Pitt partners with St. Louis tech firm

Springfield businessman Doug Pitt, co-owner of ServiceWorld Computer Center LLC, has partnered with St. Charles-based TSI Global Cos. to lead a local migration to a network-solutions approach from historically independent technical specialties.

Pitt has teamed with TSI to form TSI Integrated Solutions in November and offer Internet protocol-based solutions for fully integrated audio and video services, voice and data security services, fiber-optic cabling, teleconferencing and signage for commercial, municipal and residential customers. Pitt said the new entity also would provide additional services to ServiceWorld’s existing client base.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

TSI Integrated operates out of the ServiceWorld office, 1409 W. Sunshine St., and Pitt has hired three employees since December to help him run local operations. TSI Integrated employs eight total, including support from the office in suburban St. Louis.

The pairing came together when both TSI and ServiceWorld were bidding on possible work for the proposed $350 million Eclipse Event Center in Republic, said TSI Global President Robert Bray. No firm plans originated in connection to the planned equestrian park, but Bray and Pitt became acquainted, which led to the collaboration.

“Checking out TSI and its resume, it’s the real deal,” Pitt said of TSI’s client roster that includes the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, In-Bev and the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis. “These decisions are not made lightly.”

Pitt said engineers from both companies would work together.

“As we bring this technology to the Springfield market, we’re bolting on to networks that have been installed [and serviced] by ServiceWorld for many years,” Bray said. “Back in the day, everything was its own siloed technology. You’d go into a building and the network was its own silo, the phone system was its own silo, and its security system was its own silo, and nothing communicated and talked together. In this day and age, all of those different silos can connect to one network.”

Feeding the need
Bray said it became clear to him five years ago that technological systems were increasingly becoming IP-based, from security systems to audio-visual equipment and digital signage. That led TSI, which historically has worked in network cabling, to purchase four St. Louis-based companies in 2007 and provide customers with expertise in several areas under its new vision for comprehensive network capabilities. Since then, he said the 25-year-old TSI has doubled revenues and employees – now around 120.

“All of these hi-tech end users require that IP-based design. TSI, through our restructuring, was capable of providing that all under one roof,” Bray said.

At Busch Stadium, for example, TSI designed the cabling infrastructure throughout the ballpark and installed the physical components connecting digital signage and speaker systems.

Both Pitt and Bray declined to either name any Springfield-market clients TSI Integrated has in place or disclose revenue goals for the partnership, stating only there were several potential jobs in the works. They described possible projects as large churches with audio-visual equipment installation needs, universities’ integrated computer systems, residential Internet networks in rural areas and municipalities investing in fiber optic infrastructure to attract and support businesses.

Bray said the city of Carl Junction hired TSI Global to conduct a feasibility study to help determine if the municipality near Joplin has an interest in bringing broadband capabilities to the area. He said similar opportunities exist throughout southwest Missouri’s rural areas.

Higher learning
The 18-employee ServiceWorld staff performs local area network, wide area network and wireless technology services, and Bray said the Springfield company’s connections to such clients as Drury University were attractive as he sought business opportunities in the area.

Considering Saint Louis University and Washington University are among TSI’s clientele and Pitt’s connections locally, Bray rates Springfield’s educational institutions high among potential clients for TSI Integrated.

Pitt said through ServiceWorld’s 22-year history, the company has built a number of professional relationships that could now also become customers for TSI Integrated.

“Before, we might have had to work with multiple vendors. Now, we have everything under one roof,” Pitt said, pointing to current client Drury as an example. “Drury is very progressive from a technology standpoint. It is one of many that could benefit from the technology that TSI is bringing to the table.”

From a developer’s perspective, Pitt said ServiceWorld’s relationship with TSI could be valuable because security, for example, might mean not only computer-related security, but also building security. Through TSI Integrated, the two could work in tandem.

“Now, they’ve got one face to look at. And that provides a lot of comfort,” Pitt said.[[In-content Ad]]