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Right Sizing Services & Areas of Integration

Wednesday, May 24
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

You’ve decided to enter the low voltage market, but don’t know where to start. You’re in the low voltage mark et, but want to add technology systems integration to your services, but don’t know where to start or are overwhelmed with number of market areas and the required expertise to be competitive and meet client expectations. This panel of experienced technology integrators will discuss challenges, successes, and lessons-learned in right-sizing, or finding their sweet spot of services. 

 

Skip Perley - Thompson Electric Company

Perley planned to attend college and was accepted into the GM Institute engineering program. However, a family friend was an electrician, and the technical challenge of the work appealed to him. Rather than join the GM Institute, Perley began his career as an apprentice electrician at Thompson Electric in 1976. After a brief stint as a journeyman, he worked in every management role at the company and was named President/CEO in 1998. Thompson Electric Company was founded by Alfred Thompson in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1933. Thompson dedicated his company to the simple principle of providing quality services and products to his customers, his employees, and his community. Driven by this vision, Thompson Electric Company has developed into a strong, well-financed company with permanent offices in Omaha, Neb., and Sioux Falls, S.D., in addition to Sioux City. While residential work remains part of Thompson Electric’s heritage, industrial and commercial work have afforded the opportunity for the company to use its strengths in technology, planning, management, and leadership to advance the organization and its people. Perley says his proudest achievement is “developing a team of leaders capable of guiding Thompson long after I’m gone. As exciting as it is to build or fix some system, it is much more rewarding to build a team of talented individuals.” The team was largely built by giving talented people different opportunities to learn, succeed and at times, fail. Perley is also proud of his work in the community and has served on many non-profit boards as well as national industry groups. Perley has been married to his wife Cathy for 32 years. Both Cathy and Skip are involved in the community through various non-profit boards. His company has a strong commitment to community service and encourages Thompson employees to get involved with local non-profit organizations as part of their leadership training.  

Bob Dagostino - Dagostino Electronic Services

Jim Thiele - BW Systems

Chuck Fairchild - Fairchild Communication Systems