In a milestone year marking its 30th anniversary, IMS has been named 2025 Integrator of the Year. This recognition, co-presented by Commercial Integrator, Security Sales & Integration’s and NSCA, reflects not just its technical achievements but also its unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation and client success.
What could have been a challenging year of transition, as IMS’ founders retired, instead became a launchpad for growth and reinvention. Guided by core values of integrity, innovation, and client focus, IMS navigated the leadership shift with remarkable poise, ensuring continuity for its projects, employees and clients. This adaptability fueled a wave of investment and expansion, positioning IMS for an exciting new chapter.
From accelerating its managed services platform, 4Sight, to expanding into new markets and bolstering its team with advanced certifications and internal system upgrades, IMS has demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to scaling its business.
The results speak for themselves: glowing client feedback during its ownership transition, national recognition for technical excellence and a workplace culture that continues to earn accolades.
IMS’ standout projects in 2025 included its fifth consecutive Commercial Integrator Integration Award, this year for Longwood Gardens’ $250 million “Longwood Reimagined” initiative, and a groundbreaking AV overhaul for a global tech giant featuring one of the largest AVoIP systems of its kind. These achievements, paired with its fourth consecutive “Best Place to Work” award and its pursuit of ISO 27001 certification, underscore IMS’ holistic approach to integration. It’s an approach that prioritizes people, performance and innovation in equal measure.
For IMS, integration is more than delivering technology; it’s about building trust, fostering relationships and setting new benchmarks for the industry. This unique combination of technical expertise, cultural strength and relentless client advocacy is what makes IMS a standout. This combination is also what makes the company a deserving recipient of 2025 Integrator of the Year recognition.
A Seamless Leadership Transition
Courtesy / Emerald
Thirty years ago, IMS was born, during a time when laptops were a coming of age and boardrooms relied on bulky projectors for presentations. Co-founder John Renninger, working in the tech industry, saw an opportunity in the growing demand for projectors. Together with his wife and fellow co-founder, Jill, they launched a projector rental business, with Jill managing daily operations and John providing technical support.
What began as a small rental operation quickly evolved. IMS expanded into event staging, but after 9/11 brought the event industry to a standstill, the Renningers pivoted once again. They shifted their focus to systems integration, laying the foundation for IMS to grow into the thriving integration and event staging powerhouse it is today.
As the company approached its 30th anniversary, John and Jill began planning for their retirement. They knew that a successful leadership transition would require more than just handing over the reins. In fact, it would demand careful planning, a strong culture and a commitment to continuity.
Their approach was a thoughtful blend of internal development and external expertise. Longtime team members like Danielle Byrne and Daniel McKenzie, who had grown within the organization for more than a decade, were key players in the transition. At the same time, the Renningers brought in external leaders, including David Fisher, now IMS’ president, who had reconnected with the couple after previously working with John at a large global company.
The transition was guided by clear and consistent communication. From town halls to one-on-one meetings, the leadership team prioritized transparency, addressing concerns early and ensuring employees felt supported. John and Jill remained involved for several months to ensure a smooth handoff, resulting in a seamless transition that preserved IMS’ culture while positioning the company for its next chapter.
David Fisher reflects on the process, noting that the real challenge of change is often the uncertainty it brings. “Clear, frequent, and transparent communication is key,” he explains. “Employees are always watching closely during times of change, so actions must align with promises. If leadership commits to preserving the company’s culture, values, and mission, it’s crucial to back those words with tangible steps.”
IMS has done just that. The company has invested heavily in initiatives to enhance both customer and employee experience, from rolling out new systems and tools to achieving ISO 27001 certification by year’s end. Significant investments in event staging equipment and partnerships with like-minded organizations further demonstrate IMS’ commitment to growth and innovation.
One tradition that remains a cornerstone of IMS’ culture is its recognition of long-term employees. Team members who have reached 20 years of service are honored with a brand-new Rolex — a meaningful gesture that underscores the company’s appreciation for their dedication. Last year alone, four employees celebrated this milestone, and today, IMS boasts 30 team members with over a decade of service. “Our staff comes in, and they stay because of the culture we’ve created. That’s special,” Danielle Byrne, vice president of operations, systems integration, says.
Courtesy / Fine Focus Studio
When the Renningers sold IMS, they chose a partner who shared their vision and values. Fisher emphasizes that the company’s focus remains on delivering exceptional customer experiences and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. “While we may not always be the chosen provider, we strive to be our customers’ first choice,” he says.
Looking back, Fisher acknowledges that the transition plan was solid, but there’s always room for improvement. “John and Jill executed the plan with the same excellence that built the company,” he reflects. “They planned well in advance to ensure IMS was in the best possible hands — not just to preserve what they built, but to take it to the next level.”
As IMS moves forward, it does so with a strong foundation, a clear vision and a culture that continues to thrive. The leadership transition wasn’t just about passing the torch; it was about ensuring that IMS’ legacy of excellence, innovation and integrity endures for decades to come.
4Sight Managed Service Program
IMS’ 4Sight managed service program is a predictive maintenance and concierge support system designed to proactively address customer needs. Developed to foster true partnerships, 4Sight monitors systems for anomalies, resolving issues with minimal customer involvement. It ensures clients are alerted to problems — like offline devices — before they disrupt operations. Thus, clients gain peace of mind and assurance of reliability.
Although adoption is strongest among clients that have larger, tech-heavy spaces like boardrooms, 4Sight’s real-time monitoring, automated fixes and service ticket generation have become standout features. Daniel McKenzie, director of technical solutions and strategy at IMS, says, the onboarding process is seamless, involving coordination with clients’ IT teams to integrate the system efficiently.
By identifying and addressing issues before they arise, 4Sight builds trust and strengthens client relationships, ensuring systems run smoothly and clients shine in front of their stakeholders. Looking ahead, IMS plans to enhance the platform with AI advancements and a unified dashboard, streamlining alerts and diagnostics for even greater efficiency and effectiveness.
McKenzie says, “We stay closely attuned to the health of our clients’ systems, ensuring they always perform at their best. At the end of the day, it’s about making our clients shine. Whether the system is running smoothly or needs attention, our proactive alerts keep everyone informed. That’s the essence of the partnership we deliver through 4Sight.”
Fisher adds, “We proactively address issues before they disrupt critical meetings, monitoring system health and mobilizing quickly when needed. In today’s hybrid world, the demand for always-on AV is higher than ever. Our commitment is to leverage technology, people and processes to ensure systems remain resilient and perform at their best.”
IMS aspires for team members to genuinely feel that the company is the best place they’re ever worked. This ethos makes IMS an exceptional place to grow an AV career. Courtesy / Fine Focus Studios
Talent Development and Workforce Training
“Our talent development philosophy centers on continuous recognition, feedback and accessible leadership through open-door policies,” says Byrne. “We offer clear, customized advancement paths tailored to employees’ interests, supported by peer and management mentorship. As the company evolves, we create new roles and provide training to help employees grow, whether they aim for project management, engineering or other career paths.”
IMS prioritizes industry certifications, such as the CTS. In fact, all project managers, installation and field technicians are encouraged to achieve it within their first year — all fully sponsored by the company. This investment in training and mentorship fosters strong connections, turning colleagues into friends and building a culture of support. “Guided by the principle of ‘assume positive intent,’ we focus on learning from mistakes and working together to succeed,” adds Byrne.
‘The I Factor’
At IMS, finding the right people is about more than just résumés or past experience. More importantly, it’s about connecting with individuals who genuinely stand out for their character and drive. The team looks for what they call “The I Factor”: impactfulness, integrity and innovation. Sometimes, this means hiring folks who might not have AV experience but have proven themselves through resilience and determination, like veterans, college athletes or Eagle Scouts. Once someone joins, IMS makes sure they’re supported from day one, providing thoughtful training and real tools for success.
Courtesy / Fine Focus Studios
The company understands that attracting talent takes a wider lens, so they recruit from fields like construction, IT and architecture, and build relationships with technical schools to introduce students to AV career opportunities early on. This commitment to people is felt on the job every day. IMS celebrates wins, offers real chances to move up, and places a strong emphasis on respect and encouragement. It’s not just lip service: 72% of employees are highly engaged, which says a lot about the culture. Over half the team has earned promotions, showing that when IMS grows, its people do, too.
As Byrne explains, “We prioritize internal talent for new roles, fostering advancement from within. For example, roles like vice president, operations, didn’t exist when I started, but as IMS grew, so did opportunities, allowing me to advance and thrive here. It’s a testament to how we support and invest in our team.”
At the heart of it all, IMS believes that investing in people isn’t just good for business — it’s the right thing to do.
Byrne adds, “We never take our customers’ trust for granted. Every service call, integration project, or live event is an opportunity to demonstrate who we are and what we stand for. While technology is our medium, our true purpose is enabling connections, helping people share ideas, make decisions and tell their stories more effectively. For us, integration is about building relationships, and we measure success by how well we deliver and strengthen those partnerships. By striving for excellence at every step, we deepen trust and grow alongside our clients.”
“The most rewarding feedback we can receive isn’t about the technology or a specific project,” she continues. “It’s when a client says, ‘That’s why we keep coming back to IMS.’ That simple phrase means more than any single comment or project. It reflects their trust in us, shown through repeat business and expanding partnerships, which we’re honored to earn time and time again.”
She adds, “Whether it’s live events, managed services or integration, it means a lot to earn our clients’ trust. We strive to be their true partner and reliable industry expert.”
Courtesy / IMS
Leadership, Excellence and Creating the Best Place to Work
With a focus on curiosity, continuous improvement, and true leadership, IMS President David Fisher (pictured above) emphasizes building on IMS’ 30-year foundation to create a thriving, people-first legacy. Courtesy / Fine Focus Studios
According to Fisher, “Our focus is building on the foundation that has defined IMS for the past 30 years. It’s not about being the largest AV integrator, but about being our customers’ first choice in AV and, beyond that, their best service provider overall. Equally important, we want our team to genuinely feel this is the best place they’ve ever worked. If we achieve those two goals, we’ll be a strong force in the market and an exceptional place to grow a career.”
To ensure IMS continues to grow and adapt, the team embraces a mindset of curiosity, humbleness and continuous improvement. “We question the status quo, seek feedback, and remain open to change, always looking for better ways to do things. With a team committed to learning and evolving, we’re well-positioned to build on our strong foundation and thrive in an ever-changing industry,” Fisher says.
He concludes, “I see examples of our great people leading everyday regardless of title or position. True leadership is about influence — finding the best path, walking it and helping others do the same. If we foster this mindset, we won’t just retain talent; we’ll unlock its full potential, ensuring IMS’ legacy continues to thrive for years to come.”
