Integration & Network SolutionsExclusivesSystems Integrator of the Year

Convergint Technologies' Proven Model for Growth: Enterprise Integration

Enabling its vision of Quadrant Four enterprise-level integration has brought SDM Systems Integrator of the Year, Convergint Technologies, positive results and a proven path for growth during transition.

Convergint Technologies' leaders proudly pose and are reflected in a Chicago landmark, Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. Clockwise, from top center: Barry Yatzor, vice president - Fire; Tony Varco, vice president - Security; Walter Winkel, vice president and CFO; Leslie Evans, vice president - Human Resources; Dan Moceri, CEO and co-founder; and Greg Lernihan, president and co-founder. Convergint's Schaumburg, Ill., headquarters are nearby. PHOTO BY ALAN KLEHR FOR SDM

Convergint Technologies was co-founded by Dan Moceri and Greg Lernihan in May 2001. Its mission was, and still is, to build a North American service-based company that designs, installs, and maintains integrated building systems with a dedicated focus in electronic security, fire alarm and life safety, healthcare technologies, and building automation.

Convergint Technologies designs, installs and services electronic security solutions for single sites, as well as complex multi-building/multi-site customers. These solutions include card access, intelligent networked video, biometrics, perimeter protection, and seamless integration to enterprise systems. Convergint provides engineered fire alarm systems including smoke detection, emergency communications, and complex smoke management sequences. The integrator also provides and services building automation solutions to monitor and control environmental systems.

Headquarters: Schaumburg, Ill.

2012 revenue: $272 million (estimated)

Employees: 1,050 full-time; 20 part-time

Locations: Convergint Technologies operates 27 branch offices, or what the company calls Convergint Technology Centers (CTCs) in North America that actively share information, technology, resources and customers. The integrator considers itself a single entity, called “Convergint Nation.”

Ranked on SDM’s Top Systems Integrators Report: No. 7, based on $237.2 million North American systems integration revenue.

Convergint values and beliefs — In describing its culture, Convergint Technologies says that it was founded on a set of core values and beliefs that express its responsibility to its customers, its colleagues and its communities. "Our daily commitment to these values is one of the key reasons why our customers choose to do business with Convergint Technologies," says Convergint's Dan Moceri.

Before Convergint Technologies ever had received its first order or hired its first colleague, its leadership began writing the principles that would eventually become the company’s Values and Beliefs.

“We built our company from scratch and had the benefit of establishing a unique and empowered culture from the onset. Our 10 Values and Beliefs drive our positive culture and are what truly makes us different. Value & Belief No. 6 We expect to be our customers’ best service provider, no matter what business we are in — is the foundation for our unique culture of service that permeates the organization. From the beginning, Convergint believed that customer service would be our biggest differentiator,” says Convergint’s Before Convergint Technologies ever had received its first order or hired its first colleague, its leadership began writing the principles that would eventually become the company’s Values and Beliefs.

“We built our company from scratch and had the benefit of establishing a unique and empowered culture from the onset. Our 10 Values and Beliefs drive our positive culture and are what truly makes us different. Value & Belief No. 6 We expect to be our customers’ best service provider, no matter what business we are in — is the foundation for our unique culture of service that permeates the organization. From the beginning, Convergint believed that customer service would be our biggest differentiator,” says Convergint’s Greg Lernihan.

Four quadrant security system knowledge — In Quadrant Four, where Convergint Technologies serves the market, the highest level of enterprise integration is where IT, applications and product knowledge are combined to develop solutions that help customers drive business excellence. ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES

Four quadrant security system knowledge #2 — In Quadrant Four, where Convergint Technologies serves the market, the highest level of enterprise integration is where IT, applications and product knowledge are combined to develop solutions that help customers drive business excellence. ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES

Convergint's Brian Nuss configures network gear in one of the Professional Services test labs for use in testing a custom solution prior to delivery to the customer. PHOTO COURTESY OF CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES

Convergint's management team, business leaders and sales professionals gathered in February for the annual sales conference. The tee-shirts the team is wearing have a logo that reads WGIBTU, short for "Who's Got It Better Than Us? Nobody." PHOTO COURTESY OF CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES

Convergint's Richard Bellamy leads a class, available to all colleagues, on access control principles. The class took place at Convergint's Dallas training center last month. PHOTO COURTESY OF CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES

The folks from Convergint installed water filters in Haiti. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES

Convergint colleagues, alongside Haitian construction workers, built a church/school in a village in Haiti. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES

In the Community — all the way to Haiti

One of Convergint Technology’s 10 core Values & Beliefs is balanced lives – family, business, community. From this stems the company’s focus on myriad philanthropic events, such as the Haiti Outreach initiative, introduced this year.

More than 100 U.S. and Canadian colleagues applied for this five-day trip in a remote mountainous village in Haiti and through a vetting process, 31 were chosen to participate. Convergint Technologies collaborated with a non-profit group called Poured-Out to install 47 residential water filters as well as large, industrial filters at three orphanages, and to build the school/church with a team of 22 Haitian constructions workers.

“Although only a small group of colleagues attended the trip, the entire Convergint community was involved in raising $90,0000 for the cause. We are planning on returning in 2013,” says Convergint’s Greg Lernihan.

It was a moving experience for some, with one colleague commenting, “I cannot begin to thank Convergint enough for taking employee growth to a whole new level, investing in my spirit and soul. This trip was unprecedented and there are many among us ready to return on or off company time to continue the trend this trip started. Show us the way, and let us continue the trend you started.” For more about this endeavor, visit https://www.convergint.com/haiti-outreach.php.

This past summer, 18 colleagues from Convergint and its partner company, Seattle-based ATS, completed the 205-mile Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. Convergint and ATS colleagues generously raised $25,000 to support cancer research. The funds raised were 20 percent higher than the goal.

Another program is Social Responsibility Day, which coincides with the anniversary of the company’s founding. The idea is for all of Convergint’s colleagues to contribute their time and talents to their local communities.

“Our colleagues in all of our 27 CTCs go into the community to support family shelters, senior adult facilities, special needs organizations, animal welfare shelters, food banks, and various other worthy charities. 97.1% of our colleagues agree Convergint Social Responsibility Day is a worthwhile cause for the company. Visit convergint.com to view in detail our Social Responsibility Days.

The Convergint Facebook page highlights the local fundraising activities and the company’s Matching Gift Program.

Convergint Technologies’ Management Team

Years with Convergint/Years in Industry

Dan Moceri, CEO and co-founder 11/36

Greg Lernihan, president and co-founder 11/31

Walter Winkel, vice president and CFO 11/25

Tony Varco, vice president – Security 11/26

Barry Yatzor, vice president – Fire Alarm (NICET IV) 11/27

Leslie Evans, vice president – Human Resources 7/19

Jim Boutwell Sr., vice president 11/30

Behind the Numbers: 5.3

Convergint Technologies annually surveys its customers to measure their level of satisfaction with the company. Using a 1 to 6 scale (with 1 being very dissatisfied) the six-question email survey measures the customers’ level of satisfaction in the areas of responsiveness, attitude, problem resolution, quality of work, and asking if Convergint is their best service provider. (If a survey is returned with one rating of 3 or less, the business leader will call the customer to determine why they are dissatisfied and then work to resolve the areas of dissatisfaction.

The 2011 overall rating was 5.2 (on the 6.0 scale) with 71 percent of customers rating Convergint as their No. 1 service provider. Since recently updating the survey process to make it easier to send customer surveys, it has resulted in an increase both in the volume of surveys sent and returned. Year-to-date, Convergint’s overall rating is 5.3, with 72 percent of respondents rating the integrator as their Best Service Provider.

5-Year Revenue Snapshot

Year	Total annual	Percent change revenue from prior year
2008	$151,451,000	48%
2009	$164,816,000	8.8%
2010	$202,699,000	23%
2011	$237,175,000	17%
2012	$272,000,000	15%*
2013	$318,240,000	17%†

*estimated †projected

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Laura Stepanek is a SDM contributing writer. Laura was the Editor of SDM from 2001-2020 and first joined the publication in 1984. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Barat College of DePaul University.