 Walking into the Comtronics alarm center felt a lot like
touring Fort Knox. At every doorway, a security device regulated access and a
camera monitored all motion through the door. Eventually, through multiple such
high security bulkheads, I made my way toward a nice large office. Dark wood and
moderate lighting set a different mood compared to the high security excursion I
had taken earlier. Under the soft lighting and behind a full, but well-organized
desk sat the company’s president and chief executive officer, John A. Campau.
Comtronics is a 45-year Jackson-based company that provides electronic security
and telecommunications services from 23 offices located through the Midwest.
From bank security to cell phones to video surveillance systems, Comtronics is a
diverse company, growing at a staggering rate.
The growth comes, in large part, from their focus on
technology. “Before we sell any products, we use them in our business first”
John proclaimed. For example, Comtronics used Nextel phones internally for over
a year before they decided to start selling them to their customers.
“The same is true for our video surveillance systems. We have
32 security cameras at our headquarters here” John continued. My attention was
then drawn to the large plasma screen monitor in his office. There I saw a
jigsaw puzzle of camera feeds. The video was surprisingly crisp as John
demonstrated their capabilities. Looking like he was playing video games, he
negotiated the joystick controller, zigging and zagging through all the cameras,
sometimes zooming in 35 times the normal view. I was given a full tour of his
building and surrounding property, right from within his office. Then we toured
some of his stores throughout the Midwest.
John showed me his laptop, connected wirelessly to a camera
installed inside one of his stores in another state. He continued to explain how
if an alarm technician is in the field and has issues, they use their cell
phones with built-in cameras to email pictures to headquarters or even to the
manufacturer of the hardware. Then, if the client wants to pay with a credit
card, technicians can use a credit card adapter with their Nextel phone.
Instantly, the credit card is processed and a receipt can be printed on a
handheld printer, emailed or sent to a fax machine elsewhere. John smiled and
said, “We can get paid as soon as the work is done, not in 30, 60 or 90 days.”
Another billing application John pointed out to me are their
GPS-enabled cellular phones. When his technicians are in the field, their GPS
phone communicates via email with his billing software system, tracking the time
they arrive and depart from a jobsite and organizing the information for
billing. This eliminates errors, data entry costs and verifies employees’
whereabouts.
It became apparent why John loves his job. He loves technology.
“The fun doesn’t stop there” he exclaimed showing me a peculiar little device.
Comtronics is currently installing biometric security systems where individuals
are granted access through doors merely by the authentication of their unique
fingerprint.
An Early Start
John was an all-state
football player at Lumen Christi High School and a 1985 graduate from the
University of Michigan with a degree in business. He joined the family business
one year later as general manager of the Security Division, and within a year,
became vice president of the company.
He took the company from 300 alarm customers in 1986 to over
6,000 and from 18 employees to 145 today. John expanded the service area from
Jackson County to include Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa,
Minnesota and Florida today.
He grew his customer base to 25,000 and generated over $21
million in sales and service last year.
Continued Growth
In the spring of 1989,
Comtronics purchased their current headquarters building, located in downtown
Jackson at One Comtronics Place, from the James F. Walker family. After minor
renovations and an addition to the building, Comtronics opened its new
headquarters May 1, 1990.
Four years later at the age of 31, John was unanimously voted
as President, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of Comtronics.
In the summer of 1998, John’s parents were doing long range
planning with their three sons trying to reach a consensus as to the future of
Comtronics, and ultimately their retirement.
John said, “Everything worked out well because my neighbor, Jim
Walker, expressed interest in buying our company, and my brother’s neighbor,
Milt Zimmer, expressed interest in selling his.” John became a significant
shareholder of Walker Capital Corp, Comtronics’ parent company, and his two
brothers went on to purchase Zimmer Marble. John’s parents sold their equity
interest, but continue to work at Comtronics. January 8th of this year marked
the 5th anniversary of John’s merger with the Walker family.
Personal Support
“Working side-by-side with
my mom and dad has been the highlight of my career. They have given me
unconditional love and support my whole life. They always told me to find
something I enjoyed doing, then happiness and prosperity would follow.”
“Jim and Geri Walker are my neighbors and business partners.
Much of my success I owe to them because they have been my role model, mentor
and dear friends for 25 years. Jim is one of the most successful people I know.
He built a $350 million family business, but still made time to go to church
everyday, and make his family his number one priority… and no one has touched
more lives, and helped more people than Geri Walker” John says.
Challenges Ahead
John continued as
President of the newly-restructured company, but due to unprecedented debt as a
result of the merger, he faced the toughest challenge of his career.
John and the Comtronics team rose to the occasion. In May of
1999, Comtronics competed against 15 other security firms and was awarded a
multi-million dollar contract with Citizens Bank to install and monitor 520
alarm systems in five states. At the time, this was the largest contract in
Comtronics history.
The Citizens Bank installations were finished ahead of
schedule. John attributed this to the internet-equipped cellular phones that
were provided to the technicians and sales staff. All customer service tickets
and history were retrieved and organized by e-mail, greatly decreasing the
communication delays between on-site technicians and the staff at Comtronics
headquarters.
Citizens Bank was so impressed with their work that they
offered Comtronics another contract to monitor and maintain over 4,000 cameras
for the bank. John has maintained a state-wide alarm contract with Wendy’s for
15 years, and 10 years with Flagstar Bank, including a new contract to install
and monitor alarms in over 150 branches as part of Flagstar’s multi-state
expansion.
