Pitt Technology Group pens acquisition

Two Springfield companies are joining together via an acquisition.

Pitt Technology Group LLC penned a deal to buy Protel Systems and Supplies Inc., according to a news release. The deal is scheduled to close Dec. 1 for undisclosed terms, said Kevin Waterland, co-owner and general manager of Pitt Technology Group, via email.

"Protel has been around for a very long time and has a long history of providing excellent low-voltage and telecommunication services in the Springfield area," Waterland said in the release. "We are pleased to add them to our team, and we’re looking forward to having their expertise as we extend our technology services to include phones."

Waterland added that Pitt Technology plans to begin offering cloud-based managed phone systems.

Protel Systems is being sold by Shane Taylor, who took on full ownership of the company in 2019, according to the release.

As part of the transition, Protel recently sold its 2929 N. Eastgate Ave. office and will integrate operations into Pitt Technology's headquarters in Springfield Underground. Waterland said via email that three Protel employees have moved to the Springfield Underground headquarters and that Taylor is retiring. The deal includes Protel’s book of business comprising 200 active contracts and around 1,100 total customers, Waterland said via email.

Protel Systems founder Steve Thompson in 2008 sold the business to a group of longtime employees, including Taylor, according to Springfield Business Journal archives. Thompson started the business in 1982.

Protel Systems ranked No. 1 on SBJ's list this year of the area's largest office equipment dealers. The company reported 75 employees for the list published Feb. 14.

In the same SBJ edition, Pitt Technology Group ranked No. 2 on the list of the area's largest information technology companies, with 40 local IT employees.

Pitt Technology Group was created in 2017 when businessperson Doug Pitt, in partnership with Waterland, repurchased the assets of the company that had been ServiceWorld Computer Center, according to past reporting. Pitt started ServiceWorld in 1991.