Page 47 - Security Today, January 2018

COVER STORY
By Ralph C. Jensen
GROWTH IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE
How integration firm CG&E Systems Group built a security empire on voice and data in the 21st century
et’s just say the timing was not ideal. GC&E Systems Group had just hired a key executive to spearhead business development and growth within Florida. But
Mother Nature had different ideas. Hurri- cane Irma had just ravaged the entire state of Florida and the company was eager to on- board its newest management team member.
NEW TO THE TEAM
“During my first week with the company, I was scheduled to be in Atlanta to kick off key discussions and strategy building with the corporate team,” said Rob Hile, general manager of Florida, GC&E Systems. “But instead, I was completely focused on getting back home after evacuating my family out of the storm’s way. The company couldn’t have been more supportive. Our CEO called me directly and told me to focus on my family and that whatever I needed, just say the word and it would be done.”
That’s just the kind of company GC&E is and strives to continue to be. Customers satisfaction and employee empowerment are king, and it’s that exact focus that has helped the company reach its growth targets since its inception in 1999, when it was known as Georgia Network Cabling Corp.
“I decided to launch my own business, and the original business plan focused on the installation of high-speed voice and data cabling, and fiber optic backbones for orga- nizations within the Atlanta area,” said Dan O’Sullivan, CEO, GC&E. “But after 9/11, we found that customers were just as interested in adding physical security measures. I was hesitant at first because I had little knowl- edge of the industry, but we agreed to install a few cameras for some existing government customers and we have been deploying these systems ever since.”
The company’s foray into physical secu- rity turned into a new business segment that complemented the network segment, espe- cially as the convergence between physical and IT security has occurred. Today, GC&E divides its business into two divisions:
GC&E’s Federal Division supports informa- tion technology, information assurance and telecommunications-related opportunities while the Commercial Division focuses on Electronic Security deployments.
“In our market, we are one of only a few firms that have the capability to provide the full lifecycle of electronic security system solutions and support services required by our customers,” O’Sullivan said. “We have the ability to provide upfront strategic con- sulting, support security system investment strategies and conduct vulnerability and risk assessments to ensure we are providing the right security solution to meet our custom- ers’ business and operational security sup- port requirements. We are forward-thinking in the application of technology as well as the integration of information assurance and cy- bersecurity considerations to ensure system reliability, availability and resilience.”
CUSTOMER CENTRIC
The company’s overarching goal is to become its customers’ trusted adviser so that when a
security need arises, an incident happens or they require technical insight, they will con- tact GC&E to provide the council, guidance and support required. The company’s sea- soned managers, account managers, project managers, systems engineers, estimators and technicians all have the extensive experience and expertise required to allow them to suc- cessfully pursue and execute any system in- tegration project of any scope, size and com- plexity. The organization has also invested in advanced equipment and service area capa- bilities, such as ESS Health Monitoring-as- a-Service, a Security Operations Center that provides remote maintenance and customer support services, and its Technician Now suite of services, which include service and maintenance agreements and dispatching of technicians when required.
“GC&E has never been afraid to make investments in the future, be it through our people, embracing new technology or ex- panding and diversifying the products, solu- tions and services offered,” O’Sullivan said. “We truly believe that our employees are our
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