CTI has acquired Vistacom, the Allentown, Penn.-based integration leader in command-and-control room systems. The news was shared by John Laughlin, CTS, CEO and president of CTI, in a LinkedIn post. CTI is, of course, the largest privately held AV integration and events provider in the U.S.
The strategic move marks CTI’s 35th location and its first-ever footprint in Pennsylvania.
For CTI, this acquisition is part of an ongoing expansion strategy, tracing back to its first acquisition of Visual Works KC’s Overland Park office in 2001.
“Vistacom stands out, though, for several reasons. Being entrusted to take the people who have built a 70-year-old family business to its next evolution is an honor. It’s a big deal to me, personally, and to CTI as a whole,” writes Laughlin.
He continues, “Our acquisition of Vistacom will fuel growth. It will bring CTI’s brand to a new region. And it’s one of the largest integrators in the area. More importantly, CTI has gained one of the most significant Network Operation Center (NOC) and Control Room design and integration teams in the AV industry, with a proven track record serving utilities and energy, transportation, and state and local government through emergency operations centers and dispatch, NOC, situation rooms, SecOps and much more. Like our Justice, Broadcast, and House of Worship divisions, the group brings tremendous experience that will benefit our entire organization across the U.S. and worldwide.”
Angela Nolan, former Vistacom CEO, shared her excitement in the next chapter for the company:
CTI, the largest privately-held AV integration and events provider serving customers in the United States and worldwide, will provide the resources and capabilities to further enhance the solutions and services we offer while strengthening and diversifying operations nationwide.
The Vistacom family has worked tirelessly to build something truly special, driven by our shared values of integrity, quality, and dedication to our clients’ success. That said, it was important for both Jim Ferlino and I to find the right fit and feel confident that Vistacom was in the right hands; it was a decision centered around aligning with our family culture and principles in addition to growth trajectory in key markets.
Many of you are familiar with my father and Vistacom’s founder, Jack Ferlino, and how he expanded business out of initially meeting the audiovisual technology needs of people in the #LehighValleyPA community—and from there, we grew consistently decade after decade. We grew by “getting it right at the drawing board stage,” as he would profess, and I have to say, CTI is the right organization to continue that dedication to quality, customization and innovation for our clients.
Undoubtedly, your trust, support, and collaboration have been the cornerstone of Vistacom’s success, driving us to innovate, grow, and strive for excellence in everything we do.
But more significantly, your belief in us, your unwavering support, and your partnerships have been the foundation of our journey, and we would not be where we are today—or where we’re going with all of the opportunities and potential ahead—without you.
Laughlin expressed his appreciation to everyone who’s worked to make this acquisition happen and everyone who’s been working toward bringing Vistacom employees into the CTI family.
“We have a tremendous reputation for taking care of our people. It’s not just NERF guns and social media posts. We’re obsessed with the people and culture that empower CTI, and we invest heavily in both. We think you’ll be pleased,” he says.
Vistacom customers will continue to work with the same team in Allentown, Penn. By becoming part of CTI, they’ll work with increased buying power, have access to CTI’s rackbuild facility and a larger pool of experts.
Vistacom was named Commercial Integrator’s 2022 Integrator of the year. Read the full story.
Follow along with Commercial Integrator as more details emerge about CTI and its acquisition of Vistacom.
