Back-office software companies were consolidating violently a year or two ago, and St. Paul–based Lawson seemed to be struggling with its identity and its profitability. But since Debes took the helm in early June, the company is on an upward course. In its first-quarter fiscal 2006 results (reported in late September), the company posted a 40 percent increase in sales of its software licenses, and it turned a higher-than-expected profit after reporting a loss a year ago. Its stock price (Nasdaq: LWSN) has moved up slowly but steadily since June after a long slide beginning in early 2004. Oracle’s acquisitions of PeopleSoft and J. D. Edwards opened the way for Lawson to claim the middle-market enterprise-resource-planning (ERP) software business that it’s now taking advantage of. Debes’s moves to expand sales have undoubtedly also played their part in brightening Lawson’s future. By December 31, Lawson expected to complete its acquisition of Swedish software firm Intentia. That will expand Lawson’s overseas market, and make it less likely to be acquired itself.