.
In 2022, when Microsoft retired the Gold Partner program, EPC Group earned core Microsoft Solutions Partner designations.
Who founded EPC Group?
Errin O'Connor founded EPC Group in 1997. He has been a Microsoft MVP since 2003. Errin was a member of the original SharePoint Beta Team and the original Power BI Beta Team. He contributed to FedRAMP and authored four Microsoft Press bestsellers. Currently, he is the CEO and Chief AI Architect.
What does EPC Group do now?
EPC Group offers a range of Microsoft AI consulting services. Our expertise includes:
- Copilot
- Azure OpenAI
- vCAIO
- SharePoint and Teams governance
- Power BI and Fabric analytics
- Azure cloud migrations
- Dynamics 365
- Compliance consulting for HIPAA, FedRAMP, SOC 2, CMMC, and GDPR
Learn more about EPC Group
Explore our services or schedule a discovery call with an EPC Group architect. Call (888) 381-9725 or request a 30-minute discovery call.