A Team Effort
“I have deep appreciation for
other people’s talents and contributions” John says. “I know that in order for
us to be successful it must be a team effort.”
“Anne Walker White is my confidante, business partner and close
friend. She believed in me five years ago when we weren’t sure if the light at
the end of the tunnel was a train. She is a lawyer by trade, but could very well
be the CEO of a fortune 500 company.”
Anne says, “There is no question John is the ‘golden goose’ at
Comtronics. He only dabbles in sales, but he is always salesman of the year.
John Campau is the consummate dealmaker. He has achieved in five years what few
people achieve in five decades.”
Rolling into Cellular
In June of 1999, John
was pursuing other opportunities to increase the business and became a Nextel
Authorized Representative. In less than one year with Nextel, Comtronics had
become one of the fastest growing dealers in the nation, earning them Diamond
Dealer status.
In the summer of 2001, Comtronics began a massive expansion
effort, opening 10 new sales offices and hiring 25 employees to accommodate the
increased cellular business.
A few months later, Comtronics had reached an agreement with
Meijer to maintain sales kiosks in 21 stores across Michigan and Ohio. Meijer
had never carried cell phones before and John recalled their attorney telling
him that he was “pioneering a new wave at Meijer.”
In less than one year, Comtronics had expanded from one
storefront to 23 and has been a Platinum Partner, Nextel’s highest honor, four
consecutive years. Today Comtronics is one of the largest and most successful
Nextel dealerships in the country.
John added Alltel to his product line ten months ago to meet
the varied needs of his customers and already has the distinction of being one
of the fastest growing Alltel agents in Michigan. He plans to launch Comtronics
franchises throughout the United States and is currently doing a feasibility
study and business plan to establish operations in Mexico City.
It is no wonder that on January 25, 2001, the Greater Jackson
Chamber of Commerce named John Campau Jackson County Small Business Person of
the Year.
Setting the Pace
“Eight miles a day” John
said. That’s how many miles John runs on his treadmill everyday, and that’s
before he goes to work. He often works 60 to 70 hours a week at the office,
sometimes staying until 11:00 at night so that he can have face-time with his
third shift employees. His style is to only manage his managers. “Being in a
high tech, fast paced work environment, I often tell my managers that I am not
necessarily asking them to work harder, longer or faster - just smarter,” John
explains.
Besides John’s rigorous running schedule, he enjoys eating
popcorn, reading, golfing, swimming in his backyard pool, playing tennis and
traveling. But that doesn’t fill John’s free time. He is also highly involved in
the local community, where he has meetings almost daily for different charities
and fundraising activities.
John mentions that one of his favorite destinations is Disney
World, and his parents say he is a kid at heart. I witnessed his child-like
excitement when we rode the roller coaster together on top of the Stratosphere,
120 stories above Las Vegas.
Lending a Hand
John learned about giving a
long time ago. “Fr. Joseph Coyle of Lumen Christi taught me to live a Christian
and prayerful life. He always said to give more than you take, and to leave
people better than you find them.”
John has a special devotion to helping kids and says, “We need
to help, guide and educate our youth because they will be our leaders tomorrow.”
He has donated over $125,000 to charity the last three years supporting Family
Services and Children’s Aid as a major sponsor in their Wendy’s LPGA Pro-Am
(benefiting adoption), Junior Achievement as a gold sponsor in their mini grand
prix, YMCA Partner with Youth campaign, catholic and public schools, little
league programs and job shadowing programs.
John is a 10-year founding member of the Lumen Christi High
School development board and the Fr. Coyle Society; served three years as
president of the finance council and chairman of the endowment board and tuition
review board at Queen’s Parish; served on the John George Home board for 12
years, currently as president; six year founding member of the
telecommunications advisory board for the city of Jackson; three year board
member of the United Way, currently as chairman of the personnel committee and
member of the RaceWeek victory circle celebration committee. John is also a
dedicated member of the Clark Bisbee for Congress executive committee.
He also supports the American Cancer Society, Jackson Symphony
Orchestra, Ella Sharp Museum, Relay for Life and Hot Air Jubilee.
John is a 15-year member of the Greater Jackson Chamber of
Commerce and Homebuilders Association of Jackson. He recently joined the Jackson
Commercial Contractors Association because he says “money made in Jackson should
stay in Jackson whenever possible.”
From adoption, to the elderly men who live at the John George
Home, John Campau understands the meaning of giving back to the community. He
plans to establish a Comtronics’ Children’s Fund designed to help single parent
households.
Coming Soon
John sees his company becoming
an international contender. The world has shrunk and his company’s specialty is
one of the first areas to feel it. “High speed data lines and wireless
technology have removed geographical limitations that existed 10 years ago. We
can install alarm systems and video surveillance systems 1,500 miles away and
monitor them instantaneously here in Jackson. We have made a $500,000 investment
upgrading our computers and software, providing us remote access to our
equipment anywhere in the world.”
John says, “I grew up in the 60s and 70s watching my father
communicate around the world via morse code (as a ham radio operator). It won’t
be long before he watches me walkie-talkie around the world on my
Nextel.”
Reprinted with permission from Jackson Magazine
Copyright
March 2004 | 
