Laguna Hills-based Blytheco LLC, the top reseller of business software made by Irvine's Sage Software Inc., is continuing its consolidation run. Privately held Blytheco bought a small Frederick, Md. -based competitor called Software Partners.

Terms of the deal, which closed Jan. 1, weren't disclosed.

Both companies sell Sage's software, which helps small businesses manage and automate human resources, accounting and other back office tasks.

The companies provide service, training and support for Sage customers and also write programs that tweak the software to fit specific company needs.

For the past few years, Blytheco has been rolling up smaller companies with the goal of creating "a national Sage Software business partner," said Chief Executive Stephen Blythe, who started Blytheco in 1980.

The company's goal is to grow revenue to about $50 million a year, up from $25 million now, and have 10 regional offices.

Last month, Blythe was honored with a community service honor at the CFO of the Year awards presented by the Business Journal and the Orange County and Long Beach chapter of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Blythe uses his pilot skills to fly medical supplies to Mexico as part of an effort by a group called the Flying Samaritans.

Director Goes to D.C.

Newport Beach chipmaker Mindspeed Technologies Inc. lost a board member a few weeks ago when he accepted a post in the Obama administration.

Donald Gips stepped down from Mindspeed's board after he accepted an appointment by President Obama to be White House director of presidential personnel.

Gips has been on Mindspeed's board since 2004.

Since 2001, Gips has been vice president of global corporate development for Level 3 Communications Inc., a Broomfield, Colo.- based Internet service provider.

At Level 3, Gips headed the company's acquisition efforts.

Late last year, Gips was named to the advisory board of Obama's transition team.

He is a former chief of the international bureau of the Federal Communications Commission. He also served as chief domestic policy adviser to former Vice President Al Gore.

Wireless Inauguration

In other presidential news, Santa Ana's Powerwave Technologies Inc., a maker of gear for wireless networks, helped attendees of Obama's inauguration stay connected.

It was a big concern that wireless networks stay up and running when some 2 million people descended on the Capitol Jan. 20.

Powerwave had to prepare for "record levels of network traffic," the company said.

It worked with a handful of wireless carriers to allow them to expand their networks on demand.