Local tech company makes big moves for big growth

Local technology company State Systems Inc. (SSI) announced some aggressive growth through acquisition, leading to a staff increases leaving the company with 127 employees.  In 2014, SSI boasted a 10 percent increase in the positions they have available to Memphis workers, and this month's announcement indicates future job additions. 

SSI, a total protection company, offers a wide range of products and services. The company’s longest-standing and best-known services – fire protection equipment, prevention training and cleaning services – continue to boast new technology, including closed-circuit television, access control and network services.  

In the last month SSI has acquired two other companies, Vera-Max Inc., a fire protection company located in Corinth, Miss. and Memphis-based ESI Companies Inc., a technology company known as the major provider of top-of-the-line nurse call systems for Mid-South hospitals and health care facilities. 

SSI being the top security provider in Memphis, Bob McBride, President and CEO of State Systems is excited about the growth and what it means for the company's future. “This was a natural move for our company and one that enables our footprint to continue growing beyond the Mid-South," he said.

The ESI acquisition reinforces State Systems’ existing work in the health care realm, such as assisting facilities in achieving compliance standards through targeted reporting, and positions the company as the market share leader for health care 
communication systems in the Mid-South.

The company isn't new to acquisition -- in their 29 years of operating, SSI has acquired many companies -- but this growth is distinct. Typically, the acquisitions are of small, local entities. Last month, the addition of ESI represented their largest acquisition to date.

McBride explains, “We started in 1986 as small company, and throughout the years we’ve grown both organically as well as through acquisitions.  The quickest way to grow in the industry is through acquisitions.”

The new jobs will flow from this historic growth. “In 2014, we saw an 10 percent increase jobs available to Memphians and we  anticipate adding more jobs as we continue to grow,” says McBride.  

McBride is also optimistic about an upcoming technology shift that will allow for the use of hand-held mobile devices, making for more productivity in the field.