The celebration of CGI’s first year at its facility in University Park was a rather quiet one.

George Tarbox, director/consulting Troy Center of Excellence, said the celebration was simply a way to say “thank you” to CGI’s 150 employees and all of those who have made the industry’s first year in Troy such a great success.

“We have a wonderful relationship with the City of Troy, Troy University and Pike County Economic Development,” Tarbox said. “Without this partnership, CGI could not have been as successful in our first year here.”

Tarbox said CGI will soon be hiring more employees as business analysts and programmers and in customer service, human resources, finance and accounting.

“About 70 percent of our employees are from the Pike County area,” Tarbox said. “We hope to be able to continue to hire locally because local people are making good employees for us.”

CGI’s commitment to community is strong and Tarbox said CGI wants to partner with local organizations in an effort to be a good corporate citizen.

Education and the arts are two of the areas of interest for CGI, as well as campaigns that raise funds for causes of wide-reaching benefit, such as the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life campaign.

“CGI has had successful blood drives and that is something that we will continue to do,” Tarbox said. “We have also been involved in the fundraising efforts for the Miracle Field here in Troy and have made two trips to the Gulf Coast to assist in the cleanup efforts from the oil spill.”

Tarbox said CGI is proud to be in Troy and will uphold its commitment to be a good corporate citizen.

“CGI provides opportunities for IT jobs here in Pike County and Pike County has provided us with good employees,” he said.

“Our commitment is continued growth with a goal of 300 employees in 2012. We are about halfway there, so we are a little ahead. That’s a reason to celebrate.”

CGI’s 31,000 professionals in 125-plus offices worldwide provide end-to-end IT and business process services that facilitate the ongoing evolution of its clients’ businesses.