Advanced AV Announces First Two Acquisitions

Advanced AV expands offerings, capabilities by buying N.J. integration firm Promedia Technology Services and Australian network hosting business New Era.>

When CI talked to Advanced AV CEO Mike Boettcher for the company profile earlier this year, he discussed the challenges and opportunities that could come with making the company’s first acquisition after relying solely on organic growth to this point.

At the time, Boettcher alluded to outside acquisitions representing “a huge challenge” for a company so focused on culture, but said Advanced AV executives were preparing to tackle it. While there was nothing formal to announce at the time, it was clear Boettcher was hinting that Advanced AV would soon have an acquisition or two to announce.

“In this industry, you need to be a small niche company or grow into a big company,” Boettcher said during that interview at the NSCA Business and Leadership Conference, noting he was prepared to overcome potential cultural, system and personnel changes if Advanced AV found a company that would help it reach its goals. “It’s a good time to look for overlap and vet out everybody’s teams.”

That came to fruition this week, with Advanced AV adding New Jersey-based integration firm Promedia Technology Services and Australia network hosting and software provider New Era.

“The rapid advancement of AV/IT ‘convergence’ has paved the way for these strategic discussions,” says Boettcher. “The skill and talent of Promedia Technology Services and New Era, combined with Advanced AV’s enterprise level expertise, will enable us to surpass client expectations of AV/IT products, software and service projects on a national and global level.”

Related: Advanced AV Refocuses Its Mission, Emerges as Industry Leader

Promedia Technology Services, a network integrator and service provider, has worked largely in the education, corporate and state and local government verticals, New Era has more than 2 million educators, students and parents globally among its client base for its ICT and professional development solutions.

The Promedia acquisition expands Advanced AV‘s stronghold in the area around Pennsylvania and New Jersey, while the New Era pickup gives the company another footprint in its continuing global expansion. Although Advanced AV has long been a one-office integrator, it’s worked for years with clients with global reach and tackled projects in six continents.

Now that Advanced AV has made its first acquisitions, perhaps its next one will come in Antarctica, the only continent on which the company has never done a project. Boettcher joked that he’s long had a contest among sales staffers to land Advanced AV a job there.

